Easy Way to Tension Your Fixed Gear Chain
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- Опубликовано: 25 янв 2017
- Correct chain tension is crucial to maximize the efficiency and life expectancy of your fixed or singlespeed drivetrain, and I know you want maximum efficiency and life expectancy. Here's an easy way to get the correct chain tension.
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The trick I've always used to tension my chain is to take something like a bathroom towel and fold it twice "hotdog style" and roll it up from there. Loosen the bolts. Then take the rolled towel and put it in right below your saddle in front of the seat stays in between your rear tire and your seat tube, and then rotate your tire so the towel rolls downward (or upward if you're doing this with the bike flipped over) towards the chain stays until it's far enough in between the tire and the seat tube to give the desired tension. Then just do a slight centering of your rear wheel and tighten the bolts. Super easy, no fancy tools, works for all types of dropouts, and it'll always get your chain tight
I find it much easer/faster to tension by keeping the wrench in one hand and placing the non-wrench hand between the wheel and seat tube. Then use the non-wrench hand to both align and tension by pushing 'out', while the wrench hand tightens. Probably not the 'correct' way, but if u prefer more tension it seems like the easiest way.
Bessed Drest this ^
Bessed Drest its waaay faster.. you cant take 3 hrs to do what he shows on video when you ride bmx. cuz if the wheel shifts .. 3 hrs down the drain
2:28 T I G H T N U T S
This video made me realize my chain is crazy tight! Thanks!
I am super grateful for this video. Both the knowledge and the giggles. Thank you!
I know this is rather old but this video and a bunch others have helped me plenty. Because of you I have been able to:
Replace my riser bar to drop bars
Replace my stem
Replace my chain with decent tension
Replace my rear cog since I didn’t have enough skid patches.
Buy bicycle lights.
And a bunch others. You’re great man !
bicycle lights or absence of them is not propagating on this channel afaik
@@Eimrine he has a video of recommended bicycle accessories. One recommendation was a light that attaches to the back of the seat. But thanks for trying
Your chain was too loose. Your lucky and have nice parts so you don't need to worry about high and low spots. I would add more tension to the chain. Check for the high and low spots. As you spin your cranks your chain will loosen and tighten. The nicer the part and who built the crank set will determin how extream this is. When your chain is at its tightest it should only have around 4 to 5 mm of movement. But if you have an extreme low spot where your chain goes loose ( above 1.4cm )you need to take a link out of your chain. If its very extreme, your rear cog, chainring or chain is worn. It could also be your rear wheel is not alighned with your chain stayes. Unless your chain has been changed recently, the chain is the best way to judge the drive chains condition. If you use a chain cheaker and its over 1% I recommend changing the chain and rear cog and testing the chainring for drive chain slipping.
I apologise for any bad spelling I'm dyslexic.
Use a piece of cloth between the tire and the frame, like that you can adjust the tension as wanted and it will stay still while you tight the bolts. That is all.
I really like your videos, and I enjoy constantly learning about fixed gear bikes. I have been riding only fixed gear bikes since the early 2000's, and can't ever go back to geared bikes. The only single speed I have is a 29er fat bike for riding in deep snow or in the sand on the beach.
I'm confused Zack, I thought you're supposed to use one of those hipster wrenches that also open bear bottles.
watched your vids in 2020, thank you very much and now i decided to buy mataro for my first fixed gear bike because of you and very satisfied with it ^^ thank you
Hey. That helped me a lot. I didn't know why my bikes chain wouldtn tighten and I didn't even know what chain tension was until I found this video. I thought my chain was done for. Thanks😀
one of the more useful videos i've every encountered salute
Thanks for the video. I love the overcomplicated lifehack of using a Brazil nut to see if your wrench is the right size though. I mean, just check on the nut itself on the bike. 😄
Simple hack to tensioning Fixie chain. Shove a tennis ball (or tightly rolled shirt for roadside repair) btw. rear tire and seat tube (ensuring tire is centered) and tighten axle nuts and check chain tension to make sure its JUST TO THE POINT OF NOT TO TIGHT (no binding while pedaling). Works like a charm!!!
“That’s a falling lamp that’s a falling bike, things are going okay”
Thanks! I had absolutely no idea what I was doing switching my bike from single speed to fixed gear 😅
Great video! Wow, I'm glad you could put your nuts to good use. How creative of you to use your nuts to measure the correct size of a wrench. Also, I didn't know you could adjust your nuts to tighten a single speed chain.
I just use a broom handle to tension my chains. Flip your bike over and put the broom handle between the frames bottom cross member and pull tight on the top of the broom handle. Gives you great leverage. All you have to do is rotate your wrist if the wheel is crooked. Works good.
Thanks for the info, great video!
“That’s a falling lamp” 😂😂😂
Yes I did need $50 MKS chain tensioners. They are a drastic improvement from nearly all other options. I’m a huge advocate of spending top dollar on nuts, bolts, lockrings, axles. You know the parts that connect everything together
brilliant video helped me a lot
Is there a difference if you closer the wheel to the frame or moving it further?
Excellent chain tightening instructions!
