Chain Alignment on a 1x8

[Break n Bones]

Ive been working on my new hardtail , I was going for a 1x8 and ran into a problem .
Does anyone know how you keep the chain aligned so that it doesnt fall off the front ring , It happens when your in the the two taller gears on the cassette .


The way I see it , The front ring needs to be shim`d in towards the frame more Alot more

Should I just give up the ghost and go with something simple like

1. Single speed or

2. 3x8 --
Got some xtr cranks w/ rings from My Bro cpatcrash
Just need to buy a frt derailer

[Neccros]

The derailer looks out of adjustment....

could try a narrower BB.... but since it is a 1x8, you may not have choices to align it any better...

[SAR_boats]

Chain guide

[.8down]

Originally Posted by Break n Bones

Ive been working on my new hardtail , I was going for a 1x8 and ran into a problem .
Does anyone know how you keep the chain aligned so that it doesnt fall off the front ring , It happens when your in the the two taller gears on the cassette .


The way I see it , The front ring needs to be shim`d in towards the frame more Alot more

Should I just give up the ghost and go with something simple like

1. Single speed or

2. 3x8 --
Got some xtr cranks w/ rings from My Bro cpatcrash
Just need to buy a frt derailer

asking out of ignorance, and with the highest amount of respect, and the need to learn, but why would you need a front Derailleur?

[allison]

Originally Posted by Slo-poke

asking out of ignorance, and with the highest amount of respect, and the need to learn, but why would you need a front Derailleur?

If he's running a 3x8 and wants all three gears he'd need a FD to shift the gears?

[.8down]

Originally Posted by allison

If he's running a 3x8 and wants all three gears he'd need a FD to shift the gears?

Oh I thought he was trying to run a 1x8, must have misread his intentions.

[Edog]

It looks like you have the front ring mounted to the outside of the cranks, it's kinda hard to tell from the picture. If it is move it to the inside of the spyder, & mount it where the middle ring would be.

[allison]

Originally Posted by Slo-poke

Oh I thought he was trying to run a 1x8, must have misread his intentions.

I think he was, but due to problems was then thinking about just running normal or SS.

I dunno. To be honest, I didn't read the rest of the thread.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by Edog

It looks like you have the front ring mounted to the outside of the cranks, it's kinda hard to tell from the picture. If it is move it to the inside of the spyder, & mount it where the middle ring would be.

Also I have seen these cheapish chain guides posted on MTBR (SS forum I think). Seem to work really well.

If all else fails go to The Path and talk to Brian. That knucklehead is full of bike knowlege

[allison]

Originally Posted by DeeZee

If all else fails go to The Path and talk to Brian. That knucklehead is full of bike knowlege

He definitely is. Finally met a few of those guys on Sunday. He was really cool and helpful, even while running around like crazy

FWIW, to the OP... you said you had XTR cranks already. You could try to look for a bashring for them. I ordered one from Boone months ago, but nothing back so far.. But, that way on my SS I'll just have the middle ring and then a bashring.

But, chain retention devices are good also.

[Break n Bones]

Originally Posted by Slo-poke

Oh I thought he was trying to run a 1x8, must have misread his intentions.

Yes the plan was to run a 1x8 but when I had the chain in the 2 biggest gears on the cassette the chain would fall off the crank ring because the angle was so severe . CPATCRASH looked at a few 1x9s on last weekend rides and advised me I need 1 of 2 things
An old frt derailuer as a chain guide or like two bash plates to guide the chain at the crank ring .


The 3x8 comment was . Im getting cranks from my bro and it just seemed simpler to make the bike 3x8 seeing that I needed a front chain guide anyway ,

[allison]

Originally Posted by mechmann

silly girl.. he has the classic XTR cranks with removable spider (like your middleburns)

Whatever! I didn't say he had to do that... Sheesh.

I'd suggest not ordering from Boone anyway for bike stuff.

[.8down]

Originally Posted by allison

I think he was, but due to problems was then thinking about just running normal or SS.

I dunno. To be honest, I didn't read the rest of the thread.

I re-read it, he did mention buying a FDR on his second option of running 3x8. I hope to be good enough one day to do something like this both in the garage and on the trail.

[soul rider]

68/73x113 bb...a guide would help...may be run a 24/36/bash with MRP long range guide or Black spire Dewlie guide

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by Neccros

could try a narrower BB....

I'm with Neccros on this one. That BB looks very wide. What's the width of that BB? I ran a 1x8 for several years without any chain retention device on a GT Avalanche.

Another suggestion, other than retention devices or guards is to use a chainring that does not have ramps or is designed to be shifted. The teeth of "shifting" rings are usually shaped differently and are more prone to derailment (hence the use of a derailleur). Use a standard ring, if possible.

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by mechmann

1x9 is not all that tough on the trail. it gives you a relatively easy bail out when compared to a SS bike!!!

My dirt jump/play bike is a 1x9, and that's one of my favorite bikes to ride. Although for the past 7 years (it was originally a 1x8 ), I thought I had a 36 tooth chainring on the front, when I recently changed the cranks, I found that I had a 40 on there! There is one downside to a 1x9 - as minor as it is. Although you do have easier and harder gears than a SS, they're not easy enough to sit and grind up hills, which causes you to stand. At that point, I find myself running the same gear ratio as on my SS. When I came to that conclusion is when I decided to build a singlespeed.

[allison]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

My dirt jump/play bike is a 1x9, and that's one of my favorite bikes to ride. Although for the past 7 years (it was originally a 1x8 ), I thought I had a 36 tooth chainring on the front, when I recently changed the cranks, I found that I had a 40 on there! There is one downside to a 1x9 - as minor as it is. Although you do have easier and harder gears than a SS, they're not easy enough to sit and grind up hills, which causes you to stand. At that point, I find myself running the same gear ratio as on my SS. When I came to that conclusion is when I decided to build a singlespeed.

You're just doing it wrong!

I've got a custom 28T ring on my Dos Niner, which works out essentially to a 30T ring on a 26" bike. I rarely get out of the saddle, and usually only for a butt break. I've never quite gotten the hang of out of the saddle climbing on steep loose stuff with my Dos. I may need to work on it some more, though.

[2wheel_lee]

My current 1x9, which is what I had at the newbie Tijeras ride, used to also be used for DH duty (you know, when you want to give the DH bikes a rest!), which explains why I put a 40 on there. When I used to do some DH with it, I needed taller gears. I guess I can't really explain why I used to voluntarily ride a hardtail DH when I had a perfectly good DH bike.

I have a 32 on there now, so it's better on the climbs. I guess I'm just used to the SS gears on the climbs, so I use a ratio closer to that (although sometimes a bit easier). I don't ride that bike that often, so it's not that big of deal. My other 1x9 is a real biatch to get up hills. 36 up front and a 12/27 cassette. But thank goodness for shuttles and/or chairlifts!...or walking.

[allison]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

My other 1x9 is a real biatch to get up hills. 36 up front and a 12/27 cassette. But thank goodness for shuttles and/or chairlifts!...or walking.

See, that's what I'm saying... you need a 30T and then an 11/34

[CPATCRASH]

Try mounting the chainring on the inside of the spider. The BB does look kinda wide.

Or... https://www.rohloff.de/en/products/s..._cc/index.html