Fixing my Fixed Gear

gandhi

Hello,

I have a nearly new fairly popular brand fixed gear. It's about 2 months old, and it's done about 250 miles of commuting.

I had the cranks off a few days ago, and I put them back on, and when I was resetting my back wheel, I noticed chain tension was different when the cranks were at different angles. Is this normal? If it is, how should I set the chain tension?

Also, my cranks are quite creaky (pretty sure it isn't the bottom bracket). I put them back on with a bit of grease, and tightened them fairly tight. Are there any techniques to make them silent again?

Cheers,
Andy

robbarker

See Sheldon Brown for some tips on setting your chainring centrally.

gandhi

Thanks for the quick reply. Looks like Sheldon has the answer.

How about the creaky cranks?

meagain

"I noticed chain tension was different when the cranks were at different angles. Is this normal? If it is, how should I set the chain tension?"

Mr Brown's instructions re centring the ring may cure the problem or at least lessen it, but other than with BEST quality ring/sprocket (and not always even then!) tension almost always varies a little. Unusual for rings/sprockets to be exactly round!

As my stuff is usually old and was never top stuff, I settle for compromise. So say a 1/4" each way movement in the chain in top run at mid point. This might give more than the ideal 1/2" at the slackest point and you'll have to judge whether or not remains acceptable. Only time I've dropped a chain was not because of eccentricity in the ring/sprocket but rather because of a warped ring - if not FLAT then bin it!