Tension trouble with horizontal, forward facing dropouts

Hi

I would like to ask if anyone can help me with my chain tension?!

Im riding a fixed gear conversion with forward facing dropouts...when i loosen the wheel and pull back the rear wheel the tension feels spot on but as i carry on pulling/pushing to try and keep the tension and tighten up the track nuts...and as soon as im done....the chain is as slack as before...ive redone my back wheel about 12 times in past 2 nights and cant get it right. i could get it pretty good before but recently its been pretty bad...

anyone got any suggestions that may help out?....would be muchly appreciated!

cheers,

Duncan.

Sheldon describes a good technique of 'walking' the axle to get a good tension:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html#wheel

Stick a tennis ball in it.

that 'walking' technique has worked wonders! its tighter than its been in weeks!

if only i had known that last night...it would have saved me a lot of tightening and loosening and a hell of a lotta frustration. cheers dude.

Stick a tennis ball in it.

that's your answer to everything.......

....i aint got a tennis ball to try that method....but next time i get my hands on one...ill try that one out too! cheers guys.

that's your answer to everything.......

It's replaced "Put a Donk On It" for 2010.

Stick a fist in it.

It's replaced "Put a Donk On It" for 2010.

HA!

Spent half an hour this morning trying to get my chain tight. I'll try Sheldon's walking method next time. I only wish I read this thread last night!

maybe see if your track nuts have washers.

Jam an ikea rubber handled screwdriver between the tyre and the BB shell. The Ikea screwdriver handle shape works quite well cos its tapered.
Then when youre done tightening your can turn the wheel and feed the screwdriver back out.

same problm with new Condor Tempo, ftted a Surly Tug Nut tensioner problem solved. Although designed for rear facing drop outs it still works fine.

same problm with new Condor Tempo, ftted a Surly Tug Nut tensioner problem solved. Although designed for rear facing drop outs it still works fine.

Sounds interesting... any chance of a photo?

there was a guy on here a year back, who, if i'm not totally demented, made small batches of chain tensioners for dropouts here in london. nice ones, too. try search him.