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Chain Tension


Egg Fried Rice

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Tighter = faster reaction, 'cos you don't have to kick through a load of chainslack before you get your freak on. However, most people don't seem to bother. As long as it's not steel-cable taut, it should be fine (Y)

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I usually have mine just tight enough so that it doesn't come off, and no tighter. Otherwise when you bash something and all the strain goes onto your chain, eventually your freewheel will feel the pain.

Of course if you're a UCI boy then I don't suppose it matters...

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Slack chains are really annoying! I would have as tight as possible so that the chain still spins freely. Of course this is hard to measure when you're on front freewheel.

Plus slack chain --> Chain snap, surely?

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hmm....i got told your suppose to have it slack but the person who told me that has gone through more chains than anyone ive seen and everytime he kicks his chain makes a "twang" noise which sound pretty cool lol

i think im gonna have my chain fairly tight.

thanks

John Kan

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If you have your chain way too tight it will stress it more causing it to snap. I have it so when you pinch it (top and bottom) you can nearly touch the chain stay with the chain. Unless sometimes I can't be bothered in which case is flaps around all over the place...

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It'd have to be mad tight to do that though, 'cos if you think about it, it's under load when you kick, and if you're kicking to do a gap or whatever, you're putting down X amount of force through your chain no matter how tight your chain is? It's just when it's rolling/getting battered that the tightness won't help. A bit of a slack so you can move it if you force it with your hand usually leaves me enough slack, I think...

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yes a chain will be under stress if its too tight, but it wil be under more stress if it is slack as the 'kick' motion will put lots of sharp heavy pulls on the chain, more than if it was tight as there would be less movement before engagement.

I like mine as tight as possible so theres no flapping and no delay in engagement, as long as it doesnt stop the cranks from spinning.

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