What a freaking DELIGHT this video was! I was just kinda lost and hoping to learn if I can fix whatever is wrong with my bike. I DONT really know anything yet because this is relatively new to me. Well imagine my glee when not only am I getting great information in a way I can understand what I'm needing to do.... I ALSO keep cracking up at all your jokes. I keep not expecting the joke and then there is it. I haven't giggled this much in a while. Thanks for the information and the laughs
@zach hey man I'm have some drivetrain slippage I thought it might be a lose cog but that's not it.... please help... my fixie is my daily Rider..I want to keep riding but not if it's not safe....cause you know cars and stuff
Great effort bro,great info,,subbed
Just pull on the wheel with one hand with slight pressure and look at the centering from above. When it looks centered slightly tighten the drive side them the other side and lock it in place. Then tighten the drive side fully and the other side and you're good
fantastic!
Hey Zach I'm a larger guy 300lbs that wants to bike to work sometimes. I only live 3 miles away from work. Do you or anyone else have suggestions on bikes. I've been looking at fat tire bikes not sure if that would be a good idea. Any tips would be great.
Hey big guy, make sure you ride with MINIMUM 32 spoke wheels with 32mm tires, rear tire pumped up to MAXIMUM 120psi!!! You are TOO heavy for 28mm tires. If you can find a 36 spoke rear wheel with 38mm tires that would be even better. Oh and NO CARBON FORK, you are too heavy for that. Your BEST BET is a Steel frame and STEEL fork. Ride ALOT to lose weight. Drink 16 oz. of H2O BEFORE AND AFTER your ride for hydration and appetite suppression so you don't gorge after exercising. 300 lbs. is WAYYY TOO HEAVY. Cycling is probably the BEST WAY to shed that fat there pal!!!
Charge cooker
i'm happy to give it a try on my bike
Thanks this was really helpful!
Great video.
This is a great video! It wasn't especially useful to me as the walk-it-out method is also my preferred method, but damn did you crack me up a few times.... "That's a falling lamp that's a falling bike" had me in stitches!
HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHH
hey zach can you help me know what is the best clipless pedals
roadbikes or mtb
It's pretty much like scooting it til it's just right 😌
Great video, very usefull. Thanks.
I have a question. Does ghost ring gives me more fixie points?
Congratulations! you made a easy things a hard way!
Would having a slacker chain make it easier to skid on a fixie???
hi my i think my tension is wrong my gear ratio is 47/16 but my skid patches is only one pls help
That's a pretty darn long process of tightening and loosening
Royce Lee
That's exactly what I Was thinking!😂🤣
gotta hit the algarythm
Zach: "easy way"
Also zach: "i'm not good at mechanical stuff"
In reality it only takes like 2mins top.
Get a chain tensioner, it will make your life easier.
Seems impossible task to maintain position of rear axle on my Langster without chain-tugs. After installing tugs, the bike went from a rattling mess into a much less noisy urban shredder, slamming over anything without fear of chain jumping off.
I felt totally stupid then I saw your clip and now I can cycle again. Thank you so much
Can we do this faster coz this is a very long process and I faced this issue in middle of a ride.
Do u put back the chain tensioner on after all that ?
I aways used a wooden wedge between te tire and the frame to pull the weel.
But your method is very usefull, especially when you are riding and need to change or mend the rear tire.
I just thought your chain too loose.
what if you have a thru axle hub and frame?
Your intro brought me here and kept me here!!!
What gear ratio are you running?
Chainstays are sometimes different shapes (or lengths) and do not work for centering. Best to use a combination of chainstay AND seat tube/BB Shell.
Definitely always use a brazil nut though. Get those nuts loose.
What do you do if the back wheel is not aligned?
can you make a video about loose chains on a bike where u cant just pull you wheel back
Why is it good to keep the chain tension so loose rather than tight ?
Not exactly related to chain tension, Zack, but how does a half link chain compare to the normal full link bike chain in terms of:
1. weight
2. durability
3. "chain stretch"
4. connector link types (pin, clip, cotter?)
4. overall efficiency
I'm looking to replace a chain now, and wondered which option to choose.
Half links are common in bmx, very strong chains but a little on the heavy side. a normal single speed chain will function the same
Helpful asf
Zach a few months ago I noticed my chained sort of jumped slightly but ignored it, thinking it was no problem, now it jumps higher than ever. even with tightening it properly, I gets tight if you turn the crank to a certain point Loose in an another, could this be because of an old chain or my crank is misaligned.thank you
Matthew Martinez Do some chainring adjustments via the chainring bolts. Google a tutorial.
