7 speed to single speed conversion kit?
 

Hey guys, pretty much as the title says "Is there a ready made kit to go from 7 to single while retaining the freehub body?"

I am looking at converting an old(old, 94) Gary Fisher Marlin to single, any option you guys may have found would be great too?

Also how about some pics? Love to see some conversions.

There's a variety of devices that can do it. Sheldon Brown and John Allen write about some of them here: Singlespeed Bicycle Conversions

One method they talk about is 'luck'. I have seen people use that option and they just yank the derailleur and if they're very lucky, the chain can be forced into an acceptably tight position. Dropping a chain in a rock garden is not cool, though, so I'd suggest some kind of tensioner.

if this question is focused only on using a freehub as a rear hub on a single speed the answer is yes, just remove the cassette, buy a single cog, making sure it is compatible with the splines on the hub, and get enough spacers fill in the rest of the space on the freehub.

it can become more complicated though, once a preference for gearing becomes an issue.

i have a 97 Gary Fisher that i converted to SS as described above, and was lucky to find that the 36 tooth chainring and the 17t cog (both part of the original componentry) would, after removing a few links, give me a decent chain tension. as mentioned "luck" was on my side. there are a few tricks (see sheldon's site) that can provide a few more gearing options without resorting to a chain tensioner.

as a first step, i might break the chain, bypass the rear derailleur and try to find, by trial and error, a combination of chainring and cog that gives a decent chain tension. then re-install the chain with the unnecessary links removed and run it that way for a while and see how it goes. poor chainline could well be an issue at this stage, but it could give you an idea of what's possible with what you've got already.

ColinL . . . doooh! yea I should have thought of Sheldons site. . . Thank you for reminding me of such an obvious solution. :o:o

The spacer route is one I have used in the past but, I was wondering if like 9 speed freehub bodies there is a conversion kit available for 7, Surly do a good one, that is nine speed but could well do 7, and I have one of their rear cogs, 19 t this thing is thick and should go the distance.

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heuyhoolihan, Thanks for the info and chain ring rear cog no's I plan to run 38-19 which should give good chain tension. I used this on a Marin a while ago and also 34-18 works well on vertical drop outs with no need for tension er.

Thank you both for the posts I will now get to work.