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Chain tension tightens then loosens????

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Chain tension tightens then loosens????

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Old 04-08-16, 07:56 PM
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heavyonion
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Chain tension tightens then loosens????

I have been riding fixed for years now but I have never come across this problem before. My chain tension keeps changing, one full revolution it is tight then another full revolution and it is considerably loose. I have just been dealing with it for a while because my crank gear is a 60t so the chain never really has seemed like it would jump off. I stand corrected, today it did. It jumped off, locked around my cog and I skidded to a stop. Needless to say I burned a hole through my tire and I manged to crack a euro-asia 21t cog--not happy about that. SO I have checked my bottom bracket and it is straight. I have checked my chainring, crank arm and axle and they are all perfect. I have even tried to center the chainring on the crank arm and it has had no affect. So I am completely at a loss???? Any Ideas????
Thanks.
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Old 04-08-16, 07:59 PM
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Is the chain ring ovalized? Also, why so big up front?
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Old 04-08-16, 08:17 PM
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heavyonion
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No, Standard chain ring. I commute daily in aero position and a large chain ring just feels better, also you don't get any dead spots that way. No need for an oval chain ring if you just ride a large one.
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Old 04-08-16, 09:00 PM
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Nagrom_
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Lol it sounds like your chainring is ovalized.
Gonna guess it's really old cause whered you get a 60t ring.
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Old 04-08-16, 09:10 PM
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heavyonion
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It is not ovalized. I have used different sized chain rings 52, 54, 56 all new and it didn't changed anything. Also even if it was ovalized why would it be tight during an entire crank revolution they loosen up for another? It doesn't make since. You can get 60t chain rings on Ebay Bi King Driveline CNC 7075 Alloy Chainring 60T BCD 130mm 196G Black CP25F | eBay .
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Old 04-08-16, 09:15 PM
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Maybe your hub was warped? Have you tried a different wheel, crankset, bottom bracket? I would have taken it to my LBS to get it checked out
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Old 04-08-16, 09:23 PM
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heavyonion
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Newer bottom bracket SKR BAS-600, have tried 3 different cranksets. I have not tried a different wheel. The hubs have sealed cartridge bearings, so there isn't any room for it to be warped. That is why I think this is so weird.
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Old 04-08-16, 09:41 PM
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seau grateau
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It's your chainring.
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Old 04-08-16, 09:56 PM
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heavyonion
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Then am I putting them on wrong somehow?? Like I said I have used 4 different new ones. They all do the same thing.
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Old 04-08-16, 10:06 PM
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Sounds like your chain is worn, if everything else is new.
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Old 04-08-16, 10:13 PM
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Have tried other chains and they do the same but creak really loud. I have been using a half link chain and it doesn't make noise.
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Old 04-08-16, 10:21 PM
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seau grateau
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Maybe your cog was loose? There's only so many things it could be, so you're probably missing something fairly obvious.
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Old 04-08-16, 10:22 PM
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There seems to be a bend in the space-time continuum somewhere between your bottom bracket and your track ends.
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Old 04-08-16, 10:25 PM
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heavyonion
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I just put another cog on it earlier and it is tight, still does same thing. This is why I haven't taken it to a bike shop. I have tried all of the obvious, I just thought I would see if anyone had any new ideas. Thank you for all of your replies and time.
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Old 04-08-16, 10:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Nagrom_
There seems to be a bend in the space-time continuum somewhere between your bottom bracket and your track ends.
This is probably it.
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Old 04-08-16, 10:44 PM
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Check your chainstay and bb shell for cracks.
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Old 04-09-16, 05:38 AM
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Probably running with the chain too tight. Or could be the rear triangle is off a bit. Check it with the string test.
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Old 04-09-16, 06:24 AM
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heavyonion
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What is the string test????
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Old 04-09-16, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by heavyonion
What is the string test????
Google how to do it, but it's a method to check if your frame is straight.
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Old 04-09-16, 07:27 AM
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What is the quality of your crankset? Of your chainring? Were they made to run fix gear or intended for use on geared bikes. Cranksets not made for fix gear riding often have lower standards for roundness of chainrings and accuracy of spider chainring bolt drillings because with a derailleur to handle chain slack, that accuracy which costs money in higher quality machining, etc. in simply not necessary. But a non-round crankset will cause the chain to do exactly what you describe.

Edit: I am surprised that non of the posters above have suggested this already. It is fix gear/single speed freshman 101.

Ben
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Old 04-09-16, 07:46 AM
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Thinking out of the box, but if the ring is round and the BB and wheel axles steady, I can see how a stiff or bent chain link could cause that.

Or, possibly, if the chain is so stretched out in places and very tight it might ride up on the cog or ring teeth?
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Old 04-09-16, 07:51 AM
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heavyonion
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I was using an origin 8 triple crank before but I put it on my road bike. I am using an origin 8 track crankset right now and I get the same thing. I read that you need to center the chainring and I have done this a couple of times to no avail.
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Old 04-09-16, 08:06 AM
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origin 8
There's your problem
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Old 04-09-16, 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by hairnet
There's your problem
Heh, I lol'ed.
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Old 04-09-16, 08:17 AM
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Originally Posted by Nagrom_
There seems to be a bend in the space-time continuum somewhere between your bottom bracket and your track ends.
Bent bottom bracket axle could also do it.
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