MTB Single speed conversion...Help!!

mugwumpjism

Right I have converted my old kona to single speed a few years back and have never fully got it right....I run a 1/8 chain with a 17t and the old XT 42 on the front...I have gone through two chain tensioners and hangers (the second I must not have set up right cos it lasted a day and then I snapped it)...I decided to go for a half link but was told it would wreck my front XT ring. Any advice from anyone who has had similar problems of how to reduce slack in the chain? has anyone run a half link on MTB rings?

Morgan

What tensioner are you using? Is it definitely compatible with a 1 1/8" chain?

Even with a half-link you might still need to run a tensioner, which kinda defeats the purpose.

Have you looked here for solutions?
http://www.mtbr.com/ssfaqcrx.aspx

mugwumpjism

one like this one

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=58437

There is defo just about a 1/2 link of tension needed to stop it hopping off and it runs so much smoother without the tensioner..but a fella in cycle ways said I can't run a half link on my XT ring cos the spacing is wrong and it will cut it up??

studiorat

Try this one : http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=17724

Holds the chain slightly differently, might do the trick.

Lumen

I bought a BMX chain for my singlespeed, from Cycleways. It is composed entirely of half links, a bit like this:



From what I remember they didn't mention any problems with conventional chainrings. I'm running a 10sp road chainring at the moment with a KMC S1 chain (singlespeed chain), because in the end I was able to get the tension OK without the BMX chain.

mugwumpjism

the ideal solution is obviously to have no tensioner as the bikes runs much more smoothly and I reckon with a half link I could do this, but not sure why a half link would wreck my XT42 ring? Is it the spacing between the teeth??

That Gusset one looks interesting as it gives more play along the wheel for the chain...

Has anyone tried a chainstay mounted one?

Holyboy

I have no idea why the half link chain would do any damage what so ever to your front ring,but you would be much better off running a 3/32" chain,what kind of sprocket are you running on the back? A surley singlelator is about the best chain tensioner at a reasonable(ish) price,hows the chain line on the bike?

mugwumpjism

Is it because the gap is lessened therefore the half link won't sit flush on the chainring teeth and thus cause the damage??? I would like a definitive answer to this but can't seem to get one anywhere. Its very frustrating cos the half link would have it running very smooth....at the moment the feckin chain hops off if I go over a bumpy area for to long

I had two fairly good spring tensioners...the first eventually wore down after about a year and a half (the jockey wheel kept going out of line and jamming the chain) the second on I must have set up wrong cos it lasted a day and nearly took my back cog out of it....

I run an XT 42 on the front and a 18T from a kit on the back the 18T looks slightly larger than the 42T so prob more along the BMX size

Holyboy

If it were me,i would get a Shimano DX sprocket, a 3/32" chain and a good tensioner,but if you really want to go with the half link I can see no reason at all why it would damage your chainring,but if you do it and die, dont come back and haunt me! You could always use a ghost/floating ring,ive never tried it so I dont know how well it works but it looks pretty cool.

Ryath

Don't know if this is any use to you but I saw it in link on the thread on the bamboo bike

http://www.eehouse.org/fixin/index.php

Has a calculater to work out gear ratios you can use with vertical dropouts with out using a chain tensioner

mugwumpjism

Those Ghost rings are mental...but they still pop out which would be a disaster if it went into your spokes....the calculator says I can run a 42 16 but I tried that and it was too tight/loose

I need to establish if the half link will do damage or as Holyboy pointed out...kill me..in which case not believing in ghosts I'll have to arrange for my corpse to be stuffed and left on Holyboys mantel piece as a reminder to all of shoddy mechanical advice

Holyboy

Hmm,thanks! All chains are 1/2" pitch whether its single speed or geared, if a half link is ok to use on an 1/8" chainring then why not on your geared chainring?there is no difference except your ring is a little bit narrower and has some pins and ramps, 3/32" half links are made too,so what good are they if they cant be used? you still might not get perfect chain tension, even with a half link though.

Lumen

mugwumpjism wrote: »

Those Ghost rings are mental

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlse9h74Q8Y

Holyboy

Damn you Lumen that led to me watching a few hours of useless bicycle youtube videos,time I could of spent searching for vintage parts or learning how to do an oil change on an 11 speed Alfine hub!:mad: haha.