There okay, but...

I used one for a while but, about once every 50 miles or so I would find my chain on the BB. It usually happened on rough sections when I wasnt peddling. Keeping the chain as short as possible helps. The best tensioner I've seen so far is the Rennen.I put one on a friends bike and That thing is rock solid. It cost around $5-10 more sheckles but it is worth every penny. If they would have been out sooner I prolly would have never bought a S/S specific bike.

 

I started with an old derailleur as a chain tensioner, it worked perfectly but the looks of it kind of spoilt the bike so I bought a singleator. First thing that struck me was the noise from it, much worse than the old der. Then the spring jumped out of its place several times (not totally uncommon I understand) so after several removals of the miserable thing the last time i put it on the outer o-ring jumped out. Well I gave up and found a magic gear which works with a little filing off of the wheel axle.

Shold I need a tensioner again I will take back the old der.

 

The best tensioner I've seen so far is the Rennen.

true dat.

 

No problems with Singulators here, but they are a compromise. I still prefer a frame that doesn't need complex devices to tension the chain.

 

Singleators don't suck. I've used one in multiple configurations for over 3 years. If set up properly they are fine.

If your friend is a friend, I'm assuming he wouldn't have sold it to you if it was a dud, so it sounds like he got on fine with it.

I've never heard of anyone having a problem tightening the bolt enough to hold the spring in place. Doesn't sound feasible to me, unless the derailleur hanger is completely buggered.

 

So I purchased a used Singleator from a friend the other day. The Singleator was in excellent condition (he's running an eccentric hub now). Ran it Push Down for a ride, then decided to run it Push Up today. Worked fine when I rode it in the morning but when a friend of mine borrowed the bike this afternoon, the Singleator tension spring quit working on a rough, rocky and fast descent. Since I didn't have an 18mm cone with me, I had to resort to using a bunch of rubber bands to yank the pulley arm up to give some tension (worked pretty good actually). At least she was able to finish the ride without walking. Got home, put the thing on the stand and fiddled with the tension adjustment. Come to find that the friction on the der. hanger is not enough to hold the tension spring adjustment (and I didn't really want to strip the hanger threads by really cranking down on the der. bolt). Did a search on mtbr to make sure that I didn't screw anything up (I may have cranked on the spring too much or turned it the wrong direction) and I find that a lot of people have had similar problems. It also looks like some people came up with the same elegantly simple and cheap fix as I did...

When you switched it from push down to push up mode, did you change the spring? There are two springs that come with the singulator. If it is set up properly you should not have any issues. I ran one for a year and never touched it.

 

sure did 32X17...

I followed the instructions to the letter...
remove c-clip, pop push down spring and replace with push up spring, dab of lithium in the internals, make sure O rings are seated properly, put back together, thread on bike, adjust tension, tighten, test ride. it worked for 1 ride but once it got rough, it loosened up quite a bit... i'm thinking of converting my pseudo-cross bike to a SS in which case, the Singleator (in modified fashion) will go on that bike. I'm ordering a Rennen Rollenlager this morning to try it out... Live and learn I guess.

 

Singleators don't suck. I've used one in multiple configurations for over 3 years. If set up properly they are fine.

If your friend is a friend, I'm assuming he wouldn't have sold it to you if it was a dud, so it sounds like he got on fine with it.

I've never heard of anyone having a problem tightening the bolt enough to hold the spring in place. Doesn't sound feasible to me, unless the derailleur hanger is completely buggered.

I sold it to him.

I only ever ran it in push down mode, but I gave him the push up spring and the out-of-the-bag instructions. Never had a problem with it and I'm a set it and forget it kinda guy. Surly recommends push up mode, flip was running a 34 chainring (I was running 32) so I suggested he'd get better chain wrap with push up.

Live and learn I guess.

 

I followed the instructions to the letter...
remove c-clip, pop push down spring and replace with push up spring, dab of lithium in the internals, make sure O rings are seated properly, put back together, thread on bike, adjust tension, tighten, test ride. it worked for 1 ride but once it got rough, it loosened up quite a bit... i'm thinking of converting my pseudo-cross bike to a SS in which case, the Singleator (in modified fashion) will go on that bike. I'm ordering a Rennen Rollenlager this morning to try it out... Live and learn I guess.

That's the last time I ever sell you a slightly used Singulator. Sheesh.

Of course you realize what this is doing to you. Your fixating on SS. Pretty soon you be going on half your rides in the SS. After that your gears will start seeing neglect after which you'll start selling them off. Pretty soon after that you'll start waking in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about building up a fixie. I can see it coming bro.

 

Two Words

Paul Melvin

 

I rode it a couple of times...

