How is the correct chain tension done on a bicycle? How to tension a chain on a chainsaw

A timing belt or chain is installed as a timing drive on different types of engines. They transmit torque from the crankshaft to the camshaft, which controls the valve system in the vehicle. It is a chain drive that is used in VAZ 2107 engines, which provides greater reliability in comparison with a belt drive. There are frequent cases of breakage of timing belts, which leads to damage to the valves of the gas distribution system and requires expensive labor-intensive engine repairs. Unlike a belt, the timing chain guarantees that there are no breaks and the consequences associated with this.

During operation, the chain gradually wears out and stretches, starting to emit an unpleasant knock. If the malfunction is not eliminated in time, a too loose chain can jump one or two teeth, which will lead to a shift in valve timing, loss of power and engine performance. If the chain slips over a larger number of teeth, the timing valves may "meet" with the pistons, as happens on some engines when the timing belt breaks. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to periodically check the tension and, if necessary, tighten the VAZ 2107 chain.

When to check the chain tension

If the chain needs to be tightened, it is not necessary to check the tension. It is enough to use a chain tensioner (this will be discussed below). A tension check is necessary if the chain has been replaced or if the chain continues to knock after tension. The knock of a loose chain is easy to distinguish from other noises: it disappears when the engine speed rises.

To check this yourself, you need to open the hood and start the car. Then ask the assistant to press the gas pedal or independently pull the cable that controls the throttle actuator by hand. If the knocking noise at the front of the engine disappears, the cause is a weak chain tension. You need to tighten it up.

How to check chain tension

The VAZ 2107 timing chain is located in the front of the engine. From above it is closed by a cylinder head cover, from below by an engine sump, the middle part passes inside the block and can only be reached by removing the chain.

To check the chain tension, simply remove the cylinder head cover. For this, it is necessary to unscrew the 8 fastening nuts. After removing the cover, it is imperative to replace the gasket. It is inexpensive, but if this is not done, after installing the cover with the old gasket, oil is almost guaranteed to ooze from under it.

When the "valve cover" is removed, the top of the chain is accessible. You can check the tension by hand, but it is better to use a large screwdriver. It must be inserted between the chain and the cylinder block housing and, using it as a lever, try to bend the chain. In this case, the chain should not bend. The tension should be checked on both sides - on the left and right side of the engine. A chain stretched like a string, not bending when pressed with a screwdriver or fingers, the chain is a sign of its correct tension. Otherwise, it must be tightened or replaced.

Important: you should not apply too much force by pressing on the chain with all your might. This can lead to deformation of the chain links. Therefore, it is necessary to press "half-heartedly".

Adjusting the chain tension VAZ 2107

"How to properly tighten the VAZ 2107 chain" is a common question among novice owners of the VAZ "classics". The chain tension is adjusted by the crankshaft bolt and a special part - the chain tensioner.

To adjust the chain tension, you need a spanner wrench for the chain tensioner nut and a special wrench to turn the engine crankshaft. The latter can be replaced with a spanner key 36.

Tension adjustment begins with loosening the chain tensioner nut. In this case, if the chain has been loosened, the tensioner shoe should move slightly and tighten it.

If the shoe is stationary and the chain is not tensioned, release the tensioner plunger by lightly tapping the nut with a hammer. Sometimes it doesn't work. Then you should remove the tensioner and restore its performance or replace the part. This malfunction (sticking of the plunger) is quite typical for the VAZ engine chain tensioners. That is why it is advisable to remove the engine head cover and check the chain tension, and not to adjust it “blindly”.

In order to properly tension the VAZ 2107 chain, it is necessary to turn the engine crankshaft with a special wrench clockwise by 1-1.5 turns, stopping it at the moment when the resistance to rotation is maximum.

Important: some craftsmen prefer to turn the crankshaft with a starter when adjusting the chain tension. It is not recommended to do this, since the correct tension can be achieved only with a smooth slow rotation of the crankshaft and when stopping precisely at the moment of the greatest resistance to rotation.

After completing the operation, it remains to firmly tighten the tensioner cap nut and reinstall the engine head cover.

