Chain Length Either Too Tight or Too Loose

Haunts wrote:

Hi, bit of a newbie here. So i've not had a MTB in a long time and i got a really good deal on one of these http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/mountain-bikes/carrera-banshee-x-full-suspension-mountain-bike-large-19#tab2 i'm loving it apart from the gears. When i'm on the 2 largest cogs the chain is really tight (there's no slack whatsoever), so i put an extra link in which fixed it but then when i go onto the 2 smallest cogs the chain just droops on to the frame. Any ideas where i'm going wrong?

First things first do you know how to size a chain?

How are you doing it?

Haunts wrote:

I used this website http://www.machinehead-software.co.uk/bike/chain_length/chainlengthcalc.html and also the method of wrapping it round the 2 largest cogs and adding 2 links, both gave me the same length.

And the what are you doing about any chain grow?

Pointless using a calculation for a variable chainstay.

And as above you should not be using those gear combos as there is no need.

So around the two big cogs add 1" of chain (one full link)(one half and a quick connector) then make sure the rear wheel moves through its full travel if chainstay lengthens re size at point chainstay length is at max.

Go ride.

When you're using the big chainring stay off the largest rear cogs. When you're using the granny ring stay off the smallest rear cogs