Anyone running a Chris King SS Conversion?

anyone running a Chris King SS Conversion (cog + spacers on geared hub) with a 9speed chain and having problems? Like a weird "clunk" back there?
I had an 8speed chain with no tensioner with no probs... but when that wore out, I put a new 9sp chain on, and needed a tensioner (put the surly), and sumthin' ain't right back there..

 

Had the same issue. Fine tune your chainline.

 

While i would agree to attempt to get your chainline perfect... its not the ultimate fix for issues. It will make a quiet drivetrain though. 9 speed chains are used to being run at an angle without skipping. I would say that you have more of a tension issue. That has been my problem. The trick with a tensioner is to get enough tension to not skip and as little as possible for the least amount of drag. If you push on the chain towards your chainstay, does it touch? With a tensioner, i seem to require a decent amount of force to push it down in order to touch the chainstay. Any less and i am skipping.

 

def check your chainline, it has to be perfect

 

Thanks for all the replies. I really worked on getting the chainline visually perfect, which didn't seem to cure the problem.

Not sure if it's an important clue, but the clunking/skipping feeling only happens under heavy load. Both the chainring and cog, as well as the chain are brand new... so no prob with worn parts.

I'm gonna try an 8sp chain tonite and see if that cures the problem. Let y'all know how it works out.. plus I'll post a pic of the bike. It's quite the "frankenbike" for commuting. Basically a hodgepodge of part that had been laying around...

 

Unless the tensioner is a static one (not on a spring) then i will bet its needing more tension. Under heavy load the spring will flex and allow for less tension which will cause the chain to get loose. If you still think its chainline related, then a quick glance at this post at MTBR might help you do simple check http://forums.mtbr.com/8417635-post7.html .

I'm still going to be its tensioner related since thats the only change you made that would affect this. If you had no issues with the same chainline before, a 9 speed chain isn't going to cause skipping. Unless your chainring and cog are wider than the slightly smaller than 3/32" 9 speed chain. But, most rings and cogs should work unless its for 1/8.

 

Moved to own thread in workshop forum.

 

If an 8-speed chain doesn't fix the issue, then you might want to check and service the rear hub ring drive.

 

Cool link. I like the method. I like the mention of parallax error on trying to eyeball the chainline. I'll try that tonite.

I thought the same thing.. and went so far as to switch out wheels to see if it was the pawls on my GT hub or the ring drive on my King hub. Both wheels had same effect.. though, I do suppose it's still possible both hubs have engagement issues

 

Surly singleator? You may need to off-set your cog position ± the chain line. You're frame flexes under heavy load, the singleator stays at a very specific angle causing the popping noise.

The best tensioner is an OLD road derailleur, it works with the chain movement/play - esp. on a FS SS conversion

 

Chris King Hubs will cluck and skip when dirty, if over greased or you don't use Chris King ring lube on the ring drive. Another tell-tale sign when maintenance is due is when your cranks start moving when you push your bike forward.

I run CK on all my bikes and have a CK single speed hub on my single speed.

Dean

 

So, I have finally cured the problem. I had a brand new chain and a brand new Chris King cog. Turns out that edges on the cog teeth were so sharp (thx King precision milling) that they would catch on the chain side plate instead of center rollers. Normally, the teeth would slide down onto the rollers but under load, they would hang up. With the narrow 9speed chain and the fat King cog, it was impossible to get the chainline any straighter to prevent this from happening. I even tried going to a 1/8" chain but still had probs.

I took mr. dremmel and gently chamfered the cog teeth to get rid of sharp edges and it cured the problem.