How to tension a chain on a bicycle? Bicycle chain tension adjustment. How to properly tension a chain on a bicycle

An important element for the operation of a bicycle is a chain, the service life of which depends on timely care. When working, it should not crack and creak. It is normal that during operation it gradually wears out and, as a result, lengthens. With proper adjustment, the chain should sag by 10–12 mm. When pulling with your fingers, it should give in by 10-15 mm, and if this value is greater, then it must be pulled. Note that this only applies to bikes with either no derailleurs or planetary gears.

When installing a new chain, it is also important to adjust its tension. Even more important - after the first three races to pull it up. A new part stretches very quickly during the first time of operation.

Adjusting the tension on a bike without gears

A properly tensioned chain on a bike without gears should be slightly loose by about 5mm of slack.

To tension the chain on a regular speedless bike, you need:

1. Put your vehicle upside down.
2. Loosen the rear wheel nuts or eccentrics.
3. Adjust the amount of chain slack to the correct amount by moving the wheel along sloping grooves called dropouts.

It is necessary to fix the rear wheel only in a position where its axis is parallel to the carriage shaft.

When the chain is too tight, it becomes very difficult to pedal on a bicycle, the parts of the chain drive wear out quickly. Whereas a sagging chain can come off the sprockets, and it will definitely be impossible to go further.

If the wheel is already stuck on the edge of the dropouts, there is nowhere else to move it, and the chain is still loose, then you will need to remove a couple of links.

Adjustment on a bicycle with speeds

The amount of chain tension on a bicycle with a rear parallelogram derailleur is set entirely by the spring force of the derailleur itself. But if the chain is too long, then this tensioner will not be able to compensate for its sagging, and it will hit the frame. This is especially true for bikes with a short rear shifter.
A chain that is too short makes shifting difficult. It will cause accelerated wear of transmission parts. First of all, this applies to two-suspension bikes.

Very often, when installing a new chain on a speed bike, it is necessary to shorten its length, that is, remove several links.

There are two ways to determine how many links to remove:

• Install the chain on the largest sprockets front and rear. Pull on it, moving the rear derailleur all the way forward. Now it remains only to add two links, and the optimal length will be determined.
• Throw the chain in front to the largest sprocket, and in the back to the smallest. Tighten the chain until the rear shifter frame points straight down, more precisely, when the axes of the derailleur rollers are in one vertical line.

On double suspensions, it will be more correct to adjust the chain length by pressing the rear swingarm to the position when the front cassette of sprockets is as far away from the rear ratchet as possible. By marking the desired length, the extra links can be removed.

Removing links

Collapsible chains are placed on an ordinary bicycle without speeds; they have a lock on one of the links. Most modern bikes with speeds are equipped with non-separable chains with all links equally well riveted. It is not difficult to disassemble a solid riveted chain, it is enough just to grind the pin heads on one of its links on the emery. It is even easier and more accurate to disconnect the rivets using a special tool - squeeze.

It should be noted that squeeze is a universal tool. With its help, you can not only squeeze out the locking pin, but also re-rivet the disassembled chain. Many squeezes have two working grooves: one is needed to press the pin out of the roller, and the second is to press it in. The mounting location, located farther from the pressure screw, is intended for riveting the chain pins. You can learn more about using such a tool from the following video.

chain slip

The chain begins to slip when the tension weakens due to its strong stretch. And being overly stretched, it, in turn, quickly wears out the sprockets. So, putting a new chain on an old ratchet, you can not achieve anything. All the same, slippage on small stars will remain.

If you are tightening the old chain for the first time, get ready to replace it soon. Remember that you can only remove two links from it once. In the end, you still have to spend money on a new part.

If you have one at home, then you should know that it requires special care. It is necessary to periodically clean and sharpen the chain, clean the air filter, oil supply and tires. And, of course, you need to monitor the tension of the chain, since with a bad tension there is a risk not only to harm the saw, but also to your health if the chain flies off at high speeds.

