chain tensioners?

[Joshua85]

this may sound like an odd question but what are chain tensioners?

i just got a frame that has this horizontal bolt on the rear dropout, and i'm assuming that is what it is, but i just dont know what it does....

 

[mastershake916]

this may sound like an odd question but what are chain tensioners?

i just got a frame that has this horizontal bolt on the rear dropout, and i'm assuming that is what it is, but i just dont know what it does....

It tensions the chain.
Google it, go to sheldon brown, etc.

 

[Joshua85]

bbb..bb..bbbbut thats the easy way


im an idiot

 

[mastershake916]

I am interested in the bolt though, I can't really visualize it.

 

[12bcruzin]

What kind of frame is it? What era? I have a road bike that has adjuster screws on the dropout and I have a few pre war frames with adjusters so narrow it down or post a picture.
There were two different styles on the pre war bikes. The most common is the push bolt style that has a small 1/4 bolt that pushes the axle back in the dropout. The frame is actually threaded for the bolt. The Elgin style is the "puller" style eye bolt that goes around the axle and pulls back on the dropout. On this style, the dropout is also horizontal but there are no provisions on the frame for threads-kind of like a track bike. If need be, I can post pictures of both styles.

 

[necessaryevil]

Does this help?

 

[sensor]

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better not let the wife see that picture!!!!!! :shock:

 

[mastershake916]

Oh duh!
facepalm.jpg
I thought that you were talking about a mount for the bolt-on accessory.
But yeah, adjuster screws are great.

 

[Joshua85]

kinda helps, i googled it and it just gave me wierd results and sheldon's site was down. I know where the bolt goes, i just dont know what it does or how it tensions the chain.

the bike is an only western flyer from the 60s

I'm guessing the way it works is just applys pressure to the axel to push it back in the dropout, does this sound right?

 

[Anonymous]

Josh,Are you sure your frame is from the '60's?

I've only seen those axle screws on skip link chain bikes...like pre-WWII

 

[Markm]

got a pic?? :?:

 

[Joshua85]

sorry about the wait guys,
here is a pic

so i think it just works by pushing the axel backwards so that is *cough* tensions the chain

 

[sensor]

that pretty much it in a nut shell(guess you could call you hands chain tensioners on newer bikes)

 

[Ahab]

here are some samples of new school chain tensioners.