Chain tensioners?

When I picked up my off the shelf fixed, my LBS recommended a chain tensioner thingy to make taking the wheel off & getting chain tension spot on that little bit easier.

Looking at the Robin Mather bikes and noticing their built in devices has reminded me of this (that and the fact that I think my chain tensions too slack again).

What's the thought on these? Worth the dosh? Any good / reasonable value ones out there?

well, they keep yer chain from going all baggy
MKS from Hubjub

Worth the dosh - yes.

I've got a single MKS 5mm (allen key) for sale £8.50 (inc postage).

"Chain tug".. very different to a "chain tensioner", the latter not allowed near a fixed bike..

aaah hippy, that'd be why I could get sweet FA on googling tensioners ( well loads of stuff, none of it was what I wanted...)

Stompy, will keep you posted

stompy and murtle, what ya go 4, fat or thin? the bite on my new goldtecs isn't the best :(

got an aluminium frame so had to get the 8mm's but you have to run them on the outside of the frame because the goldtec's as you know have a flattened 12mm axle and the tugs have a 10mm hole...

I run the thin one, fits perfectly inside my dropout.

condor sell them singly for £7.50

got two bikes to run them on ;) . thanks girls!

Ok, being a bit of an idiot...

Can someone tell me where my logics dodgy...

• Chain tugs basically fit over the ends of the track, with a bolt going through it and loop welded onto the bolt
  
• The axle goes through the loop
  
• You tighten the bolt to pull the axle back / tighten chain
  
  
  

So 2 questions?

How do you tighten the bolt if its welded to the loop? the loop would have to spin, but it has the axle through it?

Do you have to take undo the bolt completely to remove the wheel? I thought one of the advantages was to set it once then tighten against it everytime?

Ok, apologies if these are stupid questions, it's the last Thursday before 1/2 term and my brain ran out of power a while back...

dunno evilmonkey..am to drunk myself..
Its somewhow double threaded, they work..
I just know hubjubs chain thugs were a revelation for me. Is worth every pound.
They just ease your mind of chain tension forever.
Only problem is that with my hub them only fit with the 'MKS' to the inside

it's basically in 2 pieces, the bolt on the end is threaded into the loop, unscrew the bolt and it winds out of the loop section growing in length.

screw in the bolt and it pulls the axle, thus tightening the chain.

My chaintug is now sold. Sorry.

Study this pic Evilmonkey.. the 'ring around axle' is behind the tracknut. The bolt threads through the end bit and into the female section which is joined to loop..

Or, just buy one and spend 20min working it out. :)

Hippy, this is what I needed, a closup pic....

As you say, I think I'll just buy the feckers and sort it out al home...

That'll add to my list of jobs to do over the 1/2 term break!

I'm nice like that..

I think the dude needs to check his spokes though ;)

MrSmith condor sell them singly for £7.50

They perfect too..

I've got a pair of MKS 5mm allen key ones that don't fit my frame.

Unused and in original packaging, with (Japanese) instructions.

Dozen sheets the pair plus postage or Central London pickup.

Mine!

Now don't fkn tell me Jon whispered you about 'em! :P

I snapped one of mine.. or the allen bolt loosened off enough to fall off.. or something..

My drop outs come in at 6mm so I'v ordered a pair of the fat ones from hubjub...

Thanks for the offer (even though hippy's snapped them up).

The 8mm are kinda chunky all round.

I found on my Paddy Wagon that due to shortish dropouts the tensioner hit the tracknut before the chain went tight.

Might be worth offering the tug to the dropout carefully before you install in case you have to return.