Bicycle Mechanics - Will twelve speed chain rings work on a sixteen speed setup?

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roccobike
04-21-06, 09:48 PM
I've got a 16 speed Fuji road bike with a, Suntour, eight speed casette. The crank is a Sugino that cosmetically, looks a little rough. I have a really nice looking Sugino RS crank from a 12 speed bike (six speed Shimano freewheel). I'd like to transfer the cranks from the 12 speed bike to the Fuji, but I'm concerned that the chain rings will have slightly wider teeth and may not work with the eight speed chain. Will the older chain rings work with the newer eight speed chain or will the chain hang up, especially when shifting.
I have provided pictures of the two cranks below.
One more comment, the chain rings have different bolt patterns so swapping the chain rings on the cranks is not an option.
Thanks in advance for all responses.


HillRider
04-22-06, 05:08 AM
The "12-speed" crank will work fine with the "8-speed" chain. The inner width of chains hasn't changed over the years. The outer width has gotten narrower as the number of cogs has gone up by making the pins shorter and the side plates thinner but the new chains still work with older chainrings.

For fun, I just tried a short section of "9-speed" chain on an old Sun Tour 6-speed freewheel and a Sun Tour Cyclone double crank I have in my parts box. It fit fine and it is narrower than your 8-speed chain.

roccobike
04-22-06, 05:00 PM
Thanks HillRider. I'm going to make the switch and see how it turns out.