a question about chain ring bolts
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
a question about chain ring bolts
I have a triple chain ring on a bike that now only needs 1 chain ring in the middle chain ring spot. Do I need to buy new (short) chain ring bolts or will the bolts holding on the smallest chain ring work?
this is on a 1984 Trek 720. The 2 larger chain rings are held on by the same set of bolts and nuts(?) the smallest chain ring is held on by just bolts into the crank.
Thank you
this is on a 1984 Trek 720. The 2 larger chain rings are held on by the same set of bolts and nuts(?) the smallest chain ring is held on by just bolts into the crank.
Thank you
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
You need shorter bolts. Go to the LBS and ask for "single stack" or "BMX" chainring bolts.
(I learned this the hard way. I thought I could get away with the same bolts, but I lost 2 of the 5 on the way to work on my first fixed gear commute. Not good.)
(I learned this the hard way. I thought I could get away with the same bolts, but I lost 2 of the 5 on the way to work on my first fixed gear commute. Not good.)
#3
Senior Member
Yes, the bolts used to hold your large ring are also used to hold your small ring onto the cranks. To say that another way, when you undo the bolts for the large ring the small ring will also be removed.
A seperate set of bolts are used to hold the small ring onto the crank.
No, you do not need to get new bolts UNLESS you break one (or more). This is easy to do as they are hollow, just don't over torque them.
A seperate set of bolts are used to hold the small ring onto the crank.
No, you do not need to get new bolts UNLESS you break one (or more). This is easy to do as they are hollow, just don't over torque them.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
I think digger mis-understood what you are trying to do. You want to use a single chainring on a triple crank spider, right? Yes you will need shorter bolts and nuts.
Caloso is correct in describing what you should ask for.
Caloso is correct in describing what you should ask for.
#5
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
If you are really cheap, and want to continue to use the original bolts, you can make spacers out of an old chainring, by cutting off the ends with the holes. I've done this and it's not elegant.
#6
Senior Member
OH! I thought you wanted to replace your middle ring with a NEW one.
Sorry! Never done this, but I would imagine you'll need shorter bolts.
#8
surly old man
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Carlisle, PA
Posts: 3,392
Bikes: IRO Mark V, Karate Monkey half fat, Trek 620 IGH, Cannondale 26/24 MTB, Amp Research B3, and more.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
18 Posts
Chainring bolts are strangly expensive for what they are. Typically about $10. Because of this, I grind them when I need them shorter.
One bit of advice, be careful if you buy replacement ones that are aluminum. (Many made for BMX use are.) It is very easy to strip them. But if you don't get them tight enough they will work loose. Grease the threads and tighten methodically.
jim
One bit of advice, be careful if you buy replacement ones that are aluminum. (Many made for BMX use are.) It is very easy to strip them. But if you don't get them tight enough they will work loose. Grease the threads and tighten methodically.
jim
__________________
Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
--------------------------
SB forever
Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
--------------------------
SB forever
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
ok but would the bolts holding on the granny chain ring be short enough and the right size to replace the bolts holding on the 2 larger chain rings?
So bolt A into hole b
So bolt A into hole b
#10
Your mom
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,544
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Different bolts. The granny ring bolts onto the crank spider with holes drilled in the crank itself. Bolts for the other two rings are separate and two-piece. So the answer is no.
In any case, your granny ring is not going to fit in the middle slot, if that's what you're thinking of doing.
In any case, your granny ring is not going to fit in the middle slot, if that's what you're thinking of doing.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Different bolts. The granny ring bolts onto the crank spider with holes drilled in the crank itself. Bolts for the other two rings are separate and two-piece. So the answer is no.
In any case, your granny ring is not going to fit in the middle slot, if that's what you're thinking of doing.
In any case, your granny ring is not going to fit in the middle slot, if that's what you're thinking of doing.
#12
Your mom
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,544
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
So you'll need to pull all the rings (and possibly the crank to get to the granny bolts), and reinstall the big ring with either the ground-down bolts or a new set of single speed specific bolts.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Oh, and when you're at the LBS buying your new singlestack bolts, do yourself a HUGE favor and pick up the proper tool:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 736
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Often heard about this, never experienced it nor done it (since I had no grinder), but (since I now have a grinder!), you confirn it's the female (i.e. inner) bolt that needs grinding?
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 139
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
yeha bolts for a Single are really over-rpiced from most places. - as a result i've done two dodgy fixes to fit the bolts from a Double to just hold a single
In one case I bought a few washes and used those to replace the metal of the old chainring and tightened down hard. - this worked ok - but does have a tendency to come loose every now and then. so check them regularly.
2. I cut down the female parts using a hacksaw. how?
- if you screw the male in the back of the female a bit it will add some radial strength then - cut a little notch into two bits of wood - say soft pine. then clamp down in a Desk Vice. - its now pretty easy to cut them down without causeing any real damage.
In one case I bought a few washes and used those to replace the metal of the old chainring and tightened down hard. - this worked ok - but does have a tendency to come loose every now and then. so check them regularly.
2. I cut down the female parts using a hacksaw. how?
- if you screw the male in the back of the female a bit it will add some radial strength then - cut a little notch into two bits of wood - say soft pine. then clamp down in a Desk Vice. - its now pretty easy to cut them down without causeing any real damage.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The Sunny South
Posts: 1,906
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
2. I cut down the female parts using a hacksaw. how?
- if you screw the male in the back of the female a bit it will add some radial strength then - cut a little notch into two bits of wood - say soft pine. then clamp down in a Desk Vice. - its now pretty easy to cut them down without causing any real damage.
- if you screw the male in the back of the female a bit it will add some radial strength then - cut a little notch into two bits of wood - say soft pine. then clamp down in a Desk Vice. - its now pretty easy to cut them down without causing any real damage.