Regardless of the class and purpose of the chainsaw, the cutting device includes a guide rail and a tensioner. The instructions contain information on how to properly tension the chain on the chainsaw in order to exclude additional loads on the engine and accelerated wear of the headset.

This element of the sawing mechanism is used under conditions of high variable loads, therefore, during operation, it requires constant monitoring. A characteristic feature of the used saw chains is the increase in size due to the formation of gaps in the link joints.

Accelerated elongation of the part occurs at the stage and in the last quarter of the service life. During these time slots, the headset needs special attention and careful maintenance.

• The reason for the rapid stretching of the saw chain can be the poor quality of the material of the budget model, the mismatch of the configuration of the crown and excessive wear of the drive sprocket, a malfunction or ineffective operation of the lubrication system.
• The full operation of the chainsaw chain also largely depends on the condition of the tire and the drive sprocket, the quality and performance of the lubrication system, the timely and competent sharpening of the edges of the cutting links.

According to professional sawers, the operator's style of work and the level of operational stress affect the durability of the headset. The chains of the budget group are more susceptible to stretching; the more expensive branded assortment has no comments on technical and operational properties.

Negative consequences of incorrect chain adjustment

Checking the condition and tension of the chain is included in the mandatory list of preparatory work.

How much it is possible to put the chain correctly depends on:

• the duration of its subsequent operation;
• safety of sawing works of increased complexity;
• resource of the engine and chainsaw as a whole.

A dragged headset dramatically reduces work performance, initiates excessive loads on the power unit and transmission. Tire overheating and excessive fuel consumption also occur.

A loose chain can fly off the bar or break. The formation of traumatic moments is partially or completely eliminated by emergency stop systems and catchers, which allow, with more or less success, to unravel the chainsaw chain and determine its suitability for subsequent operation.

Installing a part with damaged or deformed links can lead to uneven wear of the tire guide groove and other undesirable consequences.

Tensioners

The classic budget-class chainsaw chain tensioner is usually a threaded bolt with an adjusting component, standard or side-mounted. The chain tension is adjusted with the included wrench or screwdriver.

More expensive models are equipped with easy-to-use devices that allow you to tension the chain with one movement of the lever or turn of the adjusting disc.

In the first case, the degree of tension is fixed with a lock nut, in the second, the tire and the chain tensioner are locked in a predetermined position by installing the cover. In both versions, reliable fixation of the chain in a given position is guaranteed, the possibility of compensating for its extension with minimal loss of working time.

Advantages of making a chain set

The chain and the bar are included in the list of interchangeable equipment, so the sawyer, depending on the peculiarities of the work, can use several sets of different lengths and productivity. The average service life of the wear-resistant branded tires allows the service life of three saw chains.

The cutting edges of the saw chain links need to be sharpened periodically. The indisputable advantages of using a set of several chains are uniform wear of the drive sprocket and good compatibility with the chains included in the additional set.

Features of manual and mechanized sharpening

Dull cutting edges of the saw chain appear:

• a noticeable decrease in productivity;
• ejection of small shavings;
• the appearance of a characteristic smell of burnt wood.

To restore the cutting properties of the chains, several types of sharpening devices are used.

In the simplest version, it is a bracket mounted on a rail complete with, in the other - with a power drive. Both technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Low-performance and time-consuming contributes to the preservation of its resource. The mechanized method provides good performance, but the lack of an individual approach to each cutting link of the chain negatively affects its durability.

Saw chain replacement and adjustment sequence

It is not technically difficult to change the chain of a household and professional chainsaw on your own. The key to the successful implementation of the adjustment work will be the exact observance of the recommendations of the attached instructions.

Due to the thermal expansion of the metal, the chain is installed on the chainsaw and the subsequent adjustment is made only on a cold tire.

• In the classic solution, the technology provides for the inclusion of a lock against accidental engine start, unscrewing the threaded fasteners, dismantling the tire and cleaning the guide groove from sawdust.
• Next, you should make sure that the dimensions of the shanks correspond to the width of the groove, determine which side to put the chain on the chainsaw, fix the tire and adjust the chain in the sequence indicated by the instructions.
• Before putting the chain on the chainsaw, you should make sure that the direction of the chain on the chainsaw meets the stated requirements, and the chain tensioning mechanism has sufficient free play.