Matthew Martinez I would say your chainring is possibly bent? best way to tell would be remove rear wheel and take chain off of the chain ring and spin the pedals around and let them soon, then hold a finger 1mm away from the chainring as it spins and if it intermittently touches your finger, if so it could be bent
Here's a simple way. With the bike either upside down or on a work stand, tighten both track nuts to finger tight. Get this right and you will then be able to adjust the position of the wheel by pulling on the track nuts with the crooks of your index fingers, with the pads of your thumbs braced against the rear end of the dropouts. Once the wheel is in the right place, tighten the nuts, a half turn each, double check the position and chain tension, then tighten them all the way. Important: position the spanner on the track nut so that when you tun, the "handle" of the spanner is moving towards the rear of the bike. This means that on one side, the spanner will be pointing upwards, and on the other side, downwards. This last step reduces the risk of the spanner itself pushing the axle forwards and slackening the chain. Simples. How much slack? As little as you can get away with as long as the pedals and back wheel turn freely and continue to do so when you stop turning them by hand. Usually the chainring and sprocket are imperfect, so the tension on the chain will vary slightly with rotation.
I tried bike racing my friends and when I pedaled hard it would have some kind of snap and make me lose control, will this video help fix this problem
nothing would break though, just the sound of a snap
Happened to me before,chain was loose and the chain tensioner warped somehow xD
Looking to change my fixed gear chain, any brand recommendations Zach?
P.S. looking to add some color.
Go buy some Izumi Gold or Jet black chain, i use them on my track bike and they are really durable:)
Thx bro now I don’t have a loose chain and the chain don’t fkn fall off now so thx bro
Thanks you so much
Thank you
Love it!!
One time i did a skid, the whole chain came off without breaking... what happened?
this video really help me to tension my chain thanks! Zach Gallardo
It worked great!!! I fixed my sons bike!
Thanks
So it’s not necessary to have that plastic barrier in front of the big chain loop? Mine broke during this process lol.
I shove a broom stick between the tire and frame and then tighten the axle nuts. My older brother showed me that trick when I was a kid because he got tired of me making him come out to hold the wheel while I tightened the bolts.
Is it normal that my chain has a tight spot or can I fix it?
How tf do u do it alone? It's a pain in the ass to tighten ny chain, also how do I make my wheel straight cuz mine is crooked.
LMAO dude common sense, You need the bike stand thing you can buy it in amazon. LOL no one can do it by themself. "GETS THEIR BACK BROKEN BECAUSE OF FIXING CHAINS YIKESSSS BY THEMSELVES"
lmao you had my dying with the brazil nut strat.
Thanks! Doesn't look like operating on a rocket indeed
I would need to subtly disagree with Efficiency and Longevity being the most important factors to chain tension on a fixedgear bike.....On the street. If you were riding the bike on the velodrome or perhaps in a fixed-gear crit, this might be the case. For most riders using there bikes in the street, you would need the chain slightly tighter to allow for more responsiveness when stopping and track-standing. Maybe 2cm up and down would be plenty of (street slack)
Their*
That's not the easy and fast way.
hopetofly pull it back with your fucking hands and tighten it. It's not rocket surgery
I have no video, just press your hand between the tire and the seattube tighten the driveside scew and then anlign your wheel and tighten the other one.
Aidan Shmaden
It also isn't brain science.
what ratio do you ride with? :)
thats a hilarious but informative video
Does this not effect ur rear brake? Your pulling the wheel back so surely less of the brake disk is in contact with the pad ?
Reasons why I stick to rim brakes. So easy to adjust for that
I just put in a new kmc gold chain on my track bike but know I find it’s quite noisy even though it’s got good tension any thoughts?
Greese it
LOL you put gold chain hahahahhaha
Dose this work for bmx
1. Pull your wheel and tighten your chain first time with your HUGE MUSCLES
2. Tighten the opposite-drivetrain nut, align wheel, tighten the other nut
3. Pedal fast with your HUGE MUSCLES
how to fix axial misalignment?
I’m saving this video😂
What is that cog hole for
What if it loosens when I pedal
funny.. thanks brother
I learned this when I was 9 years old, driving and fixing old BMX bikes.
hey zaaaackkk PLEASE NOTICE NEED HELP .. my chain is much tighter at one point of the crank revolution than the rest. is it normal ?
yes
TheErraticAlien Yay thanks .
no problemo
@@TheErraticAlien i don't think so
The intro.. wow im laughing so hard😂😂😂 idkwhy😂😂
берешь кароче подсидельный штырь или насос. закатываешь его меж колесом и трубой, до такой степени, пока цепь не будет достаточно натянута и всё. ровняешь колесо и ноу проблемос
my fixed gear keeps making a lot of noise and when i pedal it’s like i’m pedaling with gears like it’s not smooth , what’s wrong ?
Chain line probably not straight. Crank and fixed cog not perfectly aligned. Take a look. Can fix it with spacers or shorter/longer spindle. Or maybe crushed bearings in something
That was lo-key creepy because I thought the "hey zach" was a ad targeted at me
Prop Ability FPV 😭😭
Mr gallardo i woul lke you make a video for adult who areent so strong again and want to ride bike with a standard crank & pinion could chose for small hills & drive aroud neighbohrhood, thanks for your great videos. Good job mr zack.
46teeth and 16teethcog is OK?
On my Trek 850 the back wheel cannot be moved back at all.
"You don't need to yank it or anything... gently, it's your bike, not a lonely friday night." Goddamn legend.
Zach do u still play Pokemon . if so you down to battle me . I got moon
Thanks! 🍓receive a strawberry.
That a surly sprocket?