chain adjustment help

Originally Posted by Stig

You can get a laser alignment tool as well. A small device you hold up against the rear sprocket and point the laser along the length of the chain all the way through to the front sprocket. If the laser hits the same part of the chain through the complete length the rear wheel is aligned. If not then adjust as necessary.

Called these guys and the 'line' version (as in the pic) is actually quite a bit more expensive than the 'dot' version. dot version = 40£. line version = 80£

Originally Posted by aciduzzo

Called these guys and the 'line' version (as in the pic) is actually quite a bit more expensive than the 'dot' version. dot version = 40£. line version = 80£

Don't understand so will go see what you mean. What is the difference between a line version and a dot version?

yeh i know it took me a while to get my head around it too. the line version is what u see in the pic. it beams a straight line down the chain length. a dot laser is like a laser pen, i.e. it can only beam a single dot. So u have to turn the device and note where the dot shines at the start of the chain versus the end. does the same thing, just trickier.

So read the difference. As far as I can see, the only difference between the two is that if you have a dot version, you have to swivel the unit up and down to get the laser to travel the length of the chain where as the line version you don't have to move it.

Well for double the price not to have to move the unit by a few mm to check the chain, I'll stick to the dot version thanks.

Originally Posted by aciduzzo

thanks Stig, that makes me wonder whether my laser pen would work. i'll give it a go, otherwise i'll get this gadget!

I have a couple of laser pens and wondered this myself. I suppose it would have to be mounted in something that held it straight.

It wouldn't be so hard to do if you had the right equipment, but I wouldn't trust that the pen itself is perfectly aligned to the laser.

[_Stretchie_]

I made a wheel alignment tool after reading a thread somewhere, using two bits of threaded bar. All I remember is that it turned out to be lots of work.


How about this?

http://www.bikersoracle.com/jaws/wheels.htm

well, having just tried a laser pen, i can confirm it does not work!

Originally Posted by aciduzzo

well, having just tried a laser pen, i can confirm it does not work!

Who'd of thought.

Hey fellow orgers. Just thought i'd update you all on this as i finally sorted it myself yesterday. Took me another two hours and a lot of trial and error, but i think/hope it's fine now. I used the string method (which is ok when you get the hang of it) - lots of wind doesn't help tho! More than the method itself, my problem was that altho the chain side of the wheel could be moved forward (easiest way is to step on chain), the RHS didn't want to budge. In the end i just unscrewed both adjusters, loosened the axle nut completely, stepped on chain to bring wheel as far forward as possible, then tightened everything up with trial and error until alignment and tension were pretty much spot-on.

Next time, i'll be sure to only tighten both nuts by equal (and very small) increments! Thanks again for all your help!

[TamSV]

Well done.

It'll take you ten minutes next time.