Chain too stiff?

I just got my new Langster today and I was just checking it over before going for a ride, and turning the pedals seem pretty stiff. If I put the bike upside down and pedal backwards, the back wheel actually starts turning backwards a bit (on the free wheel hub). Is thi normal? I understand the chain will be somewhat stiffer as there is no derailleur to normalise the chain tension. Also the freewheel cog doesn't spin exactly straght, there is a slight wobble in it, is this something to worry about/fix?

Any ideas?

Thanks,

-Ifor

http://www.lfgss.com/search.php?searchid=709405

£1

Can you move the chain up and down with your finger (try the part of the chain between cog and chainwheel).

It sounds like it is too tight, so you would need to move the wheel forward very slightly.

http://www.lfgss.com/search.php?searchid=709405

£1

I did ssearch, but searched for chain and stiff!! I've been using forums long enough to utfs! But it's no use if you don't put the right words in!

Apologies for yet another chain stiffness thread, my bad!

Let me get that for you, coppiThat...

site boss please introduce a one pound donation to the forum fund to start a new thread.

sorry if i missed something.

Can you move the chain up and down with your finger (try the part of the chain between cog and chainwheel).

It sounds like it is too tight, so you would need to move the wheel forward very slightly.

I can barely move the chain, maybe 3mm and that's it!

thank you mr balki

I can barely move the chain, maybe 3mm and that's it!

Too tight. Got any space in the track ends, or is it butted up?

Friend of mine had a Flyer assembled by Cycle Surgery. I was changing a tube and I had to push the chain sideways close to the sprocket and rotate the cranks to work it off. Same process to get it on. It was a bit shit.

er... same process, but in reverse.

in retrospect it was totally different, but whatever.

I've got about 10mm of the track end, so plenty to loosen it I'd think. Is it literally just a case of loosening them, shifting the wheel forward and retightening?

Sorted, now as smoothas you like!

Yes. Just loosen the drive side first and bend the wheel across which will move it a mm or so forward on that side. Do it back up and undo/redo the non drive side to make the wheel straight again. Makes it easier to control the tension, although you could obviously just undo both nuts, move forward and do them up again.