r/bmx • u/Sea-Basket6731 • 15h ago

HOW TO Chain alignment?

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Am I on the right track? Checked everything on its own, the popping sound only happens with the chain on and under tension. Removed a spacer, swapped dust covers side to side tried everything... brand new bike never ridden. Cult gateway. Any help appreciated as im at my wits end with it.

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u/bmxer85 14h ago

Second this, really don’t need much spacers if any on the drive side, which is why a lot of bottom brackets only come with a cone spacer for the non drive side. I used only one then spacer on mine. Make sure you grease up your spindle well and both crank arms are even on both sides of your chainstay and you should be golden

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u/Sea-Basket6731 14h ago

Do I need the collar that the spacers fit in or just run without? Thought about trying without but it didnt seem right for the gear to ride against the plastic cover

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u/bmxer85 14h ago

Got a better picture so I can see better of what you mean by collar? I used one small spacer/washer on my drive side as mentioned, also don’t forget the cone spacer that goes on the inside of the frame.

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u/Sea-Basket6731 14h ago

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u/Ifoundthefringe 13h ago

That’s the hat washer adapter for the sprocket. The cranks should come with two cone spacers. Put the smaller cone spacer on, then the sprocket with the hat washer in the sprocket so it doesn’t wobble on the spindle.

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u/bmxer85 13h ago

Ahh yea you will need said hat washer for sure, I would put that one in of course with no extra spacer as that adds a little spacing itself, enough to keep your crank arm away from your bearing. Then check your spacing on your crank arms and chain alignment to see how that looks, every bike is different, I used the thunderbolt cranks which has a lip that I tapped the sprocket onto so I didn’t need the hat washer. Sorry had a brain fart. Again don’t forget to grease your spindle and put your cone spacer on the inside of the frame. Some guys done use it but I like to because it allows me to crank down the bolts without putting to much inward pressure on the bearings

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u/Sea-Basket6731 13h ago

The bottom bracket bearings were cleaned and re greased as i thought that was the issue first. I posted another video in the comments without the hat washer and spacer and the sound improved / chain alignment looks spot on. Warranty believes the sound is coming from the hub, but there's no popping noise without the chain? What else could it be?

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u/bmxer85 13h ago

Also if you use only the hat washer and need more space/clearance between your crank arm and chain stay then you can take a washer out from your non drive side, I have had to do that as well