Another slack chain question

Nice, will pop down to the basement in a few minutes and give this a go

get a chain tensioner.

is there actually any need for one through?

I think n3lson means a chain tug which is a relatively elegant solution. although 31t®um's suggestion works well assuming your dropouts are solid.

several previous threads on this forum covering this topic

tennis ball or some rolled up cardboard

^ tennis ball ftw. search for it if you need further clarification. i carry one all the time

if it's persistently slack, try creating a goal and awards (perhaps gold stars) for when the chain achieves steps towards said goal. positive reassurance rather than criticism may be the key.

or remove a link !

I've found what I call the mikeC method is the best. Sit on floor behind bike, rear wheel between legs, feet on pedals (cranks at 6/12 o'clock). Pull on wheel with one hand, spanner with the other hand.

Put it in the washing machine on a boil wash - when you put it back on, you'll find the chain has shrunk to the right size, therefore eliminating the need to fiddle about with bolts and dropouts.

Use fabric softener too.

the way i get tension is tighten the left nut with the wheel angled slightly to the left of the seat tube.
tighten that left nut a bit, then pull the wheel straight to the seat tube and tighten the right nut.
you don't have to wedge the wheel, sit on the floor or anything. :)

or remove a link !

a good idea. also, while something of a cliche maybe, some time on the Naughty Step (or similar) may be a good motivation tool. removing it's favorite link is a good punishment for slackness though.

If a tennis ball isn't to hand, roll up your T shirt and stuff it betwixt wheel and tube.

You can put your old chap between the wheel and seatpost and then think of carbon track frames.

You can put your old chap between the wheel and seatpost and then think of carbon track frames.

Mine is very small. Will it still work?

my tip, try a door wedge slid between wheel and tube...turn wheel/pedals till wedge in place and tension right, tighten bolts then turn pedals other way for wedge to pop out....eh voila!

So ive been using the tennis ball method which is great!

Ive got a quick video of the chain slack after a days commute (30 miles). Does this look ok?
(sorry about the crappy video and alarms, can you tell i live in Harrow?)

DSCN3864.flv video by boboffkey123 - Photobucket

Just get a cheapie chaintug on the drive side, as mentioned above somewhere.

hmm that does look slack. have you noticed you back wheel has shifted to the side at all?

Sounds like you might have stretched your chain a bit if its coming loose that soon, either that or you have might legs and are moving the wheel in the dropouts from your hench man skids innit.

You can put your old chap between the wheel and seatpost and then think of carbon track frames.

this works but watch out for snagging your plums

just get chain tugs. it;ll cost you about 8 quid and pretty much eliminate this. also, the surly ones have bottle openers :D

Tugs should never be used to tension the chain.

Tugs should never be used to tension the chain.

apart from being unnecessary since it's easy enough to do it yourself, any other reason?