Features of the chainsaw device

The main part of a gasoline saw is engine. In most modern devices, the engine is single-cylinder. Air cooling, two-stroke piston system.

Oil in these types of engines is added directly to gasoline, and all due to the fact that the fuel constantly flushes the crankcase. The oil-gasoline ratio varies from 1:20 to 1:50 depending on the chainsaw manufacturer.

The air filter on gasoline saws plays an equally important role. He needs regular cleaning. If the filter is heavily contaminated, dust from it will enter directly into the piston system, which will lead to engine failure.

If the filter is clogged, the saw will lose speed and the engine will start to overheat, which can burn the piston rings.

Did you know? The beginning of the production of gasoline saws is considered the end of the 1920s. The first chainsaws were produced by Stihl.

The starter on gasoline saws is a rope with a handle, by pulling which you set the motor in motion. When you pull on the rope, the teeth catch on the ratchet and the flywheel begins to spin.

Many complain that it takes a long time to pull the rope to ignite the engine. It depends on whether the carburetor is set correctly. If the carburetor produces the correct oil-gasoline mixture, then problems should not arise.

Main working mechanism- a tire with a grip.

The chain consists of three types of teeth: driving, cutting and connecting. They are connected with rivets. The cutting teeth are located on two sides: to the right and to the left.

Chains are divided into two types: high profile and low profile. The first type includes chains, in which the teeth are located with a large gap, the second - with a smaller gap. Chains can also vary in shank thickness and link length.
The chainsaw chain is attached to the tire, which directs it in the right direction. The end of the bar has a specific groove that holds the links and allows the chain to rotate. At the front of the tire is a driven sprocket. The chains together with the tire are called a headset, as they are removable parts of a chainsaw.

Important! If the carburetor is not adjusted correctly, then when starting the saw motor, you will have to pull the starter rope for a long time.

The petrol saw has an automatic chain lubrication system. The tire delivers oil, which is then absorbed by the sawdust. If the saw is idling, the oil supply stops.

Why the chain flies, we find out the reasons

If you wondered why the chain on your chainsaw flies, then there is some kind of malfunction in the mechanism. Exists three main reasons this problem: incorrect functioning of the tire, stretching of the chain and loose driven sprocket. Let's take a closer look at each of the possible causes of failure.

Tire problems

Whenever there is a problem with a tire, almost always loosen the tension on the chain. This problem usually occurs at the tire attachment point.

This place is in the groove between the outer plate, which is located on the casing of the chain set, and the inner plate, located on the engine housing. The casing together with the tire is fixed with a bolt. Such a mount is called a "motor assembly". The drive sprocket and tire mount are protected by special covers.

If the fixing bolts are loosened, the tire starts to move or vibrate. If the tire is good, then the chain tension should be normal. After stretching, she will walk for at least five working days without suspenders. Therefore, you need to properly tighten the bolts that hold the tire.

To understand how to tension the chain on a chainsaw, first you need find and release the chain brake. The tension screw is located next to the tire, it is turned until the chain is pulled on the tire. Then pull the chain in a clockwise direction. If it does not move, then it needs to be slightly loosened by turning the tension screw in the opposite direction.

Stretched chain

If you have a sagging chain on a chainsaw, then this indicates a malfunction of some mechanism, one of the options is the wear of the chain itself.

Over time, the metal is deformed and the chain becomes 0.5-1 cm longer. The best way to fix this problem is to buy a new circuit, but there is a way to return the old one to work. Experts say that this is very difficult and almost impossible, but we will tell you how this can be done at home.

For this we need:

• vise;
• file;
• electric welding machine (not needed in all cases);
• hammer;
• pliers;
• beard.

The usual chainsaw chainsaw is made of durable steel, so it is difficult to disconnect it. You need to disconnect the chain on the inside of the rivet, which serves as a connecting mechanism.

