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Chain slack on SS MTB

 
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jkizzle
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:09 pm    Post subject: Chain slack on SS MTB Reply with quote

How much slack should i have on a single speed mountain bike chain?

Taut or a little wiggle room?
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brokebike
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

same as a fixed... somewhere in the range of 1/4" deflection (give or take a bit) should be about right.

a chain should never really be "taut" IMO.
slack chains aren't as detrimental as too-tight chains.
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jkizzle
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PostPosted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well i know some track riders have some substantial slack due to the amount of torque they put on the chain, didnt know if there was similarities taking a mountain bike up a hill. I guess the substantially lower gear ratio negates that though. Thanks
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sailorjames
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Slack is better than taught, running it too tight runs the risk of damaging your bottom bracket/hub bearings since only having one speed forces you to put tremendous torque on those pieces vs. just gearing down.
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elzie5000
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jkizzle wrote:
Well i know some track riders have some substantial slack due to the amount of torque they put on the chain,


It has nothing to do with torque. Track riders typically run their chains with more slack to reduce friction as much as possible and because they're riding on a perfectly smooth surface so there's less chance of throwing the chain.

Brokebike's 1/4" suggestion is a good rule of thumb for a mountain bike. I usually have double that on my alleycat bike and have never had a chain problem.
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brokebike
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

elzie5000 wrote:
Brokebike's 1/4" suggestion is a good rule of thumb for a mountain bike. I usually have double that on my alleycat bike and have never had a chain problem.


yeah, I had originally typed 1/4" - 1/2" as a good range, but then considered that, though unlikely, depending on how low of a gearing you would be running on a SS mtn bike, you might get some chain slap issues.
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politicalhero
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

elzie5000 wrote:

on my alleycat bike and have never had a chain problem.


Insert coaster brake joke here!
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elzie5000
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

politicalhero wrote:
Insert coaster brake joke here!


Just for that, expect pics of my junk on your camera when you pick it up.
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