The cranks on my old Takara that I am fixin to make into a fixie are old cottered Suginos but seem to be in decent shape. The problem is if I want to have just the 40 tooth chain ring I have to get new cranks because only the 52 chain ring is attached to the cranks and the 40 tooth is bolted to the 52. The question: can I just leave both chain rings on and use only the 40 tooth one? It won't look terribly cool, but it should not be a problem.

Has anyone else do this?

sure.

...I had a similar setup - I used a hack-saw to cut off the offending big ring, looked quite gruesome.

Now, would that be SS? or a fixed gear?

As long as you can get a straight chain line, shouldn't be a problem. My single speed conversion just kept the triple chainring on the front w/the chain on the middle ring, and used spacers on the rear hub to keep the chain line straight. I don't know if you can use spacers on a track threaded hub, though.

I use a tensioner that allows you to switch between two chainrings. It is a Paul Melvin. It effectively makes your bike into a two-speed single-speed. Hmmm...doesn't really make sense.

I've seen a lot of bikes where they just ground off the teeth on the larger chainring, then it kinda functions as chainguard to keep your pant leg away...

Use the 52 it'll turn you into a solid ass biker.

Have exactly the same problem, the crankset is old campa and the small ring is riveted to the large one. Beeing slightly anal on how the bike looks I will try to drill the rivets and bolt the small one but that´s me.......It works perfectly fine as it is and it also minimizes the problem with pants stuck in the chain

check out the dual sided drive



spotted in Poland

WTF**********?



HEy little5guy maybe you are poorer than I am but when I had that problem I picked up a used Sugino road crankset for 10 bucks at a junk yard type LBS