To begin with, the chains need to be fixed in a vice, and then gradually grind off the protruding part. You need to grind with a file or needle file. The grinder is not recommended, as there is a risk of damaging the side parts of the links. After grinding, the rivets are knocked out with a beard. A knocked-out rivet should not be thrown away. You may not be able to find a replacement for her. Gasoline saw manufacturers do not produce separate parts for the chain, as they do not assume that consumers will be able to repair the chain themselves. Most likely, you will not be able to make a new rivet yourself, so you will have to install the old one.

In order to shorten the chain, you need to split it in two places. But remember that the number of guide lugs on the inside of the chain and the distance between them must be combined with the drive sprocket.

Important! When welding the link, set the current to the minimum value. Select the electrode with the smallest diameter, so you will not touch adjacent links.

After removing one or more links (depending on the degree of stretch of the chain), the chains can be connected. We connect to the old rivets, while pressing them tightly on the sides.

Next we need a welding machine. The rivet must be welded to the side parts of the link. After that, with a file, we grind off the excess that was formed when working with welding. The chain can be considered serviceable again.

Badly fixed drive sprocket

One of the possible variations of a slack chain on your device is problem with drive sprocket. Most often, everything happens due to the fact that the star is poorly fixed. Now we will tell you how to properly fix the star and then put the chain on the chainsaw.

First you need to remove the protective cover of the engine. Next, remove the protective cover of the candle, pull out the air filter. Then, with a special key, you need to unscrew the candle. A special stopper is placed in its place, which fixes the piston in a certain position. With a special key (you can use a universal key for a grinder), turn the clutch disc clockwise until the piston reaches its highest position. If you look into the hole of the candle, then the piston should remain at the bottom. As a stopper, you can use a thick rope, it is better to fold it several times. After fixing, you can clamp the drive sprocket by turning the clutch disc counterclockwise.

Did you know? Chainsaw "Druzhba" got its name in honor of the 300th anniversary of the union of Ukraine with Russia in 1954.

After clamping, you need to do everything in the reverse order, that is, assemble the chainsaw. A chain is put on the tire, it must fall on the drive sprocket that holds it. The tire is placed in special holes for fastening and bolted. Then there is protection.

How to tighten: installing a chainsaw cutting element

We have analyzed the main causes of a sagging chain. How to install a chain on a chainsaw is described in the paragraph above. Now you need to properly tighten the chain, and check if it is overtightened.

chain tension

You can pull the chain two ways: fast and frontal. It is best to stretch in the frontal way.

If you carry out a frontal tension, then you need to unscrew the nuts that hold the tire and lift it over the edge. With a special bolt on the right, you need to tighten the chain until an acceptable tension is obtained, and then raise the tire even higher and clamp it.

The first thing a new owner of a chainsaw has to learn after studying the safety precautions for working with a powerful tool is setting it up. The next thing to do after reading the instructions is to test the operation, and if the saw does not work correctly, then the probable cause of this is the wrong chain tension. Therefore, the question immediately arises - how to tension the chain on a chainsaw?

Usually, manufacturers indicate in the instructions for the chainsaw how to do this, but if for some reason it was lost, or the device was inherited without it, for example, by inheritance, then the text below will help you find the correct answer.

If you get into your hands, you should not be scared and nervous, because. got one of the most reliable and high-quality options assembled from components created by one manufacturer at its own facilities.

Before you tension the chain on the Stihl chainsaw or check the quality of the tension, be sure to wear protective gloves or gloves. This will not only protect your hands from cuts from sharp teeth, but also keep them clean, since machine oil is difficult to wash and wash off.

The first step is to check the tension of the Stihl chain. If the chain sags (part of the internal teeth are visible), then it must be tightened. In a relaxed state, it will damage the tire and render the saw unusable. If the chain is stationary when the brake is released, it means that it is overtightened, respectively, it must be loosened.

The Shtil company suggests two possible options for chainsaw chain tension - fast and frontal. Both of them are used for improvement in the process of work. It is worth noting that it is forbidden to stretch an overheated chain. According to the laws of physics, it will shrink after cooling, and may burst from overtension or damage the tire.

