Abstract: An idler construction for an elevator used for earth moving purposes at the front of a scraper bowl, the elevator having a frame which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the region of the scraper blade supporting a pair of endless chains with transversely arranged flights. The chains are driven at the upper end of the frame and trained about rollers at the lower end so that the flights sweep the loosened soil backwardly into the bowl. Idler wheels are mounted upon brackets intermediate the ends of the frame members for supporting the return runs of the respective chains in a shallow apex spaced from the elevator frame, the idlers being coaxial and alined with the chains and having cylindrically surfaced rims of durable resilient material.