In push down mode and it was fine. Push up was another story however... I don't think it was a problem with the condition of the tensioner when Twisted Crank sold it to me... Maybe more of a combination of design issue in push up mode and my hanger (I even tried roughing the face of the hanger up for more "grab"). As you can see by the fix, I basically converted the thing to replicate what a Rennen does. I'm converting a couple of more bikes in the next few weeks and if I don't get an Eno hub, I'm going Rennen for sure...

 

True dat... Twisted Crank...

Yesterday I let Becky ride it and now she's jonesing for a SS, heck she wanted to buy it on the spot after riding it. Even Barb wants to take it for a spin and has tasked me to keep an eye for a frame that can be converted. It's an evil sickness and I'm helping spread it (mostly to hot chicks)...
Personally, I'm looking at my xbike... thinking, hmmm.. that would make a good townie-fixie-part-time cross bike... And yes, I have the long travel Mantra that would make a good SS full suspension... how many 5" travel SS bikes do you see out there... the possibilities are endless...

 

the possibilities are endless...

So is the singletrack, brutha

Barb on a SS? - uh oh.

Hey could you do me a solid? Could your remind Lawrence (Sunday ride) about the Surly he know's for sale. We didn't exchange emails so I don't know how to contact him.
THX

 

Hey could you do me a solid? Could your remind Lawrence (Sunday ride) about the Surly he know's for sale. We didn't exchange emails so I don't know how to contact him.
THX

Not THE Lawrence "Haze", eh? I've been trying to convert him to SS from 2000 miles away for the last couple of years

 

Check your e-mail. I'll hit you up with notes and experiences from the last four years of SSing.

 

Drevil... The one and only...

We took him on a little climb Sunday... He did pretty well! He wants me to build him a SS in Ti... He'd be a good Clyde test for the frame don't you think?
I'll post pics of the little spin we took tonight...

 

We took him on a little climb Sunday... He did pretty well! He wants me to build him a SS in Ti... He'd be a good Clyde test for the frame don't you think?
I'll post pics of the little spin we took tonight...

Don't let him get too fit; he might lose his clyde status!

 

Got the email...

Thanks and will probably fire off some questions for ya after I read it... I'm seriously considering turning the Mantra into a SS.
LH less than a Clyde? hehe... not sure if that's going to happen soon specially with a baby coming in a month or so... He might become a double-Clyde...

 

Couple questions.......

So I purchased a used Singleator from a friend the other day. The Singleator was in excellent condition (he's running an eccentric hub now). Ran it Push Down for a ride, then decided to run it Push Up today. Worked fine when I rode it in the morning but when a friend of mine borrowed the bike this afternoon, the Singleator tension spring quit working on a rough, rocky and fast descent. Since I didn't have an 18mm cone with me, I had to resort to using a bunch of rubber bands to yank the pulley arm up to give some tension (worked pretty good actually). At least she was able to finish the ride without walking. Got home, put the thing on the stand and fiddled with the tension adjustment. Come to find that the friction on the der. hanger is not enough to hold the tension spring adjustment (and I didn't really want to strip the hanger threads by really cranking down on the der. bolt). Did a search on mtbr to make sure that I didn't screw anything up (I may have cranked on the spring too much or turned it the wrong direction) and I find that a lot of people have had similar problems. It also looks like some people came up with the same elegantly simple and cheap fix as I did...

Looking at the picture you attached, is the cage around the pulley hitting your chainstay?
I ran a Singleater on my GT before I ENO'ed it and I could not run it in the push up position. Either the chain was too short or if I added a link (even tried a half-link), the chain was too long and the cage around the pulley would hit the chainstay before I could get suitable tension. Running the Singleater in the push down position, I was actually able to put too much tension on the chain the first time I set it up.

Brian

 

It's clear of the chainstay

that picture looks decieving... Here is another that shows where the Singleator pulley sits....

 

2 more...

Paul Melvin

Rennen Rollenlager!!!

 

Two more words...

Paul Melvin

I agree

 

Looking at the picture you attached, is the cage around the pulley hitting your chainstay?
I ran a Singleater on my GT before I ENO'ed it and I could not run it in the push up position. Either the chain was too short or if I added a link (even tried a half-link), the chain was too long and the cage around the pulley would hit the chainstay before I could get suitable tension. Running the Singleater in the push down position, I was actually able to put too much tension on the chain the first time I set it up.

Brian

Sounds like you need a spacer or two on the chain stay side of your cog to move the chain line away from the chain stay. Maybe you've tried that already but wouldn't that allow enough clearance of the cage and chainstay?

In one of these pictures you can see my spacer setup and how I needed to adjust mine at the time. I haven't had any issues with mine yet, knock on wood.

 

Paul Melvin

is that a Beatle?

 

I've run a Singleator in the push up mode for several years now with no problems. I replaced the stock pulley with a MRP roller and it runs smoother and quieter.