Easy Way to Tension Your Fixed Gear Chain
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- 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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Kevin MacLeod: "Touching Moments Four-Memories," "Wagon Wheel" & "Fig Leaf Rag"
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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
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
2:28 T I G H T N U T S
I felt totally stupid then I saw your clip and now I can cycle again. Thank you so much
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
I'm confused Zack, I thought you're supposed to use one of those hipster wrenches that also open bear bottles.
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.
This video made me realize my chain is crazy tight! Thanks!
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.
Hmmm, will try this... (fingers crossed) :)
That chain is far too loose omg
it's a quarter inch slack, not an inch omg
Quite surprised you don't throw your chain everyday
"DO IT RIGHT" -.-
He rides with brakes (and a front basket) that is why he doesn't throw his chain with that kind of slack. The right slack is 12-14mm in my opinion, if you go tighter you lose watts.
loose chain is a happy chain
Hey, Luke. I want to help you out, my man. Don't use "omg" as a punctuation mark at the end of your sentences. Doing this makes not only makes you look inept at written communication, but also like a bit of a fruitcake. Take your cake made of fruits and throw it in the rubbish, sir.
1/2 is what i do.
Pollo Frito your comment made me cringe.
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.
dude, all of your videos are like 80 percent longer than they need to be.
Adhi R. Your opinion is 100% unnecessary and acknowledged.
Zach is 100% forever.
he is trying to hit the 10 minute mark for more moneyz
Pedal Strokes it not even 10 minutes
Says pulling when pushing. Calls nuts "bolts".
🤦
Long story short...pull your wheel and tighten
You know I use a technique using a Tennis ball is much quicker
if your chain were any more droopy, it would be hanging with dripple.
“That’s a falling lamp that’s a falling bike, things are going okay”
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
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.
hey zaaaackkk PLEASE NOTICE NEED HELP .. my chain is much tighter at one point of the crank revolution than the rest. is it normal ?
TheErraticAlien Yay thanks .
@@TheErraticAlien i don't think so
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*
1 inch in each direction? If you listen to this advice you're not doing it 'correctly' and surely putting your safety at great risk. it's a fine line between no slack and inefficient energy input but that's where you want to be. tight enough that there's NO WIGGLE up and down but loose enough to keep resistance at a minimum. I recommend flipping your bike upside down and, while tightening, spin your pedals every now and then to gauge how taught it is.
I was fascinated by "one inch in each direction" - as if you could have a chain that had one inch slack up, but, somehow, not down!
Zack dont get Me wrong, I'm a huge fan of Your channel, but I think that 2 inches of slack is wayyy to much. I did what You said, and My bike was slow and unresponsive. I tightened it to 1/2 an inch on both sides, and It rides like a dream 😉👌👌
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
This is the worst video! WRONG!!! Don't do what this guy is showing you. Please Don't. And yes his chain is still too slack
Justin Mail true! 1 inch is wayy to much! 1/2 an ince is perfect!
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. 😄
That's pretty loose. The reality is that _any_ slack in the chain is enough slack. You need some slack so that there's no binding and extra friction, but as long as there's a bit, more isn't better. The slack is all taken up by your pedal force, and the chain tension will be exactly the same when riding whether you have a quarter inch or two inches. There's no effect on efficiency or wear, it just affects the amount of backlash, and likelyhood of dropping your chain.
I don't like the backlash of a slack chain, so I set mine with very little slack. One thing to be sure of when setting a low amount of slack is that you're doing it at the tightest position of the chainring. Some rings aren't perfectly made, and clearance on the stack bolts can make the ring non-concentric.
I just adjust mine roughly, find the point with the least slack, then I adjust it without turning my wheel so there's very little slack. I will end up with around 1/8" peak-to-peak at the tightest point, and around 1/4" at the loosest.
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!!!
Sir, I can conclude that your first name is fantastically beautiful.
LMAO dude really
maybe its because yo got the same name too
@@theunitedrobloxians144 I like to pronounce "Zack" like "back."
"Zach" sounds like "Bach" to me. (Yes, I'm toying with German.)
Great video, very usefull. Thanks.
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
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! 🍓receive a strawberry.
