Which single speed chain?

[Azonic]

So I ordered a Single Speed converter kit via CRC, got it and all looks good. Was busy building the bike and thought that I would be able to use a regular 9 speed chain, but found out that a 9s chain doesn't sit correctly on the 16t sprocket in the back, but, a 9s chain goes lekker through the tensioner's roller. So off I go to my LBS and buy a very hardcore KMC Single speed chain which is pretty much what my wife's track bike has on. One mean chain. This chain goes perfectly over the chainring and rear sprocket, but is now too wide to for through the tensioner's roller.

 

So my question is, WTF? The company sells a converter kit with a roller who's groove just-just manages a 9 speed chain's width, but that doesn't fit onto the sprocket in the kit. And when you get a chain that DOES fit over the sprocket, it doesn't work in the roller pulley.

 

So ja? What to do? Was considering making my own roller with an old jockey's jockey wheel and having the chain run over it, but obviously would like to use the kit as standard...

 

Anyone?

 

 

 

 

[Mudsimus]

I use the kmc 6sp chains. They work 100% and are very strong.

[Thug]

I'm using one of those single speed chains from Kiwi BUT I don't use a roller/jockey wheel.

[Canaris]

Split a 8 or 9 speed cluster.  use the 14, 16 or 18 gear with a 6, 8 or 9 speed chain.  As both the gear and the chain will be worn (use your old clusters and chains) it should work.  ps Kiwi also sells the spacers for thr freewheel body.

[Tumbleweed]

So ja? What to do? Was considering making my own roller with an old jockey's jockey wheel and having the chain run over it' date=' but obviously would like to use the kit as standard...
[/quote']

that's what i did?

[Ghostface]

BMX/single speed chain has a different pitch to a road chain. You can't interchange them. It you have a front blade that takes a BMX chain then you have to have the same on the pitch on the rear.

[Johan Bornman]

BMX/single speed chain has a different pitch to a road chain. You can't interchange them. It you have a front blade that takes a BMX chain then you have to have the same on the pitch on the rear.

 

Single-speed, track bike, BMX bike, road bike and MTB all have chains with the same 1/2 inch pitch. Pitch is the distance between two similar points on the chain. However, these bikes all have chain with different width. Correspondingly, the sprockets are wider and narrower, depending the application.

 

A very wide chain will not fit through rollers designed for a narrow chain and a narrow chain in turn will not fit onto wide sprocket cogs designed for wider chain.

 

BMX, track and single-speed chain is also different from other chain in that it is designed like a motorbike chain to minimise sideways flex. Derailer chain has to move sideways otherwise we'll never change gears.

 

Get the right chain for the application.

 

 

[Flowta]

sounds like you got a 1/2" singlespeed chain.

 

Try a 3/32" chain or 6/7/8 speed chain (pretty damn close).

 

If you were in WC I would give you a chain, the hardware store down the road from me has 3/32" KMC chain there for like R35.(also some cheaper ones).

 

I think it's surplus stuff from the 80s/90s

 

[Wyatt Earp]

This chain.

 

A Spank

 

 

 

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee214/wrxipmreza/PICT0026.jpg

[Ghostface]

You do know that you can't take a BMX chain at fit it to a crankset of a road or MTB bike? It will only fit over about 20 teeth of a 48 blade and then start to run out of allingment with the other teeth. (It might work ok on some smaller blades but will cause loads of wear and tear)

 

Therefore, if i'm not mistaken, the length between pins on a BMX chain is not the same as a road/MTB chain. If they where, then the chain would fit all the way around the blade.

[Johan Bornman]

You do know that you can't take a BMX chain at fit it to a crankset of a road or MTB bike? It will only fit over about 20 teeth of a 48 blade and then start to run out of allingment with the other teeth. (It might work ok on some smaller blades but will cause loads of wear and tear)

 

Therefore' date=' if i'm not mistaken, the length between pins on a BMX chain is not the same as a road/MTB chain. If they where, then the chain would fit all the way around the blade.

[/quote']

 

Then I eat humble pie. I'm going to find a BMX chain and measure it. I need to understand this.

