Notices
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

chain tensioners

Old 02-21-08, 08:35 PM
  #1  
I_luv_hooters
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
chain tensioners

I know most of you think they are gay. The fact is my chain keeps coming loose on my lemond. It takes a few days but it will be loose and I'll need to re-tighten. Do any of you use a chain tensioner like the MKS one or perhaps one of the many BMX ones that are cheaper (such as the redline one https://cgi.ebay.com/REDLINE-Alloy-Ch...QQcmdZViewItem )? Do they fit any track end? Or...Can I simply get better tracknuts as a solution? Thanks.

 
Old 02-21-08, 08:37 PM
  #2  
:jarckass:
 
deathhare's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nashville
Posts: 6,562
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
If anyone thinks chain tensioners are gay theyre a dumbass. Theyll save your life if you tracknut(s) somehow become loose.
I am always shocked to see when people dont run some.
I use the MKS ones and they fit perfect.
What frame do you have?

Last edited by deathhare; 02-21-08 at 09:14 PM.
deathhare is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 08:40 PM
  #3  
roll'em high
 
shants's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: columbus, ohio
Posts: 2,391
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
the mks models are quite nice and the surly works well, but is fairly large and kludgy. i cannot speak for other brands. with the mks, there are two sizes -- one that fits most standard steel frames with thinner track ends (5mm i believe) and one that fits many aluminum frames with thicker ends (8mm).
shants is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 08:45 PM
  #4  
DC's Stray Cat
 
FERAL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 207

Bikes: Gary Fisher Single Speed; Raleigh Conversion; Cayne Uno fixed

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
i have had both MKS and Surley's The MKS are small and light so they don't stand out but I had one work loose and fall off. Since then I have been running the Surley's and love them. More $$ but durable, easier to adjust in my opinion, and they open a bottle of brew. Use them, its not gay. They could very well save your life.
FERAL is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 08:49 PM
  #5  
roll'em high
 
shants's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: columbus, ohio
Posts: 2,391
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
i recommend a bit of blue loctite on the mks threads. it doesn't make it any more difficult to adjust them, but they hold a bit better. feral is right that they can be a little strange to adjust because you are dealing with two threaded sections and have to be sure that both have significant engagement.
shants is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 08:52 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: four 1 OHHH , Maryland
Posts: 2,849

Bikes: nagasawa, fuji track pro

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
i don't like the ones that go on the outside of the dropouts so... i use these

nagasawa:


fuji track pro:
jdms mvp is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 08:53 PM
  #7  
or tarckeemoon, depending
 
marqueemoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: the pesto of cities
Posts: 7,020

Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I have the MKS. They don't seem to offer much range of adjustment (the axle has to be pretty much dead center in the track ends) but they work ok I guess.
marqueemoon is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 09:23 PM
  #8  
I_luv_hooters
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
Originally Posted by deathhare
I use the MKS ones and they fit perfect.
What frame do you have?
It's my Lemond Filmore with the mavic ellipses that keeps coming loose. The track ends are kind of rounded looking as opposed the square look of the ones you guys have posted. Thats why I wonder if the MKS are universal and will fit mine. I don't think i want the huge surly one hanging off my bike. I'll drop $31 for the MKS. I assume they come as a pair and I should use both. I want the one with hex nut tightening instead of 10mm nut.
 
Old 02-21-08, 09:27 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: four 1 OHHH , Maryland
Posts: 2,849

Bikes: nagasawa, fuji track pro

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by I_luv_hooters
It's my Lemond Filmore with the mavic ellipses that keeps coming loose. The track ends are kind of rounded looking as opposed the square look of the ones you guys have posted. Thats why I wonder if the MKS are universal and will fit mine. I don't think i want the huge surly one hanging off my bike. I'll drop $31 for the MKS. I assume they come as a pair and I should use both. I want the one with hex nut tightening instead of 10mm nut.
there are two sizes of tensioners...one for steel frames and one for aluminum frames
jdms mvp is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 09:29 PM
  #10  
Pretty Prince of Parties
 
chadbrochill17's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 478

Bikes: Pista

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I've got the MKS oversized ones and they work great. They also have sort of a contoured shape to them in the inside that seems to fit round shaped track ends.
chadbrochill17 is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 09:34 PM
  #11  
I_luv_hooters
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
Well bens has these:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

I wonder if they'd work. it looks like it and the price is right. thanks.

Edit: forget it it - says BMX. Oh well! I'll keep searching for the oversized ones.
 
Old 02-21-08, 09:57 PM
  #12  
Pretty Prince of Parties
 
chadbrochill17's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 478

Bikes: Pista

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I got mine from Trackstar:

https://trackstarnyc.com/store/catalo...roducts_id=230

They even sent me a bunch of cool stickers and an issue of COG magazine. Looking back, it was a great decision.
chadbrochill17 is offline  
Old 02-21-08, 10:39 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
TehK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 599

Bikes: 2003 Novara Randonnee, Miyata 512, Mercier Kilo TT

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Ben;s cycles has the MKS ones too.
TehK is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 04:17 AM
  #14  
馬鹿野郎!
 
jussik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: HELLsinki, Finland
Posts: 545
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I got the MKS's NJS stamped standard model on my other bike and it's super nice, I only got one though. IMO you don't really need two of them.

I also got a pair of simple old school -style tensioners on my Vivalo 'cos the MKS didn't fit the 110mm trackdrops made for the narrower axle, those older ones do fit with however. They look kinda like the one one the Nagawasa on the pic above. I got them from a local 'mad collector'-type dude who has like a 100 pairs of them and I'm actually thinking of getting a bunch of them from him and putting them up for sale on on Ebay.

