How often to tension chain?

[Matty]

Can't keep my chain tight for more than a week. No. 1 reason for getting a single speed was low maintenance on the commute. Not really impressed with having to tension the chain so often. Appreciate it can stretch a bit when new, but bike has done 600+ miles now, surely it should have settled down.

I currently have a quick release on, but have chain tensioners both sides.

Am I unique here? Or is weekly routine, lube chain, tighten chain?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[Theseus]

Unlikely to caused by chain stretch, this will be smaller over a longer period.

More likely to be your axles moving in the dropouts. QR's are not going to get as tight as track nuts.

When you say you have chain tensioners, do you mean chain tugs which are designed to prevent the axle from moving in the dropout, or a chain tensioner, which is designed to take up the slack on a SS chain?

If the former, are they just fitted properly and actually pulling the axle back?
If the latter, is your chain too long?

 

[tyred]

I've found that the axle nuts on my SS bike need to be really tight to keep it from slipping forward, much tighter than is necessary on a geared bike. If you don't already have any, you should try serrated washers which grip the drop out when tightened. They should help and make sure your QR is as tight as possible. If all else fails, you may have to convert to a solid axle and nuts.

If you are using chain tugs, I don't see how the axle can move?

 

[Matty]

Thanks guys. Yes chain tugs, both sides (originally only had them drive side). Chain has recently had a link removed.

Can't understand it, hence my original question!

 

[swee'pea99]

It absolutely cannot be stretching. Or wearing. Not over that time/distance. Your wheel must be shifting - nothing else fits. I use a solid axle, never had a problem.

 

[totallyfixed]

Hi Matty, just as everyone else says, so something isn't working somewhere. Try this, make a mark with a fine felt tip pen on the dropout behind and against where the quick release grips the dropout then see how much movement you have after a week. This will not tell you what it is just confirm that if your chain tugs are tight then your chain is made of cheese

 

[Matty]

More useful stuff. Ta.

 

[rogerzilla]

We did this question on YACF recently. On dirty winter roads (rapid chain wear) every 100 miles isn't unusual. Conversely, my TT/fast fixie bike will go on almost indefinitely without retensioning, because it's ridden almost completely in good weather.

No axle creep - it's real chain wear, because the axle is moving further back in the dropouts each time it's retensioned. Goldtec hubs don't slip anyway because they have vicious serrations.

 

[Matty]

Thanks rogerzilla. That's what I was being told by LBS, but couldn't quite get my head round it. I'll have to monitor through the drier weeks and see if it stays put. It does 120 ish miles a week, so it might be a routine thing to adjust.

 

[Radius]

Might be a bit late for this now, but are you riding fixed or single speed? If you're riding fixed, I wouldn't ever use a QR rear wheel...they need to be done up, tight!!!

 

[Matty]

It's single speed Radius. Mind you, that is just the most inappropriate name ever, I can go lots of different speeds in one gear.

Pretty much convinced myself it's chain stretch, it has settled down since the weather is better. I've also spotted that something is very non-circular, probably chain-ring?! If I set tension correct for pedals at slack spot (1/4 inch movement in chain), the crank will hardly turn at tight spot. So, setting at the tight bit, it only has to stretch a tiny bit to be very loose at the slack bit!

 

[MrGrumpy]

I`m wondering that its quite possible that tension a chain too tight and it will stretch quicker. This is down to my own experience btw.

 

[Matty]

I`m wondering that its quite possible that tension a chain too tight and it will stretch quicker. This is down to my own experience btw.

Agree. I think the rule of thumb is 1/4 inch vertical movement at tightest point and if you push sideways it doesn't come off. Had three chain off moments so far, always at wrong time needless to say!