Tankengine
Active Member
I usually go by middle of chain, finger under and lift upwards - if there is more than 1 or 2 cm movement it's too slack. Seems to work for me but I mostly just work on trial and error with it.
Wish me luck...
- Thread starter vickster
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
I usually go by middle of chain, finger under and lift upwards - if there is more than 1 or 2 cm movement it's too slack. Seems to work for me but I mostly just work on trial and error with it.
If it ( the chain ) looks tight I.e not sagging then it'll prob b ok for ss , if ur wanting to run it fixed that's a diff matter but as is I'd invest in a chain tug that fits on dropout and by screwing/ tightening the bolt it pulls wheel back and therefore tightens chain ,but it's a fine balance , too tight and it becomes a bind on sprocket and wears stuff faster , you can tell though cos when it's too tight it makes a kinda Graunching / grinding noise when u turn pedals
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
This is turning into a saga Vicky. I think you need o invest in a work stand to start with but then chain tugs as shown
You use the tugs to pull the wheel into position (with the axle nuts loose) and to get the chain tension right, Then you tighten the nuts. The
nuts should look like this and the knurled washer should move independently of the nut proper this allows you to really tighten without damaging your frame.
You use the tugs to pull the wheel into position (with the axle nuts loose) and to get the chain tension right, Then you tighten the nuts. The
nuts should look like this and the knurled washer should move independently of the nut proper this allows you to really tighten without damaging your frame.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Are you done yet. 
OP
OP
vickster
Legendary Member
I'm not doing anything with the bike nowAre you done yet.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
How long before a hardly used Pearson single speed appears in the for sale forum? 
At least I've learnt something from this thread, I now know what chain tugs are for
At least I've learnt something from this thread, I now know what chain tugs are for
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Chain tugs are a bit of a faff. You don't really need them. Just get the chain tight by pushing the wheel back on the drive side. Nip up the nut, then square the wheel in the frame between the two chainsaws. Then nip up the non drive side. If tension is out then undo drive side and adjust.
You 'walk' the wheel into place.Then tighten up tight.
You 'walk' the wheel into place.Then tighten up tight.
^^^ this is the way to do it but we are talking about vickster ( who didn't know what a chainstay was lol)
To get the right tension, I just jam my hand between the seat tube and the tyre and tighten up both nuts with my free hand and then the spanner. As long as it doesn't grind, it should be about right. As others have said, the chain should be able to move up &down about half an inch.
But one more complexity, chainrings are not always round. You can get tight spots and slack spots. If this happens position the cranks where the tight spot is and then tension the chain. You will know if your rings are not quite true when you have varying degrees of chain slack as you rotate the pedals.
Cheers Keith
But one more complexity, chainrings are not always round. You can get tight spots and slack spots. If this happens position the cranks where the tight spot is and then tension the chain. You will know if your rings are not quite true when you have varying degrees of chain slack as you rotate the pedals.
Cheers Keith