With the frontal version, it is necessary to unscrew the nuts and lift the chainsaw tire on which the chain is installed over the edge. The bolt on the right must be turned with a screwdriver until the desired tension is obtained. Then the tire must be raised even higher and tighten the nuts back.
A quick option for tensioning the Stihl chainsaw chain involves the following: the tension wheel located on top must be turned all the way to the right, after raising the handle of the wing nut and loosening it. After the operation, the nut is tightened again, and the handle is lowered. This completes the procedure. Stihl chainsaw models have some differences in the rules for tensioning the chain, it is advisable to find instructions for the custom model.

All safety rules described for the model above are the same for Husqvarna saws. Do not tighten the chain when the saw engine is running. It is allowed to start work only after a complete stop and cooling.

Before tensioning the chain on a Husqvarna chainsaw, you need to check if additional tension is required. It is worth considering that new saw chains require more frequent tightening. From time to time it stretches in the process of work, so this operation must be carried out before each use, if necessary. Otherwise, not only the replacement of the chain, but also the drive mechanisms of the saw will be required.

First of all, it is necessary to loosen the fixing nuts located on the clutch cover. The next step is to turn the adjusting screw 45 degrees. If the Husqvarna chainsaw chain is too tight, turn to the left (counterclockwise). Otherwise, the screw turns to the right. If a single tightening is not enough, the operation must be repeated. At the end of the procedure, tighten the nuts on the protective cover using a combination wrench. They can also check the tension of the chainsaw chain by hooking it on the outer tooth and pulling the chain along the guide in the tire.

Video chainsaw chainsaw Stihl MS 180

Chain loosening is a phenomenon familiar to all bike owners. Mainly the chain is weakened due to gear changes. When installing a new mechanism, it is necessary to tighten the chain after 2-3 bike rides. The tension level is checked by pulling the chain with fingers from 10 to 15 mm.

Causes of chain drop

The mechanism fails in two cases:

1. The bend of the star on the system (the front group of stars). In this case, it is possible to drive at a different speed, where there is no bent star. When using all speeds, it is strongly recommended to replace the damaged part as soon as possible. In a collapsible system, only one bent star is replaced. A solid system involves a complete replacement of the system along with the connecting rod.
2. At incorrectly set speeds. After making sure that the connecting rods are in good condition, it is advisable to start adjusting the speeds. The speed shifters (front and rear) are topped with adjusting bolts to prevent overdrive transmission. With incorrect adjustment, the chain is likely to fly off. If the mechanism has flown off the main large chainring, an L-bolt is screwed in (low means easy gearing). Screwing in is carried out until the stars are parallel on the switch with a relatively large star. By analogy, the H-bolt (high - high gear) is screwed in reverse order from the smallest star to the parallel line of the 7th speed derailleur.

If the front part of the chain sags from the small chain to the bike frame, you should tighten the L-bolt, the correct adjustment of which directly depends on setting the minimum speed on the bike. Screwing continues until the distance from the inner frame of the derailleur to the chain is reduced to 1 mm. In case of serious damage and heavy wear .

Under the condition that the chain falls off a large star, an H-bolt is screwed in, the adjustment of which is supposed to be at the highest speed. Twisted up to 1 mm distance from the chain to the outer frame of the switch.

chain break

If you switch the speed at the time of the load, let's say when climbing a mountain, a chain break is likely. When the chain breaks, the link is often riveted or broken. In case of riveting, you can try to rivet the link again. Since this is done with a chain puller, it is advisable to keep the tool at hand. If a link breaks, it must be removed along with the neighboring one. Then the chain is riveted with a puller.

Installing a bike chain is a simple job. It is enough to pull the rear derailleur itself on a loose chain and put it directly on the front chainring.

