Unchained malady

My plan B for a possible ride to the proposed longest day outing on the
GFR has been rather spoiled.

After getting the French Tart loaded up for Cadwell I decided a quick
blast to 'The Greasy Spoon' on the GFR for lunch was in order. On the
way back I had just snicked clutchlessly into 4th at the red line to
keep things on the boil up a fair hill when a loud graunch and lack of
drive announced the departure of the chain.

I haven't had a chain break since the Matchless G2 when I was
seventeen. Thanks to Auntie Carole's get you home service (first time I
have used it - most impressed) I was home in an hour and a half.

I am pretty sure the chain went as result of a tight spot which made
had adjustment very tricky. The GFR has a single sided swinging arm
with a nice eccentric chain adjustment arrangement. The problem is that
this only works by inserting a tommy bar through a hole in the back
wheel into the eccentric sprocket holder bit. If you have a tight spot
which does not manifest itself with the wheel in this position it is a
real pain to keep having to turn the wheel round to the tight spot to
check tension and then back to the adjustment position to try and move
the eccentric the requisite amount.

Naturally a (probably long overdue) chain will be fitted, but it really
also needs a rear sprocket. Whilst possibly not actually unobtainium I
can't guarantee Uncle Bob Wright will have one on the shelf so the GFR
is out of service for a while. No chance of getting a pattern sprocket
made up quickly as it is special job incorporating mounting bosses.