Chain/Drive line help on Challenge Concept.

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Valiant

Veteran
Location
London
Ah I've not posted here in yonks! Hello all!

So looking at my drive system on the Challenge Concept trike, I think I've found the reason why it's noisy, doesn't like back peddling etc.

Now any time I've worked on the chainline I've always put it back to the way it was when I got it, assuming thats how it's meant to be, but now I know that it was set up wrong from the off! So wrong I've had to slap myself and go durrr!

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Notice how the idler is handling the straight section of the chain. And the plastic tube thingy (does it have a proper name?) is weirdly taking care of the bend to go back up to the chainset. This is wrong right? The idler should be taking care of the bent surely?

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It's clearer here.

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The upskirt shot. Would there be any issues if I changed them around? Shouldn't the idler be on the inside and the Plastic Pipe Thingy[sup]TM[/sup] be on the outside? Or does it not make much difference with such a long chain line?

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On an off note, how does one remove the surface rust type orangyness from the disc rotors?

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And lastly, this is the derailer on the big-big combination. Does it look ok or should it be more forward/back?
 
OP
OP
Valiant

Valiant

Veteran
Location
London
PS - Sorry about the crappy pics, was shot on my iphone.
 
OP
OP
Valiant

Valiant

Veteran
Location
London
Me too, but I'll have a play with mounting options. BTW Catrike UK doesn't happen to have any 190mm straight pull bladed spokes do you?
 
Location
EDINBURGH
Valiant said:
Me too, but I'll have a play with mounting options. BTW Catrike UK doesn't happen to have any 190mm straight pull bladed spokes do you?

No, sorry, they are probably Sapim CX-Ray spokes if you have them on your trike now, special order only though generally in that length, best to try wheel builders that specialise in small wheels like for Dahon etc...
 
Location
EDINBURGH
Valiant said:
They are indeed the CX-Rays. How many for a special order?

How many do you need? I may be able to get a box of 20, I am pretty sure that is the minimum order, expect to pay about £50 for the box.
 
OP
OP
Valiant

Valiant

Veteran
Location
London
I only need one but I've been trying to order that one spoke for about 3 years from Challenge. So if you can get a box, I'd gladly pay for it.
 
Location
EDINBURGH
Valiant said:
I only need one but I've been trying to order that one spoke for about 3 years from Challenge. So if you can get a box, I'd gladly pay for it.

Ah yes, the dutch, I have long given up trying to deal with any dutch or german companies, I'll let you know a lead time this next week. If I can justify keeping the spokes in stock I will happily sell you just the one, no guarantees though. They are the silver ones, not the black ones aren't they?
 

Alf

Guru
That's amazing that the bike would be set up with the drive side of the chain pivoting on nothing more than a chain tube. I would think it would wear through in no time and be much less efficient than the idler too because the latter presumably has decent bearings in it. I can't see why it should matter which is on the outside although it would be nice to get the chain line as centred as possible for the drive chain.

Did you get an answer to your derailleur question? I investigated that recently and found instructions (wish I could remember where) saying that the rear derailleur was OK so long as the chain was still deflected as it went through the rollers. This is useful if you are trying to make use of extreme gears. Yours looks absolutely fine.
 
OP
OP
Valiant

Valiant

Veteran
Location
London
Nope not answer as of yet but I'm not so worried. I would like one of the shiney new challenge idlers though.
 
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