Running Like Clockwork: Our Two-Wheel Drive Test Stand AU 01

Reading time: ca. 5 min. | An article from Sebastian Ullrich, Application Engineering | TUNAP Blog

Our two-wheel drive test stand AU 01 has been in operation for more than one and a half years. TUNAP has developed it to prove the efficiency of two-wheel drives with verifiable sets of data. The goal is to measure and compare the effectiveness of different lubricants on the chain. Using the data obtained, lubricants can be developed that guarantee the highest degree of performance.

So far, wild speculations have been circulating in the industry about which measurement data define the "best" chain lubricant. Among others, the Brugger test is used for the evaluation of lubricants. It is supposed to provide information about the load capacity of lubricants.

Although it does indeed do so, measurements have shown that the Brugger test does not yield results that are realistic. Therefore, this test cannot be used for the valid assessment of a chain lubricant. There is thus no correlation between the resulting Brugger value and a "good" or "poor" lubricant.

One of the goals of the test bench developed by TUNAP was to present a realistic simulation of two-wheel drives and to prove this with verifiable and reproducible measurement results.

A two-wheel drive consists essentially of a rear derailleur, a front derailleur, a sprocket set, chain rings and the chain (the shifters are deliberately not included because they could distort the measurement results due the cables and the selected settings).

In addition to cadence, torque, power, gear ratio and speed, we particularly consider the parameters of efficiency. Here it is possible to follow specific stages, races, etc., and to draw conclusions about which lubricant is best suited for the route or tour to be covered. External influences such as wind, dust or water can additionally be included in the tests, because these factors also affect the lubricant in the drive unit immensely.

Also, in these cases, our two-wheel drive test stand AU 01 can supply water, sand and dust to the bike chain via two front-mounted nozzles. This is done using a fan that simulates the wind and supplies the chain, for example, with sand or water.

We have set ourselves the goal to create the best and most efficient chain drive that is technically feasible. The lubricant development, our core competence, of course plays a very important role in this. We are currently testing energy efficiency as a function of different lubricants on the chain. Here, the test procedure remains basically identical, but the lubricant component is changed. We have now subjected the lubricants of all leading manufacturers to this test run and gained one or the other surprising insight.

In addition, we use the test run for tribological new and further developments of our chain lubricants: Current development projects provide very positive data, so our latest development shall be available soon!