horizontal dropouts allow you to slide your rear wheel backwards to take up any slack your chain might have. EBB's essentially do the same, but move the bottom bracket to pull the chain snug. Vertical dropouts can't do this obviously. A tensioner will do that for frames with your dropouts.
correct, if this is true... you are running the 'magic gear' how much slack does your chain have? can you deflect it more than .5" up or down? take a pic
hmm... It is an issue of fixed distance versus adjustable distance, and how to alleviate chain sag. A vertical dropout bike has a fixed drivetrain distance, and therefore you can only adjust chain length to a certain amount, and are limited by the length of the links themselves. A tensioner will place pressure on the chain to keep it taut once these adjustments are made. Horizontal dropouts allow you to shift the entire wheel backward to achieve proper chain tension. In this way the drivetrain length is adjustable for proper tension, and therefore a tensioner is unnecessary. Tensioners basically take the place of a derailleur in keeping a chain taut on a vertical droput bike. 0.5 inches of deflection is pretty high. I'd throw the tensioner on there,otherwise you stand a pretty good chance of throwing the chain off or breaking it.
much better, but you're still getting there, but see how the top of the chain still sags a bit in the first pic? throw the tensioner back on and I'll bet it'll be damn near perfect
Thanks for the help guys, I might just try and ride it and see what happens. I don't think I can deal with the chain tensioner anymore :lol:
it looks too loose..... run the tensioner... and flip it so it pushes UP on the chain hows your chainline? does it need to come outboard a little in the rear?
You should be ok without the tensioner, just make sure your chainline is straight....or you'll end up smashing your knee on the fork like me.#-o
I remember you and the other guy saying to flip the tensioner up, and I was playing around with it today and there's no way it is going on any other way. hahaha
Looks like you're golden. I ran more slack than that and I never dropped a chain. Keep in mind that this is a new chain and it will stretch after a few rides, so keep an eye on the amount of slack that develops. If that happens(too much slack), you might need to go up on your chainring size and drop the cog size the same number of teeth to tighten it up a bit.
ditto. An SS is so smooth without a tensioner. Get some short chainring bolts or add a bash ring. Those zip ties will break and you will be hurting.
Yes, Please get some short chainring bolts, or run a bash like Doug said. Or even a big chainring. I can't stand looking at those zip ties!
Hahah, anyone have a cheap bash guard for sale?? So I can either get shorter bolts or just go bash guard?
