Tensioner problem, Help! Please.

[Keith Courage]

Anyone ever have a Threshold Tensioner break in half?

On the drive side only, it slowly bent towards the hub. Eventually it broke in half. Both Threshold Tensioners did this. A handful of different BMX tensioners later, nothing seems to work.
The first tensioner started bending about 3 or so months ago. Took that long to break.
The second one only took about a week to break.
I'm wondering what has caused this dilemma. And why did it take ~7 months for the problem to develop?
I feel like dropping 30 bones on new threshold tensioners is a waste because they will just break until I isolate the problem.
Anyone ever have this happen?
Whats that about?
I don't miss side-hops, that sounds cocky. I just don't do them, if I do its something too low to miss.
Maybe the dropout is bent? Eyeballing it, it doesn't seem so.

help

These are so not-so-good pics of each drop out (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/Skimandyak1/DSC_0052.jpg)
Here, again (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/Skimandyak1/DSC_0051.jpg)

Edit: I'd like to see some shots peoples set ups

[Acolyte]

Sounds like it's from torque. Even with everything super tight, it's going to slide a little, and the only way it can slide is to bend the tensioner. Plus the metal fatigues as well, once it bends slightly, it only gets worse.

Have you tried making an insert to put in front of the axle between the axle and dropout? Keep it from sliding forward instead of trying to hold it back?

[Keith Courage]

I've been thinking about that Acolyte.
The only problem I have is figuring out anything to use for that.

suggestions?

[hophopsnap]

I rigged up my bmx like that, and I used to on my dj bike, I found two bolts roughly 9mm or whatever fits in your dropouts, and put them in so they are flush, mine worked out perfect, but obviously there are different size bolts and chain tension is always different. I used to hate all types of horizontal dropouts, was such a pain in the ass with brakes when you're trying to get them dialed in really close to the rim.

[stinkybastard]

..What about your threshold tensioner. does the tensioner have enough groove left over to fit into the dropout? cant see exactly where its broken.
Buddy of mine flipped his tensioner over, cut and grinded enough for the groove to sit inside between the axle bolt and the end of the dropout. hes a fat slob and hasnt moved on him at all.

[Acolyte]

I was basically thinking about something like this. It's a dropout spacer for a Karate Monkey, but it serves a good purpose.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a208/SnipingSarin/FS0001.jpg

[marshalllaw18]

I have the threshold tensioners on my Monty right now. I haven't experienced the same problem, but I think I can imagine what's happening.

I think when you're doing rear wheel moves, the rear wheel is being pushed towards the center of the bike. This force is supposed to be supported by the two axle nuts and transfered through the frame. With the tensioners I would think that some of that force is going through the tensioner, instead of through the nut to the frame. If the nuts on the rear wheel are loose, more force will be put on the tensioner. This force would push on the two adjusting screws of the tensioner, and that will torque the part of the tensioner inward, towards the hub.

Two suggestions would be to always make sure the rear wheel is very tightened securely. The other would be to try and use another type of tensioner, one that is either beefier, or dissipates the loads differently.

I have no experience with the MKS Tensioner (http://www.webcyclery.com/product.php?productid=17624&cat=254&page=1) but it looks like the forces would be a little more centered and it might be better supported. Once again, I have no experience with it, but just an example of one possible alternative.

Hope this helps.