 

 

[Azonic]

To let all know, I came right with a nice chrome KMC 7 speed chain. It fits perfectly!

 

 

 

I'll post pics of the bike tomorrow. It looks very Tomacish :-)

[Guest Big H]

You do know that you can't take a BMX chain at fit it to a crankset of a road or MTB bike? It will only fit over about 20 teeth of a 48 blade and then start to run out of allingment with the other teeth. (It might work ok on some smaller blades but will cause loads of wear and tear)

 

Therefore' date=' if i'm not mistaken, the length between pins on a BMX chain is not the same as a road/MTB chain. If they where, then the chain would fit all the way around the blade.

[/quote']

 

Then I eat humble pie. I'm going to find a BMX chain and measure it. I need to understand this.

 

 

 

Have you done it yet Jay Bee...... I use BMX chain on the drive side of the MTB tandem...... just because it was cheap......... no problemz.

 

Links just the same but chain is wider...... the old half link phenomenon that confuses Casper the Ghost mayhaps???????

Big H2010-02-20 14:42:25

[Johan Bornman]

You do know that you can't take a BMX chain at fit it to a crankset of a road or MTB bike? It will only fit over about 20 teeth of a 48 blade and then start to run out of allingment with the other teeth. (It might work ok on some smaller blades but will cause loads of wear and tear)

 

Therefore' date=' if i'm not mistaken, the length between pins on a BMX chain is not the same as a road/MTB chain. If they where, then the chain would fit all the way around the blade.

[/quote']

 

Then I eat humble pie. I'm going to find a BMX chain and measure it. I need to understand this.

 

 

 

Have you done it yet Jay Bee...... I use BMX chain on the drive side of the MTB tandem...... just because it was cheap......... no problemz.

 

Links just the same but chain is wider...... the old half link phenomenon that confuses Casper the Ghost mayhaps???????

 

Have I done what yet? Eaten humble pie or measured a BMX chain. Neither actually. I haven't measured the chain yet but I saw a chain at Sportsman's Warehouse yesterday labelled Giant BMX Chain and its said 1/2 x 1/8. That means it has a 1/2 inch pitch just like a roadbike chain.

 

Even that is not conclusive. Maybe there is one with a crazy pitch. I don't know.

 

But Ghostface sounds pretty adamant that the pitch is different. He works for a bike distributor. I've googled without any conclusive answer. Sheldonbrown recons it is 1/2 inch pitch. I also think so but I can't explain Ghostface's finding.

 

 

[Guest Big H]

You do know that you can't take a BMX chain at fit it to a crankset of a road or MTB bike? It will only fit over about 20 teeth of a 48 blade and then start to run out of allingment with the other teeth. (It might work ok on some smaller blades but will cause loads of wear and tear)

 

Therefore' date=' if i'm not mistaken, the length between pins on a BMX chain is not the same as a road/MTB chain. If they where, then the chain would fit all the way around the blade.

[/quote']

 

Then I eat humble pie. I'm going to find a BMX chain and measure it. I need to understand this.

 

 

 

Have you done it yet Jay Bee...... I use BMX chain on the drive side of the MTB tandem...... just because it was cheap......... no problemz.

 

Links just the same but chain is wider...... the old half link phenomenon that confuses Casper the Ghost mayhaps???????

 

Have I done what yet? Eaten humble pie or measured a BMX chain. Neither actually. I haven't measured the chain yet but I saw a chain at Sportsman's Warehouse yesterday labelled Giant BMX Chain and its said 1/2 x 1/8. That means it has a 1/2 inch pitch just like a roadbike chain.

 

Even that is not conclusive. Maybe there is one with a crazy pitch. I don't know.

 

But Ghostface sounds pretty adamant that the pitch is different. He works for a bike distributor. I've googled without any conclusive answer. Sheldonbrown recons it is 1/2 inch pitch. I also think so but I can't explain Ghostface's finding.

 

 

 

Just had a mutton potjie...... no humble pie available here. I think you are safe..... gaan eet jou kaas en polonie!!!!!!

[Ghostface]

Nah, you guys are right. I rechecked over the weekend. Don't know why I thought otherwise. Sorry.