Bicycle chain tension

regular bike

To tighten the chain of a conventional bicycle, it is necessary to install the transport with the wheels up. This is the most convenient position for unscrewing the mounting nuts on the rear wheel. When unwinding, it is easy to set the optimal sag and tension of the bike chain. You need to move the wheel along the grooves. The mechanism is fixed only in a parallel position of the axis relative to the carriage shaft. The correct sag is 5 mm. When the chain is tightened, difficult pedaling is noted. Insufficient tension causes the mechanism to disengage. Sometimes there is a tight stop of the wheel in the edges of the grooves and the extra links are removed.

sports bike

The chain tension of a sports bike is done a little differently. Since the sport bike is equipped with a rear parallelogram derailleur, the bike chain is somewhat different from the usual one. In this case, the tension is determined by the degree of stiffness of the switch spring. Excessive length of the mechanism leads to impacts of the chain on the bike frame. Insufficient length causes shifting difficulty. As a result, parts wear out faster. The main reason for the sagging of the mechanism of a sports bike is the extra links. Chain slippage can be prevented by removing extra links by squeezing the bike chain.

Choice of chain guide

1. ISCG is mounted on a bicycle frame by means of circular bolting. The optimal number of fasteners is 3, the bolt spacing is 47.77 mm.
2. ISCG 05 is a highly sought-after dampener due to its easy installation. The diameter of the mounting circle is 73 mm, the distance between the bolts should be 55.92 mm. Fastening is carried out on, pressing the damper to the bicycle frame.

In addition to the installation type, tensioners differ from each other:

• degree of protection;
• cost;
• on the basis of the material;
• weight;
• configuration.

The dampers are made of high quality metal and plastic. The cost of the tensioner directly depends on the material used.

How to make your own bike chain guide

Method 1

Bend the bicycle spoke into a spiral and place it on the transmission. It is necessary that the spiral pulls the bike chain. This is an old and uncomplicated method, where the pacifier does not look very aesthetically pleasing.

Method 2

The material used is an aluminum or duralumin plate 8–11 mm thick. The tensioner is made using:

• tap size M10 * 1 with its holders;
• a file with a core;
• hacksaws with vise;
• sandpaper;
• technical oil;
• hammer with a drill;
• drilling machine or drill;

An old part is outlined on a metal blank with a marker and a hole is drilled in the center. Then they take a hacksaw, with which they saw off the workpiece and grind it with a file. An alternative option is to make a groove along the diameter of the shaft, intended for subsequent insertion into this groove. The installation section of the groove in the cycle frame should be 4 mm wide on one side, 8 mm on the other.

The hole is made with a drill slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the hole itself. Especially soft metal. For perfect accuracy, it is advisable to use an electric drill, and not a manual one. The thread is cut by means of translational-return movements.

Attention! Threading is observed in strict perpendicularity to the axes. To improve the appearance of the tensioner, you will need sandpaper for polishing. Then lubricated with lubricant.

Installation instructions for the bike chain guide

When installing the tensioner, you will need to use:

• a set of hexagons for 5, 4 and 2 mm;
• connecting rod squeeze;
• key;
• removable carriage device;
• thread lock;
• grease.

The assembly consists of several stages:

1. and sprockets, if necessary, and carriages.
2. Moving the largest star to the position of the middle one. The post of a major star will be taken by rockling (protection from blows).
3. Screwing the so-called banana to the edges of the carriage ledge.
4. Bolt tightening.
5. Regular installation checks.
6. Lubrication of fasteners.
7. Mounting rods, putting on the chain, adjusting the pressure rollers.
8. Extension of the inner "pancake" to the star, maintaining a proportional distance between all the details. Care should be taken that the bike chain does not touch the parts.
9. Bolt fixings.

The chain guide prevents it from slipping in the future. Correct actions promise comfortable trips in the future.

Each cyclist should not only, but also be able to properly care for him, including pulling the chain on the bike. Many questions arise precisely with mountain vehicles. We recommend that you put aside all your affairs and familiarize yourself with the information provided on how to correctly and quickly tension the chain on a mountain bike. This knowledge will come in handy again and again.

The chain is one of the most important elements of the bike, which requires proper installation and adjustment.

The subtleties of installing a bicycle chain

A bicycle cannot be called a very complex device, there are more complicated ones. But still, in its design there are several important and irreplaceable elements on which the operation of the entire mechanism directly depends. The important place is always occupied by the chain. It will only work for a long time if .

