20 the second end 34 of the shoe is received between the chain 10 and the flange 26 of the base plate 24 as the shoe flexes the second end 34 of the shoe moves longitudinally along the flange 26 which acts as a ramp the tab 28 formed on the flange 26 prevents the shoe 30 from slipping out from between the flange and the chain 10 the shoe may be formed of any durable flexible material such as a resinous plastic material the spring 40 is more arcuate in shape than the shoe 30 the chain tensioner 20 receives the spring 40 which fits into the shoe 30 by slipping the ends of the spring into lateral inward extending slots 42 44 formed in the first and second ends 32 34 of the shoe the spring 40 is nearly as long as the shoe and continuously biases the intermediate section or blade 36 of the shoe against the chain 10 the spring 40 is positioned substantially parallel to the surface of the blade which engages the chain and may be nearly as wide as the full width of the shoe the damping device 50 is inserted in the chain tensioner 20 between the flange 26 of the base plate and the spring 40 to damp chain vibration and limit chain motion to a desired level the damping device 50 is a block of material of a predetermined shape preferably formed of a resilient.