How To Tighten A Bike Chain? – Best Way You Need To Look Through
Russell Franklin - September 21, 2022If the chain on your single-speed or hub-gear bicycle keeps coming undone or feels slack, it may need to be tightened. Over time, as a result of wear and stretching, the chain becomes loose. This guide explains the proper way to tighten a bike chain.
Why Do Bike Chains Get Loose?
There are 3 main reasons why bike chains get loose.
1. Worn/stretched chain
The easy response is wear and tear. The chain’s links will deteriorate over time depending on the bike, how it is used, and how hard it is pedaled. Your bike chain will lengthen and become looser as the chain and even the sprocket deteriorate.
2. Weak rear derailleur spring
The top pulley of a derailleur is farther away from the freewheel or cassette when it has a weak spring. The bike chain becomes slack as a result of the increased distance.
3. Rear axle position in rear dropout
The final suspect is where the rear axle is located in your bike’s dropouts. Most bikes allow you to position your rear axle in the rear dropouts. Your chain will be loose if the rear axle is positioned too far forward.
What Are The Common Loose Bike Chain Symptoms?
A bike chain that is loose can be easily detected by the following signs:
- Bike chain dropping
- Bicycle chain skipping
- Bike chain slapping onto the frame
- Poor shifting
- Accelerated drivetrain wear
- A bike chain should be how tight
When Do I Need To Tighten My Chain?
If you measure the length of your bike chain with a chain checker or ruler and discover that it is longer or slack, you must change it or remove a link to see if the chain still fits your bike. You won’t usually be as fortunate, so you’ll need to change the bike chain when it slacks.
The length of time it takes for your bike chain to slack varies depending on how much you use it. Bicycling.com recommends replacing your bike chain every 2,000 miles. I don’t know how precisely you keep tabs on your biking, but I believe the bike checker method is simpler. In any case, it varies from person to person and from bike to bike, as with any rule of thumb.
What Is The Purpose Of A Bike Chain?
The bike chain consists of numerous steel parts. This includes numerous sets of inner and outer plates that are fastened together by rivets.
While pressing the rivets through both outer plates, a roller separates each pair of inner plates. The rivet can then pivot freely on the roller and inner plates. Most contemporary bicycles have a 0.5-inch space between each rivet.
To ensure a smooth ride, the bike chain’s function is to produce energy and power from your pedaling. Sadly, the power decreases when the bike starts to loosen. It will be nearly impossible to ride because you will have to exert much more effort when pedaling.
Bike chains come in two varieties: derailleur chains and single-gear chains. We’ll explain how to tighten either one of the two kinds of loose bike chains.
Tools You’ll Need
The following tools should be nearby before you start tightening your bike chain.
- Socket Wrench & Adaptor
- Allen tool or key
- Bike Stand or flat surface to lay your bike upside down
- Bike chain lube
- Rag or Cloth
- Hand gloves
How To Tighten Bike Chain- Preparation
- It is important to check that the saddle on your child’s or BMX bike is high enough to lift the rear wheel off the ground when the bike is turned upside down.
- Move any handlebar accessories, such as bells and reflectors, if necessary to prevent damage.
- Turn the bike on its side and place some cardboard or cloth on the ground to protect the saddle and handlebars.
- Verify that the chain is on the rear sprocket’s and the chainset’s teeth.
- The wheel nuts should be loosened.
- A chainstay-mounted brake is available on some bicycles without a derailleur. As the task cannot be accomplished with the brake attached, it is crucial to release this before attempting to move the wheel. If you have a roller or coaster brake, loosen and remove the bolt holding the brake arm to the chain stay.
How To Tighten Bike Chain?
- Stand in front of the rear wheel on the non-drive side
- Push the axle back into the dropout by pushing the wheel up against the right-hand chain stay with your left hand.
- Use your right hand to tighten the right-hand wheel nut while still holding the wheel in place.
- As soon as you let go of the wheel, it will spring in the direction of the center, though not necessarily exactly where it is now.
- Now step behind the drive-side rear wheel.
- Push the wheel to the left until it is positioned in the middle of the frame with your left hand.
- Tighten the left-hand wheel nut with your right hand.
- To check the chain, turn the cranks. Repeat the process until you are satisfied. If it is too loose or too tight, then do so again. If you overstretch the chain, it may crunch and cause the chain and sprockets to wear out faster. If you don’t tighten it down enough, it may come off while you’re riding.
- The chain will occasionally be loose and occasionally tight because the chainset and sprocket are never perfectly concentric. The chain is at its best tension if the loose spots don’t make it fall off and the tight spots don’t make it bind. If there is a particularly tight spot in the chain, loosen the wheel nut on the right and gently push the wheel to the left by just 1 or 2 millimeters. To keep the wheel central, it is important to maintain even tension on the chain. The best way to accomplish this is to consistently keep one of the wheel nuts tight.
- Once you are satisfied with the chain tension, check the wheel nuts one last time.
- The brake arm should be reattached to the chainstay if you have a roller or coaster brake.
We Sincerely Hope We Were Able To Assist You With Your Bike Chain Concerns After Reading This Short And Simple Guide. Having A Loosened Bike Chain Occasionally Is, Of Course, Commonplace. Therefore, We Simplified And Expedited The Understanding Of This Guide. We Hope Our Steps Were Clear And Easy For You To Follow.
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