Chain wont run smooth

hi, ive got a problem with my chain not running smooth/straight.

Im pretty sure its to do with the chainring being warped by the bolts holding it to the cranks, but loosening them seems to cause the chain to stretch.

any ideas would be really helpful, last resort is to buy a new chainset

http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed-conversion.html#tension

This should tell you all you need to know (also, chains don't stretch).

Spin the cranks, then when it stops have a look at where the chain wheel teeth sit inside the chain. If it is nice and central you've got the right chain line.

Then go on to see if you chainring is sitting central on the spider by following the Sheldon page

Ive got a similar problem. Driving me nuts.
Ive got a new chain ring, sprocket, and chain. But Im get this grating sensation (although mild) that tells me something isnt running smooth. The chain line is bang on though.
Ive felt a similar sensation before when the chain has been overly tight, but thats not the case here either.

My only other thought is that ive fucked up the chain, because I ended up messing around with the length more than Id have liked and removing/replacing several links - i cant see any stiff links though.

Ive got a similar problem. Driving me nuts.
Ive got a new chain ring, sprocket, and chain. But Im get this grating sensation (although mild) that tells me something isnt running smooth. The chain line is bang on though.
Ive felt a similar sensation before when the chain has been overly tight, but thats not the case here either.

My only other thought is that ive fucked up the chain, because I ended up messing around with the length more than Id have liked and removing/replacing several links - i cant see any stiff links though.

Check the chain. Remove the wheel and bend each link looking for tight ones. If every link is OK then re-install wheel. Make sure that you don't have too tight a chain. You need to see some slack. Now turn the crank arms slowly looking for tighter and looser spots. Should you see any? Try to balance the chainrings to even them out "as best you can".
If you still feel grating then its just a product of the new 1/8" sprocket and chain. New teeth need some time to wear down to be smooth--- what EAI does with the Superstar and Gold Medal cogs is to machine the teeth down (so-called tuning) to replicate desired wear patterns.
If the bicycle is being ridden on the street then the process of self-tuning is relatively quick. A Shimano Dura Ace sprocket, for example, will get noticebly smoother after a couple of weeks (a few 100 miles).

Cheers Edwardz.
I had checked for stiff links, and found none.
But I think youre on the money. It seems to be smoothing out with time. The best solution seems to be to keep pedalling.