2 pack or not 2 pack that is the question

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deacon

minor bike philosopher
Jan 15, 2008
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I got my new tensioner with the bearing, now do I need to grease it before use or not. I was thinking, it might not help but it sure as heck couldn't hoit. Then again somebody here should know for sure.
 

deacon

minor bike philosopher
Jan 15, 2008
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The one I got seems a little tight but since I'm not planning to use it just yet I haven't removed the roller to check for grease.
 

Bikeguy Joe

Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
Jan 8, 2008
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Do you have some marvel mystery oil?

Put some of that on there and run it for a few dozen miles, then clean it out when it starts to turn black and pack it with grease.
 

Bikeguy Joe

Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
Jan 8, 2008
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Regular motor oil or even 3-in-one oil would be better than something too thin.

I've noticed that no matter what kind of oil or grease you use (in any application) you'll see a definite change in color when it's getting around time to change it.
 

deacon

minor bike philosopher
Jan 15, 2008
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Now see I thought that MM was a super thin oil. Thought that was the appeal of it. Thanks for setting me straight. I used it once in an engine with sludge to clean the oil holes in the block. Not sure it did any good though.
 

bravofire84

New Member
Feb 13, 2008
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Say where would could i aquire one of those gadgets i have a 80cc on a 19incj frame with quickrelease rims and my chain doesn stay on at all.
 

deacon

minor bike philosopher
Jan 15, 2008
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I got mine on ebay, your chain won't stay on are you sure your chain isn't too long. It is just a tensioner like the one in the kit but it has a bearing set. the kit one doesn't
 

Bikeguy Joe

Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
Jan 8, 2008
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MM is thin, but not like liquid wrench or other penetrating oils.

I would use it just to seat the bearings, then pack with grease.
 

Bikeguy Joe

Godfather of Motorized Bicycles
Jan 8, 2008
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Of course the first one is not for the drive side. Someone was asking about changing a multi-speed into a single or other somewhere 'round here.
 

deacon

minor bike philosopher
Jan 15, 2008
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gotya, I thought it was thin but i see now.. As to the tensioner...yeah the one i got wasn't anything but the kit tensioner with a small bearing.

It was way more expensive than it was worth but then again it's a toy lol. I do like the one you showed I had a mountain bike for a while that I took to one speed with a coaster rear wheel. If I ever do it again, I'll change the crank and the rear wheel or go with a tensioner like the one in the picture... the coaster wheel has the advantage of a brake so you get to lose one of the brake handles to make room for the clutch handle.

Before I do another one, I'm going to look around for one with spring suspension. The bike I have now is light weight steel framed and it just shakes my teeth.
 
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Pablo

Master Bike Builder & Forum Sponsor
Dec 28, 2007
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When and if mine seizes I will get the bearing one. I do keep my non-ballbearing tensioner slathered with synthetic grease and so far it is doing great. Oils mentioned seem to be too thin and without much AW/EP protection. HD motor oil at least will have some AW agents, but without a carrier it won't stay around long.

Anyways - after this last month+ I really finally feel I have my chain tension dialed in. It just takes patience and monkeying. Even if you take a link too many, you can re-pin it. And some bikes have more adjustment than first glance indicates.
 

deacon

minor bike philosopher
Jan 15, 2008
8,114
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north carolina
Everybody swears by those tensioners with the bearings. I found the one i had to be garbage as well as the non bearing one. i think I would tighten the drive chain and tension the bike chain if I needed to tension one of them. Just use it as a chain guide since i don't pedal much.