fatty for SSAP? you wouldn't use your FS/XC bike?
2016 Singlespeed-A-Palooza Thread
- Thread starter Pearl
- Start date
1speed
Incredibly profound yet fantastically flawed
Yeah, this amazes me that you get away with this given how fast you are. I just don't see how that tensioner doesn't give you problems. I don't get how it doesn't slip all the time because it's really just a lever arm that's frozen in place. I would think you'd be torquing the shit out of that arm when you are going 16+ mph for long periods of time. How does it not move on you? And you have to figure that if it does move, sooner or later, it's going ot move at just the right moment when you're going over rocks or something to throw your chain. But that doesn't happen. This is a mystery that troubles my soul.
Magic
Formerly 1sh0t1b33r
Are you talking about the flex in the arm? It works just like a derailleur. The closer jockey wheel doesn't move much, but either way it is linear and you never put torque on the slack part of the chain. Even if the lower jockey wheel is skewed a bit because you don't have the chainline completely straight, the upper one is the one you want to have directly in line with the cog. So main thing is use an 18T or smaller, and have the chain as straight as possible.
Similar to the issues you had setting up the ENO. I am starting to see a common denominator.
It works fine, so long as you take the time and set it up properly. The chainline has to be right. I did have better luck with the new absolute black cog over my old surly cog. The surly cog would skip if it got covered in mud, but it was really old, plus the first time I set it up with that tensioner, I didnt spend too much time playing around with the chainline.
If you do this the FS will be your main adventure. wanna bet???
1speed
Incredibly profound yet fantastically flawed
This was my point, though. I get that the tensioner could be super stable laterally, but torque can impact a derailleur negatively fore and aft if you climb in a big gear. I know that the normally slack part of the chain won't jump (that's basically the bottom of the chain on any SS) but the problem is if the whole system moves even slightly to allow the chain to slacken overall, it's just a matter of time until you'd drop it because terrain causes it to hop while there is slack. And I'm not saying it's a bad system - in fact, just the opposite. I'm saying that I'm surprised that none of this seems to happen because it doesn't look like it should work that well.
And @stb222 - I know you love to bring this up, but it's nothing like the ENO. My biggest problem with it was that the adjustment of it never sat correctly. I'd set it up for a given ratio, and then one of two things would happen every time - either the hub would rotate back and I'd lose tension or the whole thing would cause the wheel to slip out of the drops a little bit. The latter would happen because the bolts themselves seemed to get "locked" with the hub body and when the hub body would move, it would pull the bolts along for the ride lifting the wheel out of the drops. And the thing is, it wasn't just because of the idiot mechanic: the same thing happened whether I set it up or the guy at my LBS guy did it (and he's actually a really good mechanic.) I just never could get the design to work for me for more than a ride or two at a time.
Over the years, I've used just about every setup for a SS except a tensioner, so I can't say I know what they feel like in practice. They just seem like they'd be problematic (and maybe some are) and I'm surprised that someone who is putting a ton of torque into the drivetrain wouldn't have a problem with them, but obviously they work well for Utah. Ultimately, any SS will need adjustment over time (even independent of chain stretch) - you keep torquing on that drivetrain and something will eventually move. I've never seen any design that worked perfectly without needing any adjustments. I've had a pretty good run with EBBs, but I can't say I ever had significant problems with horizontal dropouts on the Misfit either. The nice thing about EBBs is that the adjustment is super easy and doesn't impact chain line at all, whereas with sliders, the adjustment can always impact the chain line. After-market EBBs can be a bit trickier to work with than, say, Niner's Bio II (which is, in my experience, the easiest design around for tension adjustment), but I still wouldn't call them difficult.
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
Well this Stinger thing is a fail. Too much bulk in the bb area on the carbon. I had to space the thing out 3/8" to get in line and have any adjustment without hitting the chainstay. Also, the bolt that holds the roller on hits the crank when lined up properly...onto other options.
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
Is there an ebb available for my situation if I were using a race face next fatbike crank?
Maybe try listening to the people's recommendations who have actually successfully converted their bikes to SS ?
😉
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
Maybe try reading all the responses and you won't see anyone using suggested products to run up to a 22 cog 😉
Was there a post that said a tensioner wouldn't work with a 22t? I dont see why it wouldn't? It's just uses a spring to tension anything. I used a Paul Melvin at SSAP and never had a skip, slip, or drop. It's one of thr more expensive options, but I was always a fan of the whole you get what you pay for motto.
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
Several people had issues with the melvin. The detaielleur type tensioners tend to skip with anything over 18t
Would you like to try mine? I just need it back by SSAP 😉
Edit, I think I ran a 32 19 with it cause i let someone borrow my 18, lol. No issues
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
Sure, gonna be at jungle tomorrow? I'll just try it for the day. I too will pay for quality but that doesn't mean expensive products are always the best.
1speed
Incredibly profound yet fantastically flawed
I don't see why not -- that crank has a standard 30mm spline, so it should fit. I use the Beer Components EBB, which is good but a bit moody when it comes to adjustment. I have friend who just built up a SS with this EBB. He hasn't had it long enough to grade it yet, but according to him, the setup was super easy.
Dave Taylor
Rex kwan Do
I ended up going with the YESS tensioner and have only used it on my fat bike. It's been flawless so far minus a little extra noise. I have ran 28/17, 34/18, 34/19 with zero issues after a total of 10ish miles. I'll be giving it the real test at Cathedral next week.