Methods for checking the degree of tension

To check the degree of tension, it is enough to pull the chain in the middle of the bar; the extension of the link shanks is allowed no more than 2/3.

• A properly adjusted chain should not stick when manually moving over the bar.
• Squeak and other extraneous noise in the area of ​​the leading sprocket is also excluded.
• After running the chain, it is necessary to check the tightness of the threaded fasteners of the bar and the protective cover.

After long-term operation, the chain is not tensioned due to the lack of adjusting travel of the tensioning mechanism. The construction of the chain allows its length to be reduced by removing several links. On the other hand, such savings result in a loss of chain smoothness and forced wear of the groove of the tire and the crown of the drive sprocket.

In the operation of the gas distribution mechanism, the timing chain plays an important role. Over time, it stretches and requires tension, since the high-quality operation of the engine depends on it. Therefore, you need to know when to check the tension, and how to tighten the chain on the VAZ 2101. An article and video is devoted to this topic, which demonstrates the process of checking and tightening a chain drive.

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When is stretching necessary?

The chain tension is required in the following cases:

• after engine repair;
• after product replacement;
• when stretched after long-term use.

In the first two cases, it is clear that checking the tension is necessary since the chain has been removed or replaced. In addition, you should also check that the timing marks match. These marks are found on the crankshaft and camshaft. You can determine the need for tension by the sounds of a running engine. If the tension is weak, then during its operation, extraneous noise is heard in the place where the chain drive is located. At the same time, timing parts wear out faster. Therefore, when checking the tension, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the damper and the shoe.

With a weak tension, the links can jump by several teeth, then the valve timing will be disrupted. In this case, the car can stall, not start, the revolutions will float. You can use a flat screwdriver to check. It needs to be inserted and, using it as a lever, press on the chain. It should not bend and be stretched like an arrow. Do not put too much pressure on the drive, although the part is metal, it is subject to deformation.

In the lower video, a VAZ 2101 car is considered, in which a clatter is heard when the engine is running. It shows in detail how to check the condition of the damper, shoe, as well as how to apply tension.

Step-by-step instruction

Before starting to repair faults, check that all components of the timing belt are free from mechanical defects. To do this, you need to remove the protective cover of the drive and make a visual inspection of the parts: sprockets, damper, tensioner and shoe. If found to be defective, these components should be replaced.

Tools

Before starting work, you need to prepare the necessary tools:

• keys to "13" and "38";
• flat screwdriver;
• pliers.

To carry out the work, the car should be placed on a convenient platform and supported under the wheels so that it does not roll. The gearshift lever must be set to neutral.

Stages

1. First you need to find a tensioner, it is located under the pipes near the pump. With the key to "13" you need to release the tensioner. As soon as the chain is loose, the shoe should snap off.
2. Next, you should take the key to "38" and throw it over the crankshaft pulley nut. Then you need to rotate the crankshaft a couple of turns in the clockwise direction.
3. The shaft should be turned until the marks on the camshaft sprocket and on the camshaft bearing housing match. In this case, the spring inside the tensioner acting on the shoe will automatically perform the required tension.
4. Using a screwdriver, it is advisable to additionally check the tension. If everything is normal, then we return to the tensioner and tighten its head with a wrench.

After tightening the chain drive, start the engine and check its operation. It should work without extraneous noise. If after tensioning the noises remain, then the reason may be in the damper. Then it is necessary to check its serviceability, if necessary, replace it. It may not be possible to tension the chain drive the first time, so this procedure will have to be repeated several times.

A bicycle chain is one of the main components of a bicycle. Many are stunned by the question of how to tighten the chain on a high-speed bike? Special skills and the presence of a special tool for this operation are not required. The actions can be performed independently, it is enough to follow the instructions exactly.

Reasons for a meeting or breakup

One of the main parts of a bicycle is the chain. But even with normal driving, it can fly off or burst. The main reasons for the breakdown:

1. Damage to one of the stars transmission systems. Speed ​​bike transmission systems are divided into collapsible and non-collapsible. Replacement of the star is possible in a collapsible system. The non-separable transmission system is completely changed, complete. If one sprocket is damaged, driving is possible at speeds that remain serviceable.
2. Incorrect speed setting... The front and rear derailleurs have special bolts that adjust the transmission. If these are the bolts, then there is a possibility that the chain will fly off when shifting gears.

