Chain shortening?

Stephen \(aka steford\) said:

The chain on my little boys bike (no gears) has started coming off frequently over the last week or
so. On examination it seems very loose and too long. Even though I'm a regular cyclist I know
nothing about maintenance. I took it in to my local bike shop today but they can't do an
"adjustment" until Wednesday. Any idea what the problem is and how I can fix it cheaply and easily?

Have a look at the dropouts where the rear wheel axle bolts into the frame. If the slots (the
'dropouts'😉 are horizontal, which they probably will be, then simply loosen off the nuts holding the
rear wheel on and pull the rear wheel backwards until the chain is tightened.

Don't tighten it so much that there is no play in the chain though. You can test this by pushing the
chain upwards at a spot between the front and rear sprockets. I'd guess about a 1cm of movement
would be about right.
--
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"Ben" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Stephen \(aka steford\) said:

The chain on my little boys bike (no gears) has started coming off frequently over the last week
or so. On examination it seems very loose

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

too long. Even though I'm a regular cyclist I know nothing about maintenance. I took it in to my
local bike shop today but they can't do

an

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"adjustment" until Wednesday. Any idea what the problem is and how I can

fix

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

it cheaply and easily?

Have a look at the dropouts where the rear wheel axle bolts into the frame. If the slots (the
'dropouts'😉 are horizontal, which they probably will be, then simply loosen off the nuts holding
the rear wheel on and pull the rear wheel backwards until the chain is tightened.

Don't tighten it so much that there is no play in the chain though. You can test this by pushing
the chain upwards at a spot between the front and rear sprockets. I'd guess about a 1cm of
movement would be about right.
--

Excellent mate. Looks just as you say and I can see some paint has been worn away - the rear wheel
has moved along those dropouts. Will shift it back tomorrow and he's mobile again. Thanks so much.
Saved £5 at the bike shop and the hassle of taking it there.