Bicycle Mechanics - 1x9 chain and crank question

ok, i did a search... and learned alot about chain sizes. the only thing i couldn't find was whether or not my 9 speed chain and rear cogset will match up to a 1/8 chainring up front. I really don't have a clue as to what size my chain is(assuming it's a 3/32 chain)... I'm just wondering if it will fit to this specific S/S crankset. I'm trying to go cheap here.... and this crankset is within my budget.


thanks for any help. :D

Good question. My immediate reaction was no. But then i went to the garage and grabbed a 1/8 chainring and put my 8spd chain on it and it fit.....

I'm torn.

It might fit - sort of - but it's not going to engage right; chain won't sit down far enough over the teeth. At least in my experience.

ok, i did a search... and learned alot about chain sizes. the only thing i couldn't find was whether or not my 9 speed chain and rear cogset will match up to a 1/8 chainring up front. I really don't have a clue as to what size my chain is(assuming it's a 3/32 chain)... I'm just wondering if it will fit to this specific S/S crankset. I'm trying to go cheap here.... and this crankset is within my budget.


Definitely not. No way will a 3/32" chain work on a 1/8" chainring (unless you spend a LOT of time with a file, as I did when I was a teenager...)



Good question. My immediate reaction was no. But then i went to the garage and grabbed a 1/8 chainring and put my 8spd chain on it and it fit.....

You may have thought that was a 1/8" chainring, but it wasn't. It's not unusual these days for bikes supplied with 1/8" chain to have 3/32" chainrings...they have the great advantage of working with both sizes of chain.

Sheldon "No Way" Brown


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| One measurement is worth 50 expert opinions |
| --Howard Sutherland |
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Definitely not. No way will a 3/32" chain work on a 1/8" chainring (unless you spend a LOT of time with a file, as I did when I was a teenager...)

I get the distinct impression that you had way too much free time as a teenager! ;) Or maybe just enough.

Anyway, I tried a 3/32" chain on a 1/8" cog in the midst of my most recent bike project (three-speed wheel on a ten-speed frame), because I was cheap and wanted to see if I could get away without buying a new cog. No workie. Not even close. So I had to buy the cog, which turned out to be four bucks. Go figure, right?

Definitely not. No way will a 3/32" chain work on a 1/8" chainring (unless you spend a LOT of time with a file, as I did when I was a teenager...)




You may have thought that was a 1/8" chainring, but it wasn't. It's not unusual these days for bikes supplied with 1/8" chain to have 3/32" chainrings...they have the great advantage of working with both sizes of chain.

Sheldon "No Way" Brown


+-------------------------------------------------+
| One measurement is worth 50 expert opinions |
| --Howard Sutherland |
+-------------------------------------------------+


Sheldon,

I was alittle confused with one of your articles(on your website).... on the single speed/fixed section... it says that you can run a 9/10 speed chain on your 7/8 sp cogset. then i searched on this forum.... and saw different opinions. thanks for setting me straight. oh, and I could have read it wrong... if I did, my bad.

oh, and grolby... I wish I could find a chainring w/38t for 4 bucks. that would be nice.


thanks again everyone,
Rich