Tensioning the bike chain

The mechanism can be tensioned independently, both on high-speed models with gear shifting, and on bicycles without them.

In order to properly tension the chain on a bicycle, especially if it is, you need wrenches (which usually come with the vehicle) and a little patience.

On bicycles without speeds

Before you start working with this element of an ordinary bicycle, which is different from others, you should know the basic rule - do not pull the chain to the state of the string... The normal state of this node is considered to be sagging up to 5 mm.

How to tension a chain on a regular bicycle, sequence of operations:

1. The vehicle is overturning. To avoid damaging the seat or the surface of the steering wheel, you can put small pieces of soft material under them.
2. The rear wheel is supported by two nuts. To work with the chain, they must be loosened.
3. As a consequence of the wheel movement along inclined grooves, it is necessary to adjust the required sagging.
4. After the recommended distance of 5 mm has been reached, the rear wheel must be secured with 2 nuts, which must then be carefully tightened. Don't put in a lot of effort.
5. A too tight mechanism will prevent the cyclist from pedaling freely. Also, when returning the transport to its original state, carefully monitor that the axle of the wheel runs parallel to the carriage shaft.

On expressways with gears

How to tension the chain on? The high-speed design provides tension on the link element by increasing the spring stiffness of the rear derailleur. If the length of the link element is incorrectly selected and subsequently replaced, the switch will not provide proper tension.

If there is too much slack, the chain will hit the frame. and gear shifting becomes difficult. Also, do not put too short a mechanism, the tension will accelerate the wear of the entire speed mechanism.

Important! Sometimes, when installing a new chain on a speed bike, you need to shorten its length, remove excess links.

This can be done in two ways:

1. Pull the chain over the largest front and rear sprocket. We pull on it, pushing the rear derailleur to the maximum forward. Add two links and get the optimal chain length.
2. We transfer the chain from the front to the largest star, from the back to the smallest one. Pull it up to such a position when:
   • the rear spreader frame will point straight down;
   • switch rollers must be in the same vertical line.

How can you shorten the chain?

Normal speedless bike chains are collapsible. One of the links has a special lock. Opening it will allow you to remove unnecessary links or add new ones.
Important! Before proceeding with the removal of excess links of a solid-riveted chain on a high-speed bike, a special squeeze is purchased.

With its help, you can carefully rivet the clamps, leave the required number of them, and then re-rivet.

There is another solution: in the absence of a tool, pins on the links are ground using sandpaper. After that, they are removed.

How to select and install a chain damper

The damper is a simple structure made of high quality metal that prevents the link element from falling off. For proper functioning, it must be correctly installed.

Installation procedure for the damper:

• remove the gear shift stars from the bike. On some models, the carriage must be removed;
• the largest star, which will be replaced by rocking, must be installed in place of the middle one;
• fix the structure in place of the carriage protrusions;
• lubricate all rubbing elements;
• put on the chain and tension it correctly.

By following the instructions above, you can figure out how to tighten the chain on a sports bike, or do the same operation on a simpler two-wheeled vehicle.

Video

How to tighten the chain on a high-speed bike will help the following video.

Everyone knows why you need a chain on a bicycle. But not everyone knows all the subtleties of its device and what danger its malfunction conceals in itself. Therefore, it is so important to know how to properly tighten the chain.

The bicycle chain is one of the most important parts of this type of transport. Its main task is to transfer the energy of the cyclist's muscle work to the rear wheel. In addition, they are the driven link of the bicycle gearbox. Such a mechanism is formed due to the fact that the driving sprocket (which is on the pedals) is always made larger than the driven sprocket (the sprocket on the wheel). Thanks to this, a law of leverage is formed, which allows you to transform one type of energy into another.

If we talk about those bicycles on which there are several gears at once, then the chain is assigned an even greater role. In such a system, the chain drive acts as a floating transmission link that connects the drive sprocket to the driven sprocket. At the same time, it is not difficult to guess that if the chain comes off, the transport will not be able to go further. And it happens quite often if the cyclist forgot to tighten the chain.

