The bike is singlespeed. I've been ss'ing on my mtb for a while now and realize that a fixie can't be run with a tensioner.

Anyway, I ran out and swapped my rings for a new one I have on hand. The chain still skipped.

However, I finally realized I could watch my cog and tensioner while riding. I noticed the skip that I'm feeling is the chain jumping up on the cog. It looks like a stiff link does, but I can make it happen with every down stroke so it has to be torque induced.

I'm thinking now it's gotta either be my cog or lack of tension. I've heard of surly cogs skipping with dual pulley tensioners so I'm suspicious of that and may try something different.

I do have a paul melvin (used) ordered that will hopefully have a bit more spring tension than my derailleur.

Thanks for the input folks.