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converting geared rear wheel to single speed?

LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
The only bike I have left that's 700c is my single-speed. Might as well use my Mavic Open Pro/Ultegras. There's a 9-speed hub on there.

What would I do to make the switch? Just take the hub off?

And I assume I can buy a bolt-on skewer to replace the quick-release?

Thankie :)
 
ire

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
You can get a bolt on skewer and there is a spacing kit that will allow you to run single speed...lemme find it
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
Thanks!

However...

1. would that still put me at 135mm wide? I'll have to measure as I can't find the rear spacing width online.

2. FAQ says I'd need a chain tensioner, which I don't have, nor want. So I'm not sure that'll work for me?
 
ire

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
LordOpie said:
Thanks!

However...

1. would that still put me at 135mm wide? I'll have to measure as I can't find the rear spacing width online.

2. FAQ says I'd need a chain tensioner, which I don't have, nor want. So I'm not sure that'll work for me?
Click to expand...
They make half links for BMX chains and that may be an option to get the chain tensioned properly. The setup I posted puts the cog literally right in the middle of the cassette, so if that spacing doesn't work you'll want to use individual spacers instead.

 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
ire said:
They make half links for BMX chains and that may be an option to get the chain tensioned properly. The setup I posted puts the cog literally right in the middle of the cassette, so if that spacing doesn't work you'll want to use individual spacers instead.
Click to expand...
ok, so the idea is to leave the hub on, just use spacers and the gear? Get the chainline in-line and I'm good?

Got plenty of room on the horizontal dropouts, so if tensioning is just for chain line, then I'll go individual spacers. Now I have to measure :)
 
ire

ire

Turbo Monkey
Aug 6, 2007
6,196
4
LordOpie said:
ok, so the idea is to leave the hub on, just use spacers and the gear? Get the chainline in-line and I'm good?

Got plenty of room on the horizontal dropouts, so if tensioning is just for chain line, then I'll go individual spacers. Now I have to measure :)
Click to expand...
You have Horz dropouts? I mentioned half links becuase I thought it was a standard dropout frame. What I would do is buy a bunch of spacers and the cog that you want, get the spacing on the rear cog to be inline with the chainring and then use the horz. dropouts to tension the chain.

<edit> a standard skewer will work on the rear wheel, unless you are jumping (casing causes it to slip) or you have legs like McEwen
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
ire said:
You have Horz dropouts? I mentioned half links becuase I thought it was a standard dropout frame. What I would do is buy a bunch of spacers and the cog that you want, get the spacing on the rear cog to be inline with the chainring and then use the horz. dropouts to tension the chain.

<edit> a standard skewer will work on the rear wheel, unless you are jumping (casing causes it to slip) or you have legs like McEwen
Click to expand...
Cool. Thank. I'll go with the QR and see how that works.
 
Wumpus

Wumpus

makes avatars better
Dec 25, 2003
8,161
153
Six Shooter Junction
Those thin cogs can gouge your casstette body. You need to get something like a surly, king or on-one cog.


Some people have been known to just use some pvc pipe to dail in the chainline.


I wouldn't trust a bolt-on skewer to hold the wheel without some type of tug(surly etc.).
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
I'm not certain what a "tug" is, but the bolts that came with my single-speed seem to be doing a brilliant job, so I was just gonna use them on the bolt-on skewer I bought, but gonna hold off on that and try the QR for shiggles :)

but I'll take your suggestion and go with Surly since I'm now a surly whore.
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
splat said:
Take a Couple of old cassettes a part take all the spacers and use them as the spacers on a old cassette hub. and since you are using so many spacers you can make sure you get the chain line right .
Click to expand...
brillliant!

I do have several laying around. I suppose I could use other loose gears as spacers too if I need 'em. Make some sort of Death Race 2000 'cassette' :D
 
Wumpus

Wumpus

makes avatars better
Dec 25, 2003
8,161
153
Six Shooter Junction
I guess it only applys to fatasses like me.

For cassette rear hubs, will a BMX cog work better than a Hyperglide® cog removed from my cassette?


Yes.

You can easily disassemble some cassette models and use one of the individual cogs (e.g. - Shimano Hyperglide® cogs) for a single speed conversion. However, these cogs are designed with profiled teeth that aid in shifting. When used on a single speed, the profiled teeth are more likely to allow your chain to derail. The teeth are also fairly short (in comparison with those on a BMX cog), which may lead to chain skipping under load, especially with small (< 16T) cogs with relatively little chain wrap.

In contrast, BMX cogs are designed with a single gear in mind. The teeth are not profiled, and they are significantly taller than those on a Hyperglide® cog.

Are you on a tight budget with your single speed project? Give a Hyperglide® cog a try if you have one with a tooth count that meets your gearing needs. Chainline and chain tension will be more critical in this case, but many people have used this setup successfully. If you do eventually run into skipping or derailing problems, a new BMX cog can be purchased for around $5, and the added insurance is well worth the price.

Some manufacturers such as Chris King offer higher-end cogs. King Cogs offer a wider base, or interface, to the freehub® body. This will prevent the BMX cog from "chewing into" the freehub under serious torque. This probably isn't an issue for most riders, but may be a consideration for very powerful and/or clydesdale-type riders.

BMX cogs are available in sizes ranging from 13T - 20T. For cog sizes greater than 20T, try a Hyperglide® cog or the Spicer Cycles GCA (Granny Cog Adapter).
Click to expand...
 
MMcG

MMcG

Ride till you puke!
Dec 10, 2002
15,457
12
Burlington, Connecticut
Do not buy that Gusset SS conversion kit with the thin cog. The Cog is too thin and you have virtually no chainline adjustability.

Get an Endless Fibanacci spacer kit and an Endless Kickass Cog, or a Surly Cog or an One One or Niner bikes Cog. Something that is wide and won't gouge.
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
so I measured the rear drop-outs... 120mm.

I can't imagine that the 9-speed wheel will fit back there? I assume the freewheel assembly that holds the cassette canNOT be seperated from the hub?

Is the only way that I can use this wheel is rebuild it with a single-speed hub?
 
Wumpus

Wumpus

makes avatars better
Dec 25, 2003
8,161
153
Six Shooter Junction
LordOpie said:
so I measured the rear drop-outs... 120mm.

I can't imagine that the 9-speed wheel will fit back there? I assume the freewheel assembly that holds the cassette canNOT be seperated from the hub?

Is the only way that I can use this wheel is rebuild it with a single-speed hub?
Click to expand...
Your Lager is only 120mm?

Typical road wheels are 130mm.
 
LordOpie

LordOpie

MOTHER HEN
Oct 17, 2002
21,022
3
Denver
well, the Lager was designed as a single-speed, so I suppose that's reasonable?

So you're saying that there's no way to put the wheels I have lying around to use? No worries, just clarifying.
 
Wumpus

Wumpus

makes avatars better
Dec 25, 2003
8,161
153
Six Shooter Junction
LordOpie said:
well, the Lager was designed as a single-speed, so I suppose that's reasonable?
Click to expand...
That's what you get for buying a bike made by a BMX company.:busted:


The original redline monocogs used 120, too.




LordOpie said:
So you're saying that there's no way to put the wheels I have lying around to use? No worries, just clarifying.
Click to expand...

You can stretch a steel frame a little(126mm -->130mm), but 10mm seems a bit much, but it might work.
 
James

James

Carbon Porn Star
Sep 11, 2001
3,559
0
Danbury, CT
Fixies tend to use track bike wheel spacing, which is 120mm. Surly makes a really nice track hub that's threaded for both fixed and freewheel, in 120mm. You can buy some decently cheap wheels through QBP...
 
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