single speed tensioner . help

[biggs682]

just to get my mind right just finished putting together a single speed freewheel bike together with tensioner on a frame with horizontal drop outs and the less conact area the chain has with the freewheel , the more drive i lost when i pedalled . took 1 link out and it improved , but if i take another link out the tensioner is not required as chain is fairly tight !

so what am i doing wrong

its a screw on type NEW freewheel , new chain , new crank and tensioner

 

[gaz]

Are you talkin about chain tugs? Are their little screws in the horizontal drop outs?

You want the chain to be tight enough so it makes minimal noise. And there is enough tension so it doesn't fall off.

 

[Zoiders]

got a sideways on picture?

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

i'm confused, horizontal drop outs don't need to have a tensioner, dump the tensioner.

 

[biggs682]

sorry meant to say vertical drop out with no adjustment , hence tensioner

 

[Zoiders]

We would need to see the size of the sprocket to get an idea of the amount of chain wrap in relation to the angle the tensioner arm is running the chain in at.

That's what would make it slip.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

We would need to see the size of the sprocket to get an idea of the amount of chain wrap in relation to the angle the tensioner arm is running the chain in at.

That's what would make it slip.

+1, plus, is the tensioner sprung or fixed?

 

[biggs682]

tensioner sprung pushing down on chain , all looks straight , rear is 15 tooth front is 48 , new chain so no stiff links , will try and get pics later in week , just manic at mo

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

15t cog with tensioner pushing down? that's why it's slipping, there isn't enough chain wrap around rear sprocket. you need to change it to pushing up.

 

[biggs682]

a e adkins of wellingborough have refined what i did and lo and behold it works , upon asking all he has told me is that they have the tensioner running along the frame rather than away from the frame , but it works and looks good so that is all that matters , just need testing miles know .

thanks to all