Chain Question...

[pathtek]

After I rode my Monocog this past Sunday, I noticed that my chain had gone kinda slack. I'm using chain tugs and they were tight up against the dropout, so the rear wheel isnt slipping. I usually run my chain kinda tight...I can push the chain in towards the rear wheel about a quarter inch. However, after the ride, the chain was noticeably sagging. Is the chain toast or is there something else that I'm missing?

Thanx

Edited to add:
It's a Shitmano chain, unsure of what flavor. It's what came with the bike.

[DirtRagArt]

I'm pretty sure your chain isn't at fault. In my experience, singlespeeds often need that rear wheel (or singulator/convert) tightened down real good, which should apply to your chain tensioner as well. Try that first and let us know if it worked...

[wooglin-at-home]

Another possibility, though unlikely, is that the chain ring slipped on the crank. Does the chain bind and loosen as you rotate the cranks?

[pathtek]

I'm positive that everything was tightened down really well...I checked it all this afternoon. I even checked the chainring bolts this afternoon and they are tight, too. Thanks for the replies dudes...any other ideas?

[wooglin-at-home]

I'm stumped. Have you checked the chain for stretch? A new one measures 12" from rivet to rivet. If its more than an eighth off then its about time to replace it. Otherwise I'd just tighten it back up and see what happens.

[hairygrump]

Something I learned on my singlespeeds was that the wheel, for some reason, doesn't seem to stay put as well when it's toward the back of the dropouts. If you can, take a link out and move the wheel forward. If you've past 1/2 way down the dropout it doesn't seem to matter how much you crank on the bolt or how much metal you put behind the axle to pull it back... it's gonna slip.

In my experience, anyway. I've been known to invent stupid rules for equipment performance.

This actually kept me from buying chaintugs for my fixie. I don't know what it's about or whether it would help you, but if you can spare the link it's worth trying.

[pathtek]

I'll measure the rivet to rivet length...the chain does have about 750 miles on it and it could be that it's just given up the ghost. I didnt think about what you were talking about, grump...it certainly sounds plausible. I'll check on that. Thanks again fellers. Peace out and keep the rubber side down.

[Lockwood]

I've found some freewheels to be not perfectly circular, thus at some points in crank rotation, the chain has slack, while at other points, it is tight.

[pathtek]

the freewheel and chainring seem to be fairly round because when the chain is tight, it retains its tension thruout the rotation of the crank. Plus, when the chain had gotten loose, rotating the cranks did not pick up any of the slack.

[i8urbrain]

I find that using a KMC, chain helps slow down chain stretch. The chain is supposed to be a BMX chain, and if your monocog freewheel, and chain ring are going to mate with it well, you should ask your shop. I have one on my fixie, and one on my SS. The problem is I keep trying to come up with a reason to ride a bike with more then one gear, and I fail everytime I wake-up.

[mtnsparky]

your chain is probly toast. Jeff is right though, it's rare to find a bmx freewheel that's round. Be dub-ley sure you match your chain width to your cog and chainring, be it 3/32 or 1/8 inch. a 3/32" chain won't fit over an 1/8" cog. i found out the hard an 1/8" chain WILL fly off a 3/32 drive train at the worst possible moment inflicting great pain.