Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - My Windsor Hour's chain line is off by at least 3 mm and...

it's making a funky noise. The chain's off to one side of the cog, and I can tell that the teeth are striking it by the "ratcheting" sound. The crank has a 46-47 chain line whereas the cog's is ~43.

I did a search and am currently researching what to do, but I was wondering if anybody else got this on their Hour and what they did about it. My bike is stock except for a 17 tooth Soma cog, but the noise was there even w/ the stock cog. Maybe I shouldn't expect too much from a cheap bike? But still, 3 mm seems pretty big, and aren't track cranks not supposed to be that far out?


Thanks

Try mounting the chainring on the inside of the spider. If that doesn't get it in line, you probably need a new bottom bracket.

But still, 3 mm seems pretty big

On what planet?

3mm will not cause a noisy drivetrain. Your chain is most likely too tight.

3mm will not cause a noisy drivetrain. Your chain is most likely too tight.

times bizillion

On what planet?

3mm will not cause a noisy drivetrain. Your chain is most likely too tight.

Wait for the guy to answer!

Oh, OK. That's good to know. I'm new to this stuff...sorry for the lameness. I heard somebody say >2mm is too much for a 1/8 chain, and I can visibly tell that it's off, so....


My chain was on the tighter side. I've been fiddling w/ it and it's just tight enough to where the back-and-forth "slop" mostly disappears when I track stand. I also notice that my chainring isn't totally centered; I'll do the Sheldon thing w/ it tomorrow.

Noise is better, but there's still a bit of rattle. Maybe this will diminish as the new parts wear in?

1/8 chains are less tolerant of bad chain lines but 2 or 3mm really is hardly anything. The kind of bike you have is also a factor. Frames with more rear-center are more tolerant of imperfect chain line.

In my experience, a little bit of that "slop" in the chain is ideal.