Chain Slack Adjustment...Am I Paranoid?

[Houtman_imp]

I marked the end of an 8mm nut driver handle with a visual reference mark so I could keep track of full and fractional adjustment turns, and T and L on either side of the mark to remind myself which direction is tighten, and which is loosen.
If I recall correctly, left (counter-clockwise) tightens the chain, right (clockwise) loosens.

I do not know if these directions would be the same below the equator, however.

Everything is opposite below the equator , even the seasons.....

[Inhouse Bob]

You made me go check the chain tension. I'm at 1.25" on the center stand so I will leave it alone. Thanks for the reminder, though.

[Gone in 60]

I figure if toilets go the other way, maybe adjusting screws do as well. I've never been there, so I don't know.

[Cormanus]

Nope. Screws go the same way.

It doesn't answer my question, though. Even though you tighten the chain by turning the adjuster screws counter (anti) clockwise. It may be better to tighten them clockwise once you've tightened the axle bolt. I dunno.

To add to my earlier question to Haystack, if the chain tightens when you sit on the bike, adjusting it to spec will, at least, not make it too tight.

[Gone in 60]

So, just put the bike on the center stand, measured, and it's now at about 1.75". So, something made it loosen up quite a bit on my 13 mile ride to work.
I'm tightening the axle nut to spec. I don't have any large sockets or wrenches at work, so I'll have to fix it at home, but I wonder why it's loosened up so much.

[peterbaron]

Nope. Screws go the same way.

It doesn't answer my question, though. Even though you tighten the chain by turning the adjuster screws counter (anti) clockwise. It may be better to tighten them clockwise once you've tightened the axle bolt. I dunno.

To add to my earlier question to Haystack, if the chain tightens when you sit on the bike, adjusting it to spec will, at least, not make it too tight.

I would say: do not tighten the axle bolt, hold it steady and tighten the axle nut. It prevents from wheel walking and interfering with chain adjustment. IMHO.

[Gone in 60]

Yeah, I turn the nut, not the bolt, and I don't grab the wheel while I'm tightening to avoid pushing it out of adjustment. And, I check it again after everything is tight.

[peterbaron]

Yeah, I turn the nut, not the bolt, and I don't grab the wheel while I'm tightening to avoid pushing it out of adjustment. And, I check it again after everything is tight.

Right on

[Gone in 60]

Well, whatever the case may be.. surfaced home thinking that if I kept my speed down that I wouldn’t stress the chain much.

After dinner, I went back to square one. Loosened everything up and pushed the wheel all the way forward. Tightened up each screw equally and checked alignment with a laser. Torqued the axle nut to 83 lbs, and snugged the adjuster screws. Verified that nothing moved, and called it a night.

We’ll see how that does.

[Cormanus]

Baron Peter. My mistake. I meant the nut. That's what I tighten.

Gone in 60, when you snugged the adjuster screws, did you do it by wing them clockwise or anti clockwise?