SS Dilema

[RidetheRAAM4]

So, I was looking at some SS rigs on the photos section and noticed that a bunch, almost all, of the bikes in the pictures of the riders on this site don't have the chain tensioner. Is it more common to just take some more links out of the chain? I know it would be cheaper too. Is that a better option than going out and getting a chain tensioner? Or are those SS frames that don't have the verticle drop outs?

[PacMan]

I'm far from a SS expert, but I believe you need horizontal drop-outs or some type of EBB to run without a tensioner.

[Blonde Wahine]

That is correct. If a SS doesn't have a chain tensioner it should have either horizontal dropouts or an EBB. Like my husbands bike.

[Innes]

You could always try this. I was looking for a discussion about this in another forum, but couldn't find it. This will do though.

"Ghost" or "Phantom" Chainring

Simple and effective. Do you have old chainrings laying around? It may take some experimentation, but you'll likely find a setup that works for you. Larger chainrings and/or moving the ghost chainring closer to the rear cog/freewheel will give you more tension. The main thing to watch for with this setup is chainstay clearance with the ghost chainring. Chainring bolt spacers (~2.5mm - 3mm) can be added up front to move the chainline inboard a little for additional clearance. The setup shown uses a 32T drive chainring, 32T ghost chainring, and 18T BMX cog.

NOTE: The ghost chainring does not need to be the same size as the drive chainring.

Another benefit to this system is that you should be able to run fixed gear with this setup, whereas you can't with spring-loaded chain tensioners.

[bjammin]

It depends on a couple of things.
Chainstay length.
Gear ratio.
Or you could run a bmx - half link chain.
I have a '95 VooDoo frame that lucked out with 32x19 and no tensioner.
My buddy has a '94 Zaskar frame. He used to run a tensioner and hated it. He went to a local BMX shop and picked up a dope polished half-link chain and it is smooth as silk.

[dstepper]

Half links work. That and I know people that have ground out their vertical dropouts to get some room for adjustment. If I had a SS conversion I would be half linking and grinding before I ran a tensioner.

Dean

[RidetheRAAM4]

I actually think the frame has a EBB on it

[PacMan]

I didn't mention it before, but I loathe the tensioner on my SS. I will be going horizontal drop-out soon.

[RidetheRAAM4]

Well I took off about 4 links and put a 14t on the back and it seems to be doing better, but the gearing is going to be way too tough for me. I am going to go try and ride some fireroads in the morning and see what happens and if I am not satisfied I am going to go to the bike shop and get like a 18T cog and get a BMX chain and see if I can eliminate the tensioner

[Pho'dUp]

Originally Posted by RidetheRAAM4

So, I was looking at some SS rigs on the photos section and noticed that a bunch, almost all, of the bikes in the pictures of the riders on this site don't have the chain tensioner. Is it more common to just take some more links out of the chain? I know it would be cheaper too. Is that a better option than going out and getting a chain tensioner? Or are those SS frames that don't have the verticle drop outs?

Go tensionerless. You have to try a few ratios but you should be able to find one that works with the vertical drops on your bike. A BMX half-link is also something else to try.

33:21 ratio


34:20 ratio

[Abui]

Originally Posted by RidetheRAAM4

Well I took off about 4 links and put a 14t on the back and it seems to be doing better, but the gearing is going to be way too tough for me. I am going to go try and ride some fireroads in the morning and see what happens and if I am not satisfied I am going to go to the bike shop and get like a 18T cog and get a BMX chain and see if I can eliminate the tensioner

If you put one link back the 18T will be a close fit, a little looser than the 14T. (Hopefully the 14T is too tight now)

[RidetheRAAM4]

actually the 14 is kind of loose and the 18 was pretty loose....if i get a half link i think the 18 would be good

[Abui]

Originally Posted by RidetheRAAM4

actually the 14 is kind of loose and the 18 was pretty loose....if i get a half link i think the 18 would be good

Not likely - a half-link is worth 2 teeth. With it a 16T would hang between loose and pretty loose.

[Evel Knievel]

Ghostring spreads the chain open on the cog. Wrap via tensioner.