Chain Length/Tension

campagsarge
campagsarge Posts: 434
edited September 2007 in Workshop
Hi

Anyone got any advice on how to measure the correct chain length/tension for your bike?

TIA.

Comments

  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    My preferred metod is to put the chain on small/small and set the length so that it just begins to take up the tension on the rear mech.
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,716
    The correct method is to put it largest/largest, pull it so that the mech is stretched out fully, then add a link.
  • campagsarge
    campagsarge Posts: 434
    Cheers guys. I had a couple of links too many and the chain was skipping around more than a Australian marsupial up against a bushman with a 12 bore shotgun.

    Tried your method whyamihere but I reckon smokin' Joe's was equally as good. I am assuming that when on largets/largest the chain should meet on largest chain ring, then by adding the link you get the correct tension? That's what I did anyway and it seems to have done the trick.

    I had a look at Sheldon Browns website:

    http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html#chain

    but I prefered your method whyamihere - it seemed more accurate as SB's method would have meant removing two and a half links.

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