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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)

Adjusting Chain Tension

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Old 05-26-10 | 12:58 AM
  #1  
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Adjusting Chain Tension

My method:

Pull the back wheel back as far as I can with chain connected to cog and crank, wheel being held back between legs, tighten bolts evenly and ensure there is no rubbing.

Am I missing something or is this the best way to got a decent amount of chain tension on a fixed gear?

I did this today (because I installed new tires) and chain tension seems good but I am wondering if there is a tried and true method to this madness.
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Old 05-26-10 | 01:35 AM
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https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ightened-chain

As discussed there, you should have the chain literally .25mm away from having ANY tension.

Try this: index fingers on the axle nuts, thumbs on the track ends. Press together and spin the nuts tight keeping the thumbs on the track end. Make sure the axle doesn't move. Tighten the drive side first. Align wheel and tighten the non drive side. Done.

Ride.
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Old 05-26-10 | 03:20 AM
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I used to "walk" the rear wheel backward till I get 1cm slack at the tightest places. Some people told me to put a hand between the frame and the wheel to do the same thing. That works fine too. Now I have a Tuggernut so half my work is always done. Plus I memorized where the tight spots are so it's even more easier.

Last edited by Tomo_Ishi; 05-26-10 at 03:23 AM.
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Old 05-26-10 | 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr. Banzai
Try this: index fingers on the axle nuts, thumbs on the track ends. Press together and spin the nuts tight keeping the thumbs on the track end. Make sure the axle doesn't move. Tighten the drive side first. Align wheel and tighten the non drive side.
this
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Old 05-26-10 | 09:05 AM
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I must have developed a bad habit from my old BMX days. I wedge a piece of wood between the tire and frame, center the wheel and tighten the nuts. lol
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Old 05-26-10 | 09:50 AM
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I adjust my chain tension with my mind.
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Old 05-26-10 | 11:49 AM
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I adjust my mind with my chain tension. ;0)
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Old 05-26-10 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Scrodzilla
I adjust my chain tension with my mind.
Man you are full of super human power, aren't you? So you cut your chains with a lightsaber or something?
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Old 05-27-10 | 01:54 AM
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I felt like an idiot trying to adjust my tension before I did SHeldon's method to even out the chainring. Now I can just pull the wheel back and tighten
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