Quote Originally Posted by Toolmaker51 View Post
Why not; works in probably every forklift on the planet.
not quite, forklifts only have chains holding the load in a single direction. The way this works is the chains and sprockets become a double sided rack and pinion system.
Forklifts have the advantage of gravity for their double and triple mast telescoping my unit does not so I have chains going it both directions pulling both ways the tensioners do the anchoring the balancing or equalizing of distance of travel as well as making all 4 chains work in unison keeping them the same tension.
It may be a little hard to visualize but think of the tracks on a crawler except the sprockets are fixed distances the tensioner would be an imaginary spot on the ground say a big rock the sprockets are attached to the frame which is moved by the engine you stand on one track pad as the machine moves backwards and forwards you move twice the distance of the machine itself the rock sticking up in the track is the anchor and the tensioner in this case while you are the opposite connection point.