Jesse M

okay, so when i was riding yesterday i noticed that my chain had lost a lot of tension. i tried adjusting the tension, but my rear wheel is as far back as it can go in the dropouts, and there's still some excessive play in the chain. i've only had this chain for about a month, but it seems like it's stretched a lot...

so would taking a link out of my chain be a good idea? if so, what's the proper way to do it? i'm assuming that the only tool i'll need is a chain tool, is that right?

*new*guy

Didn't you shorten the chain when you bought it? Or perhaps someone else put the chain on for you... Anyway, all you need is a chain tool. After you remove the link and put the pin back through make sure you bend/flex the chain to keep from getting a stiff link.

Jesse M

i just had my LBS put the chain on when i got my new rear wheel and everything set up.

okay, so now i have everything set back up, but have a follow up question. i have pretty short dropouts, and now that the chain is shorter, the wheel sits really close to the edge. the axle fits completely in the dropouts, but the nuts hang off of the outside by about 1/4 inch. they're tightened down as hard as i could get them, and don't seem to be moving, but i'm uneasy about riding... especially if my wheel decides to slide forward and out of the dropouts while skidding or skipping. anyone have any suggestions?

Shiznaz

so you're saying that the axle was at the very back of the dropouts and the chain was loose, and you removed a single link of chain and now the wheel is almost falling out of the dropouts? You must have very short dropouts indeed. They make half links of chain that could solve your problem, your LBS should have them on hand.