Who uses brazil nuts? It says on the spanner its size 15, no need to use brazil nuts.
he’s joking, he’s just messing around.
r/wooosh
I think so many mechanics do, I have seen so many mechanics. Go stand in a workshop and see it for yourself.
lol your chain is way too loose. If your pedals can excessively move back and forth without your wheel moving then it's too loose
how to fix axial misalignment?
one of the more useful videos i've every encountered salute
Great so now everybody's gonna need a bike, helmet, chain or lock, a wrench ......and fucking mixed nuts.....?!?!?!?.....I'll tell you what's NUTS....oh....."Gazelle Nuts".... or better yet somebody's going to misinterpret it and start chasing around a wild animal with a wrench towards their freaking groin
Well, it's certainly 'a way'... but just pull the wheel back and tighten the nut and you're done, then tweak.
only works if you have horizontal drop outs
lol
I like your video once I got past the intro. Now I hope youll last through mine:
This instructional video of yours appears to me as directed at someone with no mechanical adjustment experience with these kinds of bikes,so that is how my critique will be focused. I mean no offence with any of my comments ,it is intended to be helpful. So Im not a "hater"......picky? mabe. Do I meet up to my apparent standards...not even close. Ok,that out of the way,I think.
First,I have no experience adjusting bikes. Even though Ive ridden them over the years ,on occasion,Ive never had to do any work or adjustments excepting seat and handlebar adjustments.Unfortunately for me, Im the type that learns this stuff, on anything, when it breaks down and I need it now. I do not recommend that,but it not all that bad either.
Starting a the 5 min + mark.Im glad you showed how to tighten the chain/rear wheel by alternating tightening of the chain /wheel & adjusting bolts. That could be a real time saver /on my learning curve if and when I ever have the issue while away from my home and tools. Iknow through experience and now comon sense,"lways have the basics few tools for the easy and frequent breakdowns that are common to the vehicle" which I do....usually
To my point now that my intro is over:
At near 6:48 you mention tightening the nuts without a torque meter guage by saying use common sense. Mechanical common sense thats required for proper torque has to be learned. Most people that this video is directed to usually havent developed a level of "common sense" you ask them to use . You may have it ,but the bulk of viewers that need this video likely dont have the experience that gives them that common sense "feel"when tightening/torquing the bolts.
Keep up the good work though,
I’m enjoying the bike so far th-cam.com/users/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA My only real complaints are the brakes and the pedals. I feel like a bike designed for bigger people should have much larger pedals and more heavy duty brakes. I’ve only gotten two really good rides out of it, minimal downhill action, and the brakes feel like they’re already going out. A larger person has more momentum, so I think this wasn’t thought through very well. Also, I wear size 13-14 wide shoes. My feet cramp up on these pedals that are clearly made for smaller feet. Since I’m not a pro rider (and I don’t think many are who purchase this bike) I don’t think that the straps on the pedal are necessary at all. None of this takes away from the enjoyment I get from riding, however. I’ll just head to a bike shop to improve on a few things.
I'm not sure your method is all that "easy".
Some of it makes sense, buy the whole process is much, much faster than that and usually takes only a couple of loosen/tighten cycles each side.
I recommend a longer spanner/wrench, so you KNOW the wheel is going nowhere.
I also recommend much less slack than you recommend. 1' on either direction is actually quite sloppy for fixed gear and you will feel that slack as you ride.
And a little personal habit... I always try to pull the drive-side end of the axle back last.
That's the "business" side of the argument and is the one where the chain is.
So it's where I lile to finish the job.
I agree totally with the comments about checking the tension in a few wheel and crank positions.... However carefully you put the bike together and however good and new the components, nothing is ever quote as round as it seems....
what if you have a thru axle hub and frame?
Chain tensioners are useful tools. Your chain in this video is too loose because you tried to tension just by pulling axle back. Also tensioners make it much easier to center wheel. But I call my bikes fixies so what do I know?
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.
Is nobody going to shout out his Rolex Submariner? 👌
(If that's the incorrect watch, then correct me immediately.)
Dude thank you so freaking much. I was totally gorilla fisting this and getting frustrated.
I usually don't leave negative comments but this is a terrible post! You talking too much about how to tighten something and then you talking about Brazil nuts come on bro....
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.
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
yeah this is way too loose especially if you have poor alignment this is hazardous, this much slack almost defeats the purpose and handling of a track bike.
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
I used to spend over 30 minutes to figure out how to correctly do this myself. Because everytime I tight the bolt, the chain go loose, the wheel not on center and have to do it all over again. :/
Tight but noise
How bout when im looking up how to fix a fixie chain jumping off the spokes i dont get useless shit like this and showing fucking bike with gears which i dont fucking have agghhhhh
My fixed gear bike has the tightest chain out of all your bikes
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"
scott joplin, nice taste in music
Actually, that's Jott Scoplin. (I'm just pulling your leg, although Com Truise is an actual musical artist.)
