It should be tight as it can be without binding. If the chain is too loose, it can fall off, which is quite dangerous on a fixed gear. Set the rear axle so that the chain pulls taut at the tightest part of the cranks' rotation. One at a time, loosen up each of the stack bolts, and tighten it back just finger tight..
Beside this, how tight should your chain be?
Check your chain out. It should be tight enough that it only allows you to move it up and down about one inch. If it is sagging or much looser than that, you need to tighten that chain up. Chains often loosen when a bike does not have a derailleur.
Secondly, why do bike chains come off? Most of the time, a skipping chain is caused by cable stretch. In the first half dozen rides on a new bike your shift cables stretch the most. To fix a skip in the rear derailleur, shift your chain into the smallest ring on your rear cassette (the hardest gear) and the middle or larger ring on your front derailleur.
Accordingly, what happens if bike chain is tight?
When a motorcycle chain is tight, several things may occur. First, a tight chain will cause the sprockets to wear out much more quickly. The tightness of the chain will put more stress on them than usual which leads to the teeth getting worn down and possibly bending or warping the sprockets altogether.
Why does bike chain become loose?
A motorcycle chain that keeps getting loose is usually caused by the rear axle or chain tensioning bolts not being tight enough. It can also be cause by a new chain not being worn in enough, worn down sprocket teeth, having too tight of a tension, or having the wrong size of chain installed.
Related Question Answers
How tight should a bike chain be single speed?
Chain Tension There should be approximately one half inch of movement in the chain up and down at a point half way between the front and rear sprockets. To change the tension loosen one of the axle-nuts and move the wheel forward or backward slightly and snug it up again.Are bike chains loose?
If it is sagging or much looser than that, you need to tighten that chain up. Chains often loosen when a bike does not have a derailleur. Derailleur is the gear changing mechanism towards the back of the bike. The derailleur helps to pull the chain and keep it tight.Is my chain too long?
A too long chain can go completely slack if shifted into a chainring/cog combination the rear derailleur can't "wrap up". In this case the chain could spill and will be very slack on the bottom run. Usually this does no damage but shouldn't be used anyway.Are bike chains universal?
The sprocket teeth are cut for this same one-half inch standard to accept bicycle chains. However, this does not mean all makes and models of chains are interchangeable. There are two basic types of bicycle chains: “one-speed” chains, and derailleur chains.When should I replace my bike chain?
To avoid this accelerated wear of your cassette and chainrings, a general rule of thumb is to replace your bike's chain every 2,000 miles. Mind you, this is just a starting point.Why does my fixie make noise?
If it's too tight, you can get noise, as well as drag and excessively rapid wear. Many new FG riders make the mistake of thinking the chain should be as tight as you can get it. There should be just a little slack.What is a 3 32 chain?
3/32" (0.094", 2.30 mm) chain is used on derailer equipped bicycles that have more than 3 cogs at the rear. Even somewhat narrower chain, typically . 090" or 2.29 mm between the inner plates, is used for derailer-equipped bicycles with 9 or more sprockets at the rear.Are chain tensioners necessary?
2 Answers. You don't need a chain tensioner (by this, you presumably mean something like the Surly Tuggnut and not a pulley which will snap on a fixie). If you are very lucky even a vertical dropout frame won't need a tensioner but as chains stretch over time this probably won't hold true for long.How tight should MTB chain be?
What's the rule of thumb? As long as the chain doesn't fly off once you hit the gnar gnar, and as long as it doesn't bind and make moving the pedals difficult, the chain tension is fine. A few exceptions: Fixed gear: You want the chain to be pretty tight.How do you install a bike chain tensioner?
A chain tensioner can make the process easier. To install the chain tensioner, remove the drive-side axle-nut and place the chain tensioner against the rear dropout face. Reinstall the axle-nut and tighten the screw to move the wheel back in the dropout and add tension to the chain.What would happen if you ride your motorcycle when it has a very loose drive chain?
Drive chains are subject to wear and need frequent adjustment to maintain the correct tension. If the chain becomes worn or slack, it can jump off the sprocket and lock the rear wheel.Can I use wd40 to clean motorcycle chain?
You can, but it won't work as a chain lube. WD40 is NOT a lubricant. No matter what anyone says, WD40 will not lubricate your chain. But, I used a real motorcycle chain lube after cleaning the chain.How long should chain and sprockets last?
A chain can last anywhere from about 500 miles to 5000, depending on the quality of the chain, the sprockets, how the bike is ridden, and the maintenance. 
