OP
OP
ConnoisseurEquator
Senior Member
Last edited:
Sprocket
- Thread starter ConnoisseurEquator
- Start date
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Chris S
Legendary Member
- Location
- Birmingham
Yes - It's a half link. You take out two complete links (ie two inners and two outers) and put that in instead. It makes the chain just long enough to put a non-standard size sprocket in.
T4tomo
Legendary Member
if the 17 isn't allowing you to get a position in the drop out with a pair longer or shorter links in the chain where it will run tight, then i'd go with a 16 or 18 T sproket or a half link, but I'm suprised you cant find a spot.
are you saying of its sat where the yellow arrow is (with a shortened chain from running it with 21) if you add the pair of links back in can you not take-up the slack? there looks to be more than a links worth of travel up the drop out.
are you saying of its sat where the yellow arrow is (with a shortened chain from running it with 21) if you add the pair of links back in can you not take-up the slack? there looks to be more than a links worth of travel up the drop out.
Chris S
Legendary Member
- Location
- Birmingham
Sturmey Archer hubs use an anti-rotation washer which takes up most of the dropout. On one of my bikes I can only use an 18T or 19T sprocket. If I put another link in I have a choice between 22T or 23T.
It's annoying because the ideal sizes would be 20T or 21T. The smaller sprockets mean I have to push my bike uphill, the larger ones mean that I have to freewheel downhill!
Ian H
Ancient randonneur
If it's the same width it will fit. The shape of the plates is not relevant.
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
A 17T sprocket will give you ridiculouslyhigh gearing for an old Raleigh 3-speed anyway. only a complete masochist will ride that combination, and you won't want to go near any gradients with it. The standard 18T generally fitted at the factory by Raleigh is even a bit high if anything. 3-speed roadsters really aren't designed for riding fast anyway as the aerodynamics simply aren't favourable. Use a lightweight steel drop bar bike if speed is your aim. You can still run those as 3-speeds if you wish.
Chris S
Legendary Member
- Location
- Birmingham
Good point, by my calculations a 17T sprocket would give the following gears with a 26 inch wheel:
93.8" top
70.35" middle
52.76" bottom
Top gear could only ever be used going downhill. The OP would effectively have a 2-speed.
93.8" top
70.35" middle
52.76" bottom
Top gear could only ever be used going downhill. The OP would effectively have a 2-speed.
SkipdiverJohn
Deplorable Brexiteer
- Location
- London
My 3-speed Raleigh runs 46T on the front and 19T on the back. It's plenty high geared enough for a bike with an upright riding position, and 3rd isn't really usable unless the terrain is flat and there is zero headwind.