It is necessary to monitor its work and quickly respond to emerging problems. For example, a properly installed and serviceable chain should not make extraneous sounds in the form of crackling and squeaking. During the operation of the bicycle, this element can stretch and be subject to wear.

If the installation and adjustment of the chain was performed correctly, then it should sag by 10-12 mm, no more and no less. Pulling the chain with your fingers, it should move away from its original position by 1–1.5 cm. With a greater pull, it is urgent to tighten the chain. Such regulations apply only to two types of bicycles: models with no speed switch or with a planetary gearshift mechanism installed.

When a new chain is installed, it is imperative to adjust the tension level, and after three trips, it is necessary to tighten it. The new mechanism is prone to rapid stretching.

Different ways to tension the chain

With significant differences in design. To correctly tension a chain on a bicycle, you need to know the rules that apply to your type of vehicle.

If the bike is without gears

For a bike that is not provided, the chain mechanism should only sag 5 mm. In order to achieve the correct operation of the transport and not encounter certain problems on the road, it is necessary to tension the chain in accordance with certain rules:

1. Position the two-wheeled vehicle so that it is on the steering wheel and seat, and the wheels are on top.
2. On the rear wheel, you will need to loosen the mounting nuts or eccentrics.
3. By moving the wheel along the inclined grooves (dropouts), it is necessary to achieve the correct slack of the chain mechanism.

• the rear wheel is fixed only if its axis is strictly parallel to the carriage shaft;
• if the chain on the bike is too tight, then the pedaling will be complicated, and the mechanism itself will quickly become unusable;
• with a strongly sagging chain, the cyclist will often have to stop and correct it;
• removal of links on the chain mechanism is required if, during its installation or tightening, further adjustment of the wheel along the dropouts becomes impossible, and the chain is still sagging.

If the bike has several speed modes

The tension force of the chain mechanism on a bicycle, the design of which assumes the presence, directly depends on the stiffness index, which characterizes the spring on the switch.

With a long chain mechanism, the tensioner simply cannot compensate for excessive slack, respectively, the chain will beat against the frame. This problem is worth paying special attention to the owners of bicycles with insufficiently long rear throwers. With a short chain mechanism, it will be very difficult to change speed. As a result, the entire transmission structure will wear out faster. This problem is more pronounced in the case of two-suspension mechanisms.

A common problem during the installation of a new chain on this type of bike is the need to shorten it. To do this, you can use one of two methods:

1. The chain mechanism is installed on the largest sprockets in front and behind. We pull for it and take the rear derailleur as far forward as possible. By adding two links, the required chain length can be determined.
2. The chain mechanism is transferred in front to the largest sprocket, and behind, on the contrary, to the smallest one. The chain is then tightened until the bezel on the rear thrower points straight down. The required torque can be calculated from the axes of the switch rollers - they must be one line in a strictly vertical direction.

If you have to deal with two-suspension bikes, then the chain setting is carried out according to a slightly different principle. To do this, you need to press down on the rear swingarm in such a way that the front cassette with sprockets is removed from the rear ratchet to the maximum distance. In this position, we make a mark corresponding to the required length of the chain and remove the extra links.

Removing links

We have often mentioned the need to remove extra links as a common problem for cyclists. If in the case of an ordinary bicycle a collapsible chain is used with a lock installed on one of the links, then the vast majority of modern models require the use of non-collapsible mechanisms in which all the links are well connected to each other.

Whole chains are the most difficult, especially for inexperienced users. But with certain knowledge, even in this case, you can remove the required number of links without much difficulty. The secret is hidden in the turning of the pin head on one of the links using emery.

You can choose an easier method, but for it you will need to use a squeeze - a special tool that allows you to separate the rivets on a non-separable bicycle chain mechanism. With the help of squeeze, you can return the mechanism to working condition.

So we have mastered the important procedure that every cyclist faces. Now you do not have to turn to an outsider every time to replace and adjust the chain on your bike.