RodTi

Chrome has a sense of humour...

A box of smarties to the first Hubber who works out who this is....

Did I mention I'm heavy? Chainline is straight - new chain, new sprocket at the back, new MonoVeloce SS specific blade up front... The problem presents at the tensioner. As mentioned, I have no doubts for the many/few(?) that might run with no problems, you will find many/few(?) who do have problems... In my case - I'm convinced that the skewer cap not taking enough thread on the skewer, and therefore not biting into the locator tab sufficiently to assist the adjustment bolt in preventing the tensioner from moving, is where things are going south... I don't want the hassle of fidgeting with the SS - so I'll either get this sorted, or go for a completely different option.

+1... Depending on what susser it is, you'd presumably have quite a bit of movement on the chain line as the suspension is activated?

Drongo - Surly looks the bizz, but DN's Gusset looks a treat too, at a fifth of the price... Did spot quite a few comments at the Gusset's review about using Loctite to keep things in place... That could work, no?

Hey DN - like the idea that it comes with it's own skewer nut, presuming that unlike the standard nut, it has little to no recess? It's design though is pretty similar to the one I have on - and mine isn't working... As mentioned, I need to constantly tighten up the adjuster bolt, since it eventually loses tension and pivots away from the chain.... Thinking about it some more - does the skewer nut offer additional force to prevent the pivot? I suspect that's where I'm picking up the problems on my one... With my skewer nut not being able to 'bite' up against the locator tab as much as what it probably should - it might be why the tensioner is able to pivot as easily as it does... Guess the skewer nut in addition to the adjuster bolt would work at keeping the tension up??

So I had a look around at various sites last night, getting a feel about tensioners and the like. Appears that they can be categorised, broadly, into two main categories - namely those that attach at the back - and those that are connected near to/on the BB. Of those at the back, they either - a.)dial/slot/screw only into/onto the existing hanger; or b.)as above AND are attached/connected to the QR skewer slot as well (like the one I have). With this being said - and based purely on my reading of various review placed up by cyclists over several years, on various sites - the following becomes apparent: 1.) Irrespective of the make or model, home-made/modified or bought new - almost all of them have users reporting issues pertaining to "loss of tension"... 2.) The above applies irrespective of whether the pulley/tensioner pushes up or down on the chain. 3.) Many comments are made regarding "having to re-tighten the bolt" - with these being spread out over those who occasionally do it whilst routinely cleaning the bike at home, or those who have to make adjustments whilst on the bike/trail. In short [], it appears that whilst there are obviously those that are fortunate in having no problems - there are plenty of SS riders who have issues with tensioners... Many of the replies to above, suggested the user check chain alignment and setup issues (as per the instructions of the specific tensioner)... However, there are those who record being 100% certain that all is as it should be, and it taking experimenting with 2/3 models before finding one that worked for them... Given that the magic ratio (thereby negating the need for a tensioner) apparently works a treat until your chain eventually starts stretching [] - for those who do not have the option of horizontal dropouts - the tensioner is a unavoidable part of the setup... I have now learnt that I should probably have gone for something like the Surly Singulator (or similar), as it being an example of a.) above, would not have interfered with my skewer... With this being said - the Surly also comes standard with a tension spring - whereas my current tensioner relies on its adjustment bolt 'staying put', as it were.... I will therefore try my hand at modifying what I have, and will look a-fresh as building my own from an old rear mech I have lying at home. Suffice it to say - if you're converting to a SS - put some thought into what tensioner you are going to purchase, since once the conversion is done, it remains the only part that could require continued 'adjustment-input' going forward - and if this can be avoided by choosing the right tensioner, then by all means, try and do so!

Had a listen - Also, quite a big thumbs up from the man: "British artist Morrissey, known for outspoken skepticism towards modern music, hailed the album on his official website True To You saying that "if there is any justice in the world Young The Giant will own most of it by August". He also expressed that "once every three thousand years, a band comes along who restore [the] precious component of faith". Morrissey himself was the vocalist of the 1980s band The Smiths."

Very slick music video to boot... Shot in Potch if memory serves... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0J1lQdMDlA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyhkQzPLjcA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZs0_r3ROjg&feature=artist

Thanks Nathrix! The Drongo - see below: In the middle is the 'bolt' that constantly needs tightening... You can also see the back end of the 'tab'/locator - the part that fits into the dropout slot... The wheelnut has bit into it, causing the abrasions you see on it, following its oval shape. Below is the adjustment/acorn-cap... Notice how the thread-hole is recessed? I'm thinking of getting a shop to machine the top edge down a tad [or cue hack-saw ], which will effectively reduce the 'recess' of the cap, thereby nullifying the width inserted between the skewer thread and the cap by the tensioner-tab/locator... What you think?

Thanks Nathrix... Good reviews up on Wiggle... this might be what I'm looking for.... It simply slots into/onto the hanger, I presume - so no tabs etc. that also require adjustment/fitting via the QR skewer?... I'll have a good look at my current tensioner over the week, and see if I cannot remedy the situation effectively, and cheaply... Failing which, might take the Wiggle option...

Thanks R4YL... Went and had a looksie - terrible reviews though... Fire Eye's The Spur II might be an option... but that's starting to look quite complicated for a tensioner, and would take away from the clean look I'm trying to get at on the bike... I'm going to have a closer look during the week at what my options are... expect a few pics up here soonish, to throw it open to the Hub for some fire and brimstone...

Not a very happy chappy at the moment! Geared bike is in for a lengthy service - and have been hitting the trails on the SS... Been killing myself getting up the local hill - but things are slowly improving! Thing is - the appeal of having a maintenance freeless-so ride in a SS, is beginning to fade ever so slightly... The tensioner I have installed, is doing a pretty poor job of providing tension... I regularly have to hop off and re-tighten the bottom bolt, inevitably just at the bottom of a long uphill... This happens before I've even started standing, and I've been particularly mindful of not mashing the pedals, but ensuring an even, constant rotation in my pedal-stroke... The skewer-length problem highlighted above, is also providing its own issues... Even with a max skewer-length of 170mm, the end threaded/adjustment-cap of the skewer simply doesn't get enough bite on the skewer-thread... The wheel is somehow shifting during the ride, with the result that by the time I'm almost home, the rear-wheel has developed brake-pad rub... In the absence of a longer skewer - I presumably have three options: 1.) Start looking at different tensioners, that do not make use of the (red-circled) tab (as above); 2.) Have an machine shop alter the threaded/adjustment-cap of the skewer, to remove the inset-depth of the thread 'bite' on the cap, thereby 'regaining' the mm's lost to the (red-circled) tab; or 3.) find my golden ratio and loose the tensioner... Joy.

What the hell is that? Followed shortly by: Where is that?

How big are your pics? I use the stock-standard Microsoft Office Picture Manager for everything I upload - works a treat.

Awesome pics TNT1! Would love to know how close this is to the Shuttle... (Some skillful parallel-parking going on here... ) Don't you just hate uneven spray-on foam insulation applications?

Touché!

Small order placed on 22 June - slip/1st notification arrived yesterday - picked up today... 2 weeks!

CKing is obviously top of the range - but allow me to put a word in for Hope headsets... Installed one on my SS recently - so cannot really comment on longevity yet, but by all accounts (reviews etc.), it's as good as the CK's... It's about half the price off CRC, and looks awesome! I particularly like the top-cap bolt that HOPE uses, pretty sweet! My 2 cents! Good luck with the build - will be interesting to keep an eye on it!

Hey Hubbers! Will flag this for Admin's attention - expect a response as soon as possible. What OS/Web browser are you using?

One of these sitting at Masons.... Very puurrrtyy! RRP?