How tight should my chain be?
6 min read
Asked by: Alex Hicks
It should be tight enough that it only allows you to move it up and down about one inch. If it is sagging or much looser than that, you need to tighten that chain up.
How tight are chains supposed to be?
A properly-tensioned chainsaw chain should still be just a little loose on the chainsaw guide bar, but the chain needs to be tight enough that you can’t pull the drive links out of the bar nose.
How tight is too tight for a chain?
The rule of the thumb says that the exact tightness of a chain will only let you move for about half an inch. Now, if the chain is too loose, then you need to tighten it. If you cannot even move the chain, then it is too tight, and it needs to be loosened.
How do I know if my chain is too loose?
If it is too loose, the chain could skip or drop, and you can see it sag.
- while holding one end against the teeth of the chainring, pull the other end of the chain and wrap it around the cog;
- line up the end of the chain against an opposite link (inner and outer links), and then.
- add two rivets of chain length.
How tight should the chain be on a fixed gear?
It should be tight as it can be without binding. If the chain is too loose, it can fall off, which is quite dangerous on a fixed gear. Set the rear axle so that the chain pulls taut at the tightest part of the cranks’ rotation. One at a time, loosen up each of the stack bolts, and tighten it back just finger tight.
Why do chains sag?
Chains become loose for a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons is a new chain on an old bike. Older bikes obviously have older and more worn-down components. Placing a new chain on these worn-down parts can cause the chain to jump and slip around as you ride.
Is a bike chain supposed to be loose?
It should be tight enough that it only allows you to move it up and down about one inch. If it is sagging or much looser than that, you need to tighten that chain up. Chains often loosen when a bike does not have a derailleur. Derailleur is the gear changing mechanism towards the back of the bike.
How do I know if my chainsaw chain is tight enough?
Checking for the perfect tightness of a chainsaw is quite easy. You can check it by using your fingers. Just grab the chain, pull it as far as you can and then release it. After release, it gets back to the original position then, it is tight enough.
How do I know if my bike chain is too long?
Do a simple check on your bike by shifting the chain to the big chainring and the biggest cassette cog; then, push on the end of the derailleur cage (pushing forward) to see how much it will move forward. If it moves just a little, then you’re good. If it moves a lot, then you’ve got too much chain.
What happens if bike chain is loose?
The major symptoms of a loose chain include chain teeth skipping over the sprockets, uneven transmission of power to the wheel leading to jerky wheel movements, chain lash and the chain slapping the swindle arm, and in the final case, chain coming off the sprocket.
Why does my chain slip under pressure?
Gear indexing issues
One of the most common reasons for a skipping chain is simply a drivetrain that needs a simple indexing adjustment. This is so common that even many brand new bikes can exhibit these symptoms. The good news is that this is probably the simplest to diagnose and fix of all potential issues.
What causes chain slack?
A motorcycle chain that keeps getting loose is usually caused by the rear axle or chain tensioning bolts not being tight enough. It can also be cause by a new chain not being worn in enough, worn down sprocket teeth, having too tight of a tension, or having the wrong size of chain installed.
How tight should a bike chain be single speed?
approximately one half inch
Chain Tension
There should be approximately one half inch of movement in the chain up and down at a point half way between the front and rear sprockets. To change the tension loosen one of the axle-nuts and move the wheel forward or backward slightly and snug it up again.
Why does my chain come off when I pedal hard?
If the crankset is loose, it can move sideways during pedaling, which can allow the chain to come off. So make sure the crankarms are securely attached and that there’s no side-to-side play in the crankarm or bottom bracket. Some bottom brackets can be tightened.
Why does my chain fall off when I pedal backwards?
If your chain is coming off at the rear, it’s often a simple matter of adjusting the limit screws on your rear derailleur. If the chain is coming off the inside of the cassette, put the chain onto the smaller chainring (at the front) and the largest sprocket (at the rear).
How do you fix a loose chain?
Essential Guide To Chain Adjustment
How do you tighten a chain?
Quote from video: First crack the axle nut loose don't spin it off just loosen it enough to allow the rear wheel to move in the swingarm.
How do you tighten tire chains?
Quote from video: And I am just going to fasten to the first link to start out with. So we just tighten it up one link on the inside. This as tight as possible again try that one hey one's going to work.
How do I know if my bike chain is too long?
Do a simple check on your bike by shifting the chain to the big chainring and the biggest cassette cog; then, push on the end of the derailleur cage (pushing forward) to see how much it will move forward. If it moves just a little, then you’re good. If it moves a lot, then you’ve got too much chain.
How do I know if my bike chain is too short?
You should also see two slight bends at each jockey wheel of the rear derailleur. If the chain is too short, this shift is difficult to make and the derailleur cage is stretched out and almost parallel to the chainstay. If the chain is really short, then you might not even be able to shift into the largest cog.
How many miles should a chain last?
2,000 to 3,000 miles
Most mechanics agree that you should replace your chain about every 2,000 to 3,000 miles, depending on your riding style.
How do I know my chain size?
To determine the pitch (chain size), you’ll need to measure the distance between any three consecutive rivets, then divide the result by 2. The rivets are the small, round pegs/studs that hold the chain segments together. Measure from the first to the third, then divide that number in half to get your chain pitch.