This is probably one of the top questions about fixed gear bikes: how to get a perfect chain tension? Well, today I try to answer this question and also give you a magic trick. Don't forget to sub!
Always find the tightest point of the chain ( midway along it's length). By moving the pedals slowly until you find it. This is the place that it must stay while you tension or you will over tighten the chain every time. Even brand new chains will have a tightest point.
It's worth spinning the crank through several revolutions whilst doing this, because the tight spot isn't necessarily an aspect of chain manufacture: it can be due to sprocket eccentricity. The point at which the two sprockets' eccentricities make the chain tightest might not only occur once every few crank revolutions. And if you subscribe to the school of thought that required each of your sprockets to have a prime number of teeth, you might be turning that crank for hours to find the tight spot 😉
Chainrings and cogs are never perfectly round.. You have to adjust the tension to be perfectly slack in the area of rotation that creates the most tension... If that makes sense...
@@temiongcecilio the gear is fixed, so yes... You'll find the adjustment easily going forward or backwards.. Its no great mechanical mystery. Also listen to the chain as you adjust it. It has a natural inclination to be quieter in the sweet spot. Its easy once you find it. A nice aha moment. 😍
Great video! I don't know if my method is a magic trick or a terrible hack. I sit behind the bike and use two wrenches at the same time. I pull the wheel as far back as I can, and start tightening both nuts at the same time, while making sure that the wheel stays straight. The chain sometimes ends up slightly more loose than I wish. Then I try again, pulling the wheel back with a bit more force. I should probably try your method :D
Très bon tuto bon je préfère sans tendeur plus simple surtout maintenant que je flip flop en pf en fonction du terrain. Par contre ce qui peut être chiant c'est quand ton plateau est parfaitement rond, faut bien chercher le point de tension le plus important pour le réglage. Et sinon gaffe au doigt quand sa tourne surtout sur un pied d'atelier. Sa ma coûté un mois d'arrêt, de la chirurgie et j'ai failli perdre mon doigt.😅
Only way to have perfect chain tension is to use a drive side chain tensioner set to not bind at the tightest part of the chain. That way you tighten the drive side 1st and the wheel will be perfectly straight in the dropouts. Doing it this way the wheel will be in a random spot every time, doesn't matter much for brakeless but if you run rear brakes it's annoying. That being said if you aren't going to do it the pro track way with the drive side tensioner this is probably the best option #2.
Flybikes make a tool to do this on a bmx, its like a wedge thing that goes between the frame and wheel. Dont know if it would work on a fixie cos of frame clearance but someone should make one that does
I just put my thumbs on the ends of the dropouts, fingers around the ends of the axle, and push/pull, centre between chainstays, and then finger tighten both nuts at the same time. Then carefully tighten with the wrench alternating sides at first (or just use two if at home). Pulling basically as hard as you can in that awkward position seems to give a pretty good tension and this method is very quick.
Good stuff, can you do a short video and cover importance of finding tight spot in chain by rotating cranks/pedals. I dont understand importance or what to consider once this tightness is discovered, it may be my not understanding comments fron one.
A chain that is too tight is slower and wears faster. Tighten your chain fully and then spin the wheel and watch how fast it slows down to get an idea of why proper tension is so important. Most street fixed gear riders err on the too tight side. The sweet spot is called "track slack" with more play than a tight chain.
