Bicycle Mechanics - chain slack!!

hey, I got a problem.......

I ride a fix gear on an old Panasonic frame with nice long dropouts. I can't seem to get my chain tight enough so that there isn't any play when I change directions. It drives me nuts. I pull the wheel back as hard as I can when i'm setting the nuts, but there always seems to be a little play no matter what I do. Is there a trick I'm missing?

Thanks!

Chain tensioner.

I was under the impression that chain tensioners don't work with a fix gear. I've never seen one in use either. Why don't any other fix riders I see ever use them?

I was under the impression that chain tensioners don't work with a fix gear. I've never seen one in use either. Why don't any other fix riders I see ever use them?Correcto...just more bad info.

hey, I got a problem.......

I ride a fix gear on an old Panasonic frame with nice long dropouts. I can't seem to get my chain tight enough so that there isn't any play when I change directions. It drives me nuts. I pull the wheel back as hard as I can when i'm setting the nuts, but there always seems to be a little play no matter what I do. Is there a trick I'm missing?

Thanks!


Yeah, there is a whole forum on single speed and fixed gear just a bit further down the list! :-)

Whoops missed the fixed gear since it wasn't in the fixie forum. Don't use a chain tensioner on a fixed gear.

Here's a trick that might help. Pull the left side axle a little further back than the drive side and tigthen it first. The front of the wheel will be offset toward the left. Then, use the tire as leverage to pull the wheel to the right to center the rim and tension the chain. Tighten the drive side nut and you should be good to go.

It takes a bit of practice to get the right feel for how much offset to start with.

I was under the impression that chain tensioners don't work with a fix gear. I've never seen one in use either. Why don't any other fix riders I see ever use them?

All chain tensioners aren't created equal. Check out some BMX suppliers. They have chain tensioners that have a hole for the rear axle and extend behind the dropout with an adjusting screw. Might be just what you need.

All chain tensioners aren't created equal. Check out some BMX suppliers. They have chain tensioners that have a hole for the rear axle and extend behind the dropout with an adjusting screw. Might be just what you need.

Not a chance man. Tensioners are for freewheels, period. How many BMX bikes are fixed?

Some of you guys are confusing chain tugs and chain tensioners, although both these terms are often used interchangably especially when referring to fixed gears. We are talking fixed gear here. Most or all chain tugs/tensioners work with forkends (opening towards the rear) only. None of my fixies use chain tugs/tensioners. I allow about a half inch of chain slack.....never tight.

Not a chance man. Tensioners are for freewheels, period. How many BMX bikes are fixed?

I'm thinking that you have no idea what I'm talking about.

When I think of a tensioner, I think something like the Surly Singulator, which you can't use with a fixed gear. If you're talking about tugs, that's different. Sorry if there is confusion on terminology...

When I think of a tensioner, I think something like the Surly Singulator, which you can't use with a fixed gear. If you're talking about tugs, that's different. Sorry if there is confusion on terminology...

Never heard them called "tugs." Tugs sounds like a better description to me. To be honest, I've no idea if the BMX parts would work but they're cheap enough that, if it were my bike, I'd sure give them a try.

A chain tug system should work with any bike with horizontal dropouts. supcom's method is what I use on a regular basis with the fleet of coaster brake crusiers I rent at work.

Not a chance man. Tensioners are for freewheels, period. How many BMX bikes are fixed?

I ride BMX as well as free-ride MTB. I have a chain tensioner on a freewheel; it works great, theres no slack in the chain unless you want it that way. Tensioners make it easy to change rear tyres and wheels.

I ride BMX as well as free-ride MTB. I have a chain tensioner on a freewheel; it works great, theres no slack in the chain unless you want it that way. Tensioners make it easy to change rear tyres and wheels.

Yeah, but the question was about fixed-gear...

It was always my understanding that a chain should never be dead tight; is this some new thinking amongst fixed gear enthusiasts? If the chain is tight it is grating all the time and there is friction and wear to the chain, chainwheel and sprocket.

The conventional wisdom for fixed gear chain tension was always to lay a straight edge across the top of the chain from the chainwheel to the sprocket. If the tension is correct you can pull the center of the chain down with your fingers (At a midway point between sprocket and chainwheel.) until there is a measurement between 3/8 and 1/2 inch from the straight edge to the center of the link.

Yes there is a minimum delay when changing direction of pedaling, but this is the nature of the beast; live with it because the only alterative is friction caused by a chain that is tight.