White Industries Eccentric hub?

[2old2care]

Have you had any problems when swapping from fixed to free with chain alignment, as I've found I have a problem with the difference in offset of the two cogs. Also what width chain do you use?

 

[Sharky]

No experience of eccentric hubs, but don't really understand what the problem is?
Re chains, I use either 1/8th or 3/32 depending on the sprockets which can be either. The 1/8th can be used for either.

 

[2old2care]

The problem is that I set up the chain alignment for say the fixed cog, then when I flip the wheel to the free cog, the alignment is out by 3 to 4 mm.
I've measured the offset of each cog from the centreline , and there is a difference of 3.5mm.
Why would they manufacture a flip/flop hub which needs the chain to be re-aligned every time you flipthe wheel over?

Recent reply from White Industries, " As far as the alignment issues, you are correct. The fixed side was designed around the standardized track offset of 43mm and the freewheel side around the 47.5mm chainline standard."

 

[Sharky]

Does 3mm variation cause a problem?
There are double fixed sprockets around and these must have about a 3mm variation, so must be within an acceptable tolerance.
For a time, ran a fixed with a double chainset, which gave me a low gear for pottering and a higher gear for TT's. Didnt notice any alignment problem.
Cheers keith

 

[2old2care]

It works, but the difference gives me a clicking noise unless I leave the chain quite slack, but if you hit a pothole the chain can jump off.
I was using a 3/32 width chain, so I'll try a 1/8th chain.
Did you use a chain tensioner with your double chain set?

 

[Sharky]

My frame had horizontal ends, so didn't need a tensioner.
You can just about see in the photo, the double chainset.

Don't think you need to switch to 1/8th chains if all the sprockets are 3/32, but if you have one, worth a try.
Good luck
Keith

 

[2old2care]

Cool bike Keith, looks fast. Thanks for the help.

 

[Sharky]

Cool bike Keith, looks fast. Thanks for the help.

It's a Mercian, bought second hand in 1968. Used to be reasonably fast, but for some reason wasn't going quite as fast in the photo (2008). Let it go to a club mate a couple of years ago, but was my favourite and did all my PB's on it.
Cheers and hope you sort your bike out.