Sorry but it's rocket science or brain surgery...even thou I liked so I hit liked...thank you for the video
So it’s not necessary to have that plastic barrier in front of the big chain loop? Mine broke during this process lol.
would have been a good video without all the added nonsense.
Have you tried using a different camara lense current one make your head look long not an insult just what the different lenses do
hi my i think my tension is wrong my gear ratio is 47/16 but my skid patches is only one pls help
Thanks! I had absolutely no idea what I was doing switching my bike from single speed to fixed gear 😅
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
I get mocked for my chain droopiness. But, I can go fast and my drive train is shiny.
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😀
dude just pull the wheel back as youre tightening the nuts
Can we do this faster coz this is a very long process and I faced this issue in middle of a ride.
what are you doing man? just pull the wheel back all the way and it's done
Nah dog you need that shit tight as shit so long as your wheels true otherwise you're wasting power
Chain Tensioners are there for a reason.....adjust either side a bit at a time,once the wheel is centred and then when the chain has a fraction of play, then tighten the tensioner nuts,but not too much.I then use two spanners (wrenches) for the wheel nuts.And then I tweak the tensioner nuts tight one last time.Has never failed me.....Look at a Motorcycle,its similar....
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
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:)
Ok I got that 👍 but it still keep coming off 😭😭 help soon
just a tip. never use a wrench that is open. always use a wrench that is like a closed one. that way you never damage your wheel nuts when tightening them down. trust me you don't want rounded wheel nuts
Ratcheted 15mm wrench FTW
Put an empty water bottle between frame (seat tube) and the tyre. voilà.
Worked every time for me and gets the chain pretty much right every time. If too tight let some air out of the bottle by squeezing and replace the cap.
Let's turn to God Theseasonorg explains the whole bible God bless
i think chains should be tighter than that, better feel...
uae SEAT STAYZ thechai stays can b asymetrical sometimes
Just pull the wheel too the ass end of the bike while doing up the dropout nuts
Hahahahaha everyone is roasting you
Bit long winded to be honest, can do it in one go by holding the wheel back
I'm in middle school and someone has a scott sub, and someone else has a 6ku fixie. I'm stuck with a second hand specialized rockhopper ;-;
I am personally a mountain biker, but looking for a transportation bike. I also saw some cannondale 650b +tire hardtail and a brand new single speed electra townie. Even saw some non folding dahon hardtail that had a crap frame, but nice shimano disc brakes and an air fork. Lastly, I saw an SE so cal flyer 24 inch. I just want an XC bike and maybe a fixie ;-;
Hey man the fact that you're in middle school and already possibly getting a fixed gear is pretty baller. It's funny cause I'm in my second year of college and last year I had no car and rode a second hand rockhopper all over my city for transportation. Last semester I upgraded to a Schwinn Highplains which is closer to a road-worthy ride and finally this semester I got my first fixed gear a SE lager and I fucking love it. Still haven't done my first build yet but will someday when I'm better versed with bike mechanics. You'll deff get there man and the difference between riding that rockhopper in the streets and a real city bike or road bike is fucking mindblowing, you'll love it bro :)
Thanks! *realizes I can only afford a second hand 6ku* shit.
A peanut is a 5mm. A jellybean is 4mm.
Cringe......hes trolling right?........ah god its killing me.
i think its hilarious you use a brazil nut to size your wrench
If I have an inch of slack then I just hear a constant rattling riding my chipseal roads, that's too loose. If there is zero slack as some have recommended, and you're using a freewheel, then the freewheel can start making some undesirable sounds. About a quarter of an inch is just right. And for those saying to shove a freaking tennis ball or water bottle between your tire and the seat tube, you don't seem to realize that bikes come in different geometries. I have a Wabi Special with 27mm tires and can't even squeeze a finger in between.
Bruh I’m trynna get to work and you got this long intro
Is it normal that my chain has a tight spot or can I fix it?
lmao you had my dying with the brazil nut strat.
Do u put back the chain tensioner on after all that ?
I'm not a fan of not having a chain tensioner. I ride gravel every day and if the bolts are not tight, the wheel will slide, the tensioner fixes that problem. Another thing, I broke my bolts because they were too tight. Tight bolts are not fun, specially when you have a flat.
Mmm...Duh
Get well soon Zach!
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
Broseph, thats a nob chain, its way too loose...
any one know why my chain keeps slipping
"You don't need to yank it or anything... gently, it's your bike, not a lonely friday night." Goddamn legend.