Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
Reload this Page >

trouble with chain =/

Search
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)

trouble with chain =/

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-14-11 | 02:59 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
trouble with chain =/

On my fixed gear my chain seems to tighten and loosen as I pedal, im thinking its the sprocket or something. Could someone help on the subject?
Bearclaw is offline  
Reply
Old 11-14-11 | 03:03 PM
  #2  
ddeadserious's Avatar
Cat Enthusiast
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 0
From: Plymouth, MI

Bikes: All City Nature Boy

Chainrings are not often perfectly round, which can cause the chain tension to vary. Sometimes it just needs to be centered on the spider, sometimes it just sucks.

https://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html#tension
ddeadserious is offline  
Reply
Old 11-14-11 | 03:07 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 0
If there is a little bit of play where the chainring bolts onto the cranks you can probably recentre it. Loosen the bolts a turn or two, and try wiggling the chainring around.
Dan The Man is offline  
Reply
Old 11-14-11 | 03:36 PM
  #4  
BP88's Avatar
Supertouch
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, CA

Bikes: Pake Rum Runner

You can try the Sheldon Brown method; I personally got nowhere with it after an hour of fiddling. I'd just loosen all five bolts with the chain off and get it as centered as possible. Most drivetrains won't be perfect (chainline, centered chainring, etc.) so just do the best you can.
BP88 is offline  
Reply
Old 11-14-11 | 06:46 PM
  #5  
EpicSchwinn's Avatar
Just smang it.
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,295
Likes: 1
From: Bellingham

Bikes: Felt F1X, Kilo WT, Dawes Deadeye

When you've got as far as you can with the adjustments try to tension your chain while the cranks are in the tightest (chain tension-wise) position. If you tension at the loose point you risk having the chain bind up when it gets to the tight spot.

Edit: 1000th post!!!!

Last edited by EpicSchwinn; 11-14-11 at 10:44 PM.
EpicSchwinn is offline  
Reply
Old 11-17-11 | 01:14 AM
  #6  
rustybrown's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 0
From: DeSouf
rustybrown is offline  
Reply
Old 11-17-11 | 03:03 AM
  #7  
stryper's Avatar
I just wanna ride
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 1
From: Chico Califo

Bikes: 2013 BMC Impec

Originally Posted by EpicSchwinn
When you've got as far as you can with the adjustments try to tension your chain while the cranks are in the tightest (chain tension-wise) position. If you tension at the loose point you risk having the chain bind up when it gets to the tight spot.
If you tighten your chain to the correct tension, even if you do so at the loosest point, it should not be anywhere near binding on the tight spot. If it is you are likely using a bio-pace ring. Seriously no chainring should be that out of round. I can move my chain almost a half inch up and down with my fingers, which means it has about 7/8ths inches of play. if your chain ring is almost an inch out of round, buy a new one please
stryper is offline  
Reply
Old 11-17-11 | 12:54 PM
  #8  
hairnet's Avatar
Fresh Garbage
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,190
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles

Bikes: N+1

Hey man, biopace works fine with FG
hairnet is offline  
Reply
Old 11-17-11 | 02:47 PM
  #9  
RGNY's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,520
Likes: 0
From: Utica,NY,USA
dad used to service manufacturing machines that used what were essentially large bike chains:

"as long as you can keep play less than 1.5x the width of the chain at the loosest point, don't worry about it."

fwiw....
RGNY is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Rambetter
Tandem Cycling
13
12-28-13 10:24 PM
matt_s
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
2
09-28-11 08:57 AM
iRideBikes33
Bicycle Mechanics
4
08-13-11 02:35 PM
EveryManALion
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
11
05-04-11 10:19 AM
Ryrog
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
18
03-04-11 05:35 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



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

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.