Improper chain maintenance is the cause of an accident

In the event of a collapse or breakage of the bicycle chain, with the best outcome, the driver will get off with the fact that he will not be able to go further. But often with this there are more serious consequences. For example, if there is no special guard on the rear wheel, the chain can fall into the spokes, but here the outcome is unfavorable in all cases.
Under any combination of circumstances, the spokes of the rear wheel will be bent, and an eight will form on it, and repairing such a breakdown will cost a pretty penny. And there is also the danger that the driver will injure himself or pedestrians, as his rear wheel will jam.

White plastic guard prevents the chain from entering the spokes

The next danger in the event of chain breakage or loosening applies to those bicycles that do not have a handbrake. Since here the entire braking system is located in the rear wheel carriage, therefore, the driver will no longer be able to brake in the usual way. It's even scary to imagine if this happens at high speed.

Reasons for loosening chains

Before you begin to tighten the chain, it is important to understand one truth. It’s just as bad for a bike to have the chain too tight, as it is when the chain is too tight. The surest way to check the chain tension is to push it from top to bottom, while the normal level of slack should not be more than 1-1.5 cm. If this value is far beyond its limits, the chain system must be tightened.

Another symptom that should alert the driver is if the chain began to slip.

To begin with, the problem of sagging is most often encountered by owners of regular single-speed bicycles. The thing is that here the chain is not able to stretch automatically, as in mountain or other similar types of bicycles.

But why are the chains starting to sag? There are two reasons for this. Firstly, any chain has the ability to stretch, despite the fact that it is made of metal. At the same time, cheaper options stretch more, but expensive branded products practically do not have this property.

Secondly, the chain system can weaken if the rear wheel nuts were not tightened well, in this situation, under load, it shifts slightly forward and the tension of the chain mechanism weakens.

Learning to adjust the chain drive correctly

On the simplest single gear bike, a single wrench is all it takes to tension the chain, simply loosen the two rear wheel nuts. Most often this key is either 17 or 15.
First, the bike needs to be turned upside down, and then slightly loosen the two nuts on the rear wheel. It is not necessary to unscrew them completely. After the nuts have been loosened, the wheel must be moved back a little. At the same time, there is no need to hammer in various wedges and insert something between the frame and the wheel, the tension of the chain system should occur with minimal effort, under the wheel's own weight.

After that, the nuts can be tightened, it is best to use a wrench with a dynamometer for this, so that the correct tightening torque is observed. If the nuts are loosely tightened, the wheel may slip sideways on the road. And if you have a lot of forces, you can rip off the thread of the nut or even the wheel axle.

Attention! Tighten the nuts gradually, while observing that the wheel is clearly in the center of the fork. Otherwise, the sprockets will be in a different plane, which will lead to the chain collapse.

What to do if the chain is loose on a mountain bike?

If you are faced with the problem of chain slack on a mountain bike or any other that has several gears, then in such a situation it is changed. The fact is that in such bicycles the machine is responsible for the chain tension. With the help of a spring, it constantly and automatically adjusts the tension in the chain mechanism.

To save money, some craftsmen "cut" the chain, that is, cut it and reduce the number of links. In this case, the links are connected with a special lock. Of course, this option is also possible, but it is important to understand that a stretched chain is a worn-out mechanism and it will not last long.

When buying new chains, it is important to know that they are different and may not fit your faithful two-wheeled friend. First of all, you need to make sure which chain pitch is used on your bike model. And you also need to decide on its length, which is usually measured in the number of links.

How to take care of chains

Like any other mechanism, the chain system needs maintenance. All you have to do is lubricate all the links thoroughly from time to time. In the event of rust formation, the metal becomes thinner, in addition, the link rollers jam, and the device's resource is sharply reduced.

It is also important to know that during operation, the elements of the chain system run in to each other. In this case, various cavities, notches and other minor defects are formed, which, as strange as it may sound, ensure the stability of the system. If the chain is removed and then put in a different way, as it walked before, or even turned upside down, accelerated wear will occur. In the worst case, it is also possible to increase the frequency of the rally of the chain. The chain system also wears out quickly if pulled too tight.