And hey, Ben's sent me a Cog mag as well.
jussik is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 06:51 AM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: four 1 OHHH , Maryland
Posts: 2,849

Bikes: nagasawa, fuji track pro

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by jussik
I also got a pair of simple old school -style tensioners on my Vivalo 'cos the MKS didn't fit the 110mm trackdrops made for the narrower axle, those older ones do fit with however. They look kinda like the one one the Nagawasa on the pic above.
And hey, Ben's sent me a Cog mag as well.
yup my nagasawa is 110mm spaced. i wanted to get the mks ones but they are for 10mm dropouts and not 8mm...

i think bens sends u a cog magazine if u are one of the first 10 orders of the day... i think i read that on their front page
jdms mvp is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 06:58 AM
  #16  
cab horn
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353

Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 18 Posts
Originally Posted by deathhare
If anyone thinks chain tensioners are gay theyre a dumbass. Theyll save your life if you tracknut(s) somehow become loose.
I am always shocked to see when people dont run some.
Telling people to use tensioners because their wheel slipping is just poor advice. The solution is to figure out why the axle is slipping, crappy track nuts? Dropouts misaligned? Paint or some other garbage on the dropout surface?

Chain tensioners are used because people want to easily set their wheel position, because it also holds the wheel in place doesn't mean that's what it is for.

Learn how to tighten a rear wheel properly. It'll save your life, instead of using hack solutions like a chain tensioner.
operator is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 07:00 AM
  #17  
cab horn
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353

Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 25 Times in 18 Posts
Originally Posted by I_luv_hooters
Well bens has these:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

I wonder if they'd work. it looks like it and the price is right. thanks.

Edit: forget it it - says BMX. Oh well! I'll keep searching for the oversized ones.
Stop looking for chain tensioners and start figuring out why your axle is slipping in the dropouts. This is NOT the way to solve the problem.
operator is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 07:23 AM
  #18  
馬鹿野郎!
 
jussik's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: HELLsinki, Finland
Posts: 545
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
yup, they're primarily made to help you dial in the right chain tension, which they are really handy for, but then you are supposed to crank the bolts tight enough so that the BOLTS keep the axle in right position.
jussik is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 09:34 AM
  #19  
I_luv_hooters
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
Originally Posted by jussik
yup, they're primarily made to help you dial in the right chain tension, which they are really handy for, but then you are supposed to crank the bolts tight enough so that the BOLTS keep the axle in right position.
OK, lets start with new tracknuts then. I think this may be all I need. Where should I purchase replacement tracknuts to get the best, most grippy? Is there usually just 1 standard size that fits all? Mine seem typical in size on my Mavic Ellipses.
 
Old 02-22-08, 09:59 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Adam777's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Dude, tensioners are totally "gay"
Adam777 is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 10:57 AM
  #21  
Utilitarian Boy
 
Gyeswho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bronx, NY
Posts: 3,235

Bikes: Check the sig to find out

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
If you do decide to get one I'd recommend the Surly if you don't care for aesthetics. They are hands down the easiest to adjust chain tension than with a MKS (you need a tool to do it compared to just hand cranking) and offer a wider array of the axles position in the track ends. They double in cool factor because they work with both conversion frames (you don't want your wheel slipping on semi-horizontal drops) and track frames and make tensioning a faster/easier process. Of course you can get by without one but it's a nice little convenience to have.

Gyeswho is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 11:09 AM
  #22  
Senior Member
 
mihlbach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 6,643
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 114 Post(s)
Liked 125 Times in 67 Posts
Originally Posted by Gyeswho
that is the ugliest POS component I've ever seen on a bike. Thank god I am a competent human and can manage without a hideously stupid looking bottle opener bolted to my bike.
mihlbach is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 11:11 AM
  #23  
Utilitarian Boy
 
Gyeswho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bronx, NY
Posts: 3,235

Bikes: Check the sig to find out

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by mihlbach
that is the ugliest POS component I've ever seen on a bike. Thank god I am a competent human and can manage without a hideously stupid looking chain tensioner/bottle opener bolted to my bike.
that's why I said if he didn't care about aesthetics...but why should it matter what it looks like when, while you're riding, your eyes are looking ahead?
Gyeswho is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 11:29 AM
  #24  
Hello.
 
crushkilldstroy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: West Seattle
Posts: 2,902
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by mihlbach
that is the ugliest POS component I've ever seen on a bike. Thank god I am a competent human and can manage without a hideously stupid looking bottle opener bolted to my bike.
Hahahahaha damn. Someone got served.

To the OP, don't you have a few other sets of wheels lying around? Assuming they don't take anything goofy, you could always borrow a set off of a different wheelset and see if that eliminates the problem.

I also agree that chain tensioners are meant to help SET tension, not maintain it.

I also find it silly when people think that you will immediately die if your wheel slips in the dropout. If your tracknuts somehow come loose (usually gnomes), your tire will grind to a halt on a chainstay. Not exactly the end of the world.
crushkilldstroy is offline  
Old 02-22-08, 11:44 AM
  #25  
hello
 
roadfix's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 18,684
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 191 Post(s)
Liked 109 Times in 48 Posts
Yeah, you don't need a tensioner if you have good track nuts, for the most part.

Last edited by roadfix; 02-22-08 at 11:51 AM.
roadfix is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.