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I'm thinking of getting a chain device to improve chain retention on my hardtail. I may at some point in the future want to convert it to a singlespeed so if I understand correctly I'll want some sort of chain tensioner. Is there a gadget that will do both things, i.e. provide chain retention now and that I can also use as a chain tensioner if I ever convert it?
[url= http://www.superstarcomponents.com/en/double-chain-device.htm ]
I think these might do the job[/url] but I may have misunderstood how they work.
Yes, kinda.
Are you 1x or 2x at the moment, if the former then just get a narrow/wide chainring.
If the latter then yes, those do work to a reasonable extent. Just make sure you get the right one, BB mounted ones are just clamped by the cups, ISCG and ISCG-05 look similar (3tabs), but aren't the same.
You can use them to tension a singlespeed, but it's not quite as straightforward as just using something like on-one doofer, surly singulator, DMR STS etc. Because you have to guess the tension, then install the chain set, and repeat till it's about right. Or you might be lucky and be able to reach the bolts with the chainset installed, in which case it's relatively easy.
yep, i've used one to ss a frame. needed to use a half-link on my chain, but apart from that it worked pretty well and had the advantage that the rear dropout worked as normal ( no faff with a rear tensioner getting the wheel on or off ).
accessing bolts wasn't a problem, but in the end i just ran it with the bolts just shy of 'properly' tight, and just tapped the end of the chainguide up as the chain wore to take up slack.
I've used one very similar to that on my SS.
Much nicer looking and easier to remove the rear wheel but they might not take up as much chain tension as you need.
Are you 1x or 2x at the moment, if the former then just get a narrow/wide chainring
1x10 with a 32t N/W but I'm still losing the chain occasionally. I think it may be that the chain is too long. I'm about to install a new cassette and chain which I'm hoping improve things. I'm thinking ahead with this chainguide thing.
in the end i just ran it with the bolts just shy of 'properly' tight, and just tapped the end of the chainguide up as the chain wore to take up slack.
That is an excellent bodge.
PS - has anyone seen a decent video of how to install them? I checked youtube but all I really found out was that ISCG also stands for the International Society of Cosmetic Gynaecologists.
I use a Blackspire Stinger on my bike, I needed to mess about with cog sizes to get the ratio I wanted but still be able to tension the chain with the doofer. I think I ended up with 34/17. The chain doofer wraps the chain around the chainring and gives a bit more wrap on the rear cog as well because the doofer pushes the chain up at the front rather than pulling it down at the back. It works well and I haven't dropped a chain yet 😀
Pic, sort of showing the doofer in place-
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There's usually enough space behind most cranks to tighten the doofer up against the ISCG mounts after the chain's fitted, so you can get everything on then tension the chain and there's a little bit of fine adjustment by moving the jockey wheel towards or away from the chainring.
Pic, sort of showing the doofer in place-
That's really useful actually. It's pretty much exactly how I'd envisaged it working.
It looks like you still have a mech hanger on the back of your bike though... Don't you know that's an extra 40 or so grams you're carrying around for no reason? People pay good money getting lighter components to drop that sort of weight dontchaknow.
Yeah, replaceable/bolt on drop out with an integral mech hanger innit guv. Sunn called it the NC-DO (no compromise drop out) and you could get 135x10, sliding or 142x12 dropouts to fit a range of frames. I keep meaning to make some with a little extension (and no mech hanger!) on to take a rack as there are no rack mounts on the frame and P-clips upset me 😆
I've used a Stinger in the past as a SS tensioner. Works very well, the roller is on slot so chain tension can be adjusted that way too.
Photo of my old Kula using that setup-
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Yeah, replaceable/bolt on drop out with an integral mech hanger innit guv.
Ah fair enough, not seen one of those before.
With devices like the stinger do you notice much in the way of noise or drag?
Thinking if getting an alfine and the stingers a neat way of keeping tension by the looks of it.
I can't say that I notice any drag or noise with mine, as long as you get the chain line so the chain sits in the jockey right and isn't pushed off to the side when you tension the chain it should be ok. There's a little left/right movement on the jockey wheel anyway so it's pretty easy to set up. The cranks spin backwards nicely.