Looong Chains
 

Hey all, I ride a 26" stretch cruiser (its about 8 feet long) and I'm having a little trouble with my chain. The damn thing is so long that frequently when i go over bumps the chain comes off the back sprocket (its a 3 speed in the hub, no derailleur).

The rear wheel is set back as far as I can physically get it in the dropouts. and there's still probably 3/4" further I could go but like i said thats as far out as I'm physically able to move it and the chain still pops off.

I'm wondering if there's a chain tensioning device that i could use to help prevent the chain from popping off, I've looked around but everything I find seems to be made to convert a frame with a Derailleur to a single speed. Will that work even though thats not what i'm doing?

Figured I'd put up a shot of my cruiser too.

This is a "Kustom Kruiser" made by GT, the model name is "Slick Daddy", 26" wheels, the frame is around 7 foot long, Triple tree forks, 3 speed in the hub with a shimano twist shifter, and a big ass 3" tire in the rear.

http://unleashdagreen.net/forums/att...8&d=1205852711


im considering a couple of upgrades this summer, A new Seat, Change the handlebars to Ape Hangers, possibly a Springer Fork and possibly change the fenders out for full length chrome ones...but nothings for sure.

A lot of recumbent bikes have long chains and use idler wheels to support them. You might be able to adapt one of theirs for use on your bike. I own an Easy Racers Gold Rush Replica, a long wheelbase recumbent, and it uses a spring loaded pair of idlers in the middle of the lower half of the chain run to prevent excessive chain slap. It works well. TerraCycle in Portland, OR sells idler wheels of their own design, and you might be able to use one of theirs as well.

take a link out

you will need to use a chain tool to remove a few links to get the chain correctly sized.

Also you can use a half link if needed to get the chain just right

I have an idea for a fix, I drew a picture in "paint" on my computer but forums won't let me post it....so I'll try to describe it.

It's basically floating pulleys', kind of the reverse of the phantom Cog, which pushes out on the chain, and kind of like double up of the pulley system on an old school tandem, which took up the chain slack there.

Phantom Pulleys would sit on the outside of the chain, and would pinch the chain inwards using a spring connecting the two pulleys, thus giving better wrap around on the cog. One pulley would rest above the chain above the chainstay, and the other pulley would sit below the chain below the chainstay. the spring would pull the two together. It may need to be anchored to the chainstay, by a short cable, to prevent it from wandering forwards or backwards.

If you wanted to go fixie, or if you have a coaster brake, then you would probably need one with a solid bar connecting the 2 pulleys, rather than a spring, so as to prevent the slop when braking.

there's still probably 3/4" further I could go but like i said thats as far out as I'm physically able to move it and the chain still pops off.

If you need more chain tension, pull the wheel back as far as you can on the non-drive side, with the wheel touching the chainstay. Tighten the non-drive side nut, then center the wheel and tighten the drive side nut.

Thats what did it right there. :thumb:

seems the problem has been fixed, but would multiple ghost cogs work in this case, with the extra long chain? would most likely look freakin sweet, if it doesn't sound so...

Cool. I had horrible trouble setting chain tension on bikes before someone showed me that trick.

I don't think multiple ghosts would work any better than just one, functionally speaking. It'd look cool though.

What might a ghost cog look like? Where can you find those?

**edit**

Nevermind, I should google first.

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1210778524

I could see one of those on my ride... might look badass if I got a cool lookin cog.

ghost ringswork well if you can find one that is exactly the right size, i use one on my tallbike when my chain kept falling off, and it worked wonders.

Use a BMX chain tensioner, one that goes in the dropouts.
You might have to grind the dropout flat on the ends, but I know someone who has the same bike as you and it works great.

Biopace ghost rings look awesome when they spin!