Wrong placement of spacers and loose goat link caused difficulty in shifting

Wheels of Happiness

As I left house this morning I noticed the chain slipping on the cogs. but only for the high (smaller cogs).  The problem disappeared when I shifted to lower (bigger cogs)  And was especially pronounced in 52 chain rings.  So I had to ride at 36t smaller chain ring. 

I examined my cogs when I arrived home and I noticed that spaces between cogs were uneven.  The 2nd and 3rd cogs had wider spaces.  So I examined further and found out that I placed another spacer on the cog that had built in spacer.   So one cog was wider spaced from another and closer  causing the missed shift.   

Disassembled the cogs from the freewheel, reversed the spacer and the problem solved. 

Also saw that the goat link shifted forward and thus the idler pulley was hitting the cogs, and could not even remove and reinstall the rear wheel easily (as it was in the past)  Loosened the goat link and reinstalled this at 90 degrees  Tried the bike today and as good as new

MTB powertrain upgrade for only P1,000 each

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

5.08.2021

After weeks of research and reading e commerce platforms, and soc media trading site, this post finally settled for a cogset of only P1K for 10 speed 10 -42 for its upgrade of MTB.

I did not have to use a lot of tools or add ons:  chain links or goat link;  and no case of chain dropping off if I back pedal.    I have a scare moment though when the 11t malfunctioned.  It was a mounting error.   I was not able to seat the 11t cog correctly into the cog.  Otherwise it was perfect upgrade  DIY

(I upgraded my two MTBs and on line seller had his field day.   -  Kyle Cruz

The upgrade could have cost upwards to P20K if it was for a upgrade kit for SRAM, -  NX or GX 

or P15k for an SX upgrade;   or for Shimano 13k to 20K upgrade to Deore.  But these are 11 and 12 speed all ready.  I do not need 11 or `12 speed for my upgrade (a 12 speed from Forever and Tweeter are available.   Forever at about P29k, and Twitter Storm for P50k)

Of if I elected to go Shimano, thi would have set me back by P5K to P9k depending on the model;  or Sunrace at sale was P3K plus.   

With a 42t, I can let it go for 3by or 2b or 1by.   Its a matter of 8t between 50t and 42t and gains will be marginal.  If I go 2by, I will have a wider range of gears compared to say 32 by 11 -50 combination   

I am happy with this upgrade.  In my practice ride this morning, the extra 6 teeth (from 36 teeth I have now) makes a lot of difference -  the legs are fresher and less huffing and puffing at heels.

Plus the pride that:   1.  I did it myself;  2.  I spent for only 1k    3.   That I am trending with younger bikers who love to go 1by.   

Increasing menu of options for the MTB drive train.

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines

4.24.2021.

It used to be just Shimano:   derailleurs, chain, cogs, chain ring,  rear derrailleur and changer.  

Shimano dominated this for a hundred years.  But now, China manufacturers are coming on their own and have their own more competitive products.  

Cogs:      Shimano, SRAM, shuriken (by weapon),  Sagmit.   ZTTO, Sunrace

Changer:   LTWOO, Shimano, SRAM (There are bad ones like Shimaneng0

Chainring:   Shimano, SRAM, Deckas Snail.

Chain:   Shimano, SRAM, PYC, VG, YBN  The most expensive is YBN LDC.

The battle is heaviest in Cogs.

      Most of the entrants are in the 1,500 to 2,000 - Shuriken, Sunrace, Sunshine,  ZTTO, ZRACE.  They are lightweight and claim superior technology.  (Like SRAM many of the owners are Chinese and factory based in Taiwan)   They claim sets carved out from solid SS blocks (as SRAM) and srengthen the rivets on the spider.   

      Right now, I wonder what I would install to replace my aging XT cogs:   (11 -36 to make this 11 -42)

    1.  SAGMIT

    2.  Shiruken

    3.  Shimano (about P9,000)

    4.   Z race

     I am even thinking that the one selling me P1,800 XT is a SAGMIT or sunshine brand with the XT lock.   

Listening to the unusual sounds of your bike so that you can tune it 100% in tip top condition

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
July 27, 2018

                                              Kumikiyakis ang kadena sa chain catcher

                                            Lumuwag ang cogs (sprocket)

Nakasingit ako ng bike today maski kulimlim.  Mukhang umulan na from Tayuman to Binangonan.  Balak ko tumuloy sa Morong pero tumigil na ako sa Mambog dahil sa unusual sound at functioning ng F10 na tinest drive ko dahil bago wheelset nito:

1.  May sound ng kumikiyakis na hindi nawawala maski ibuka preno iadjust ibang piyesa

2.  May kumakalampag sa likod pag nalulubak ang bike

3. Ayaw magshift sa big ring pag ikinambyo left STI

Nang makarating sa bahay, tiningnan ang puwedeng maging diprensiya.

Sa #1, dumikit ang chain catcher sa kadena

Sa #2, lumuwag ang pagkakahigpit ng nut ng cogs...Nangyari na sa akin iyon sa S works

Sa #3, lumuwag din ang kable na nakakabit sa FD.

So ang gagawin lang iadjust ang chain catcher, Hinigpitan ang cogs at kable.  Now everything A OK

Sabi ito ng mekaniko na after assembly huwag umasa na 100% na perfect ito.  Ang mga piyesa at cable ay mag aadjust ng tension at kailangan i re adjust.  Kaya hindi dapat kampante pag bagong assemble ang bike. May maaaring lumuwag or kailangang iadjust

Solving missing shifts problem of Campy at my Fuji bike

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
December 29, 2017

I rode today up to Morong to fulfill my mileage requirements for the Vigan ride  I had 50 last Wednesday, and today 40 km. I rode on the Fuji Carbon

I was trying to ape Alberto Contador who boasted of standing up going uphill (on slight or medium hills) at 53 x 17- 19.  However, as I used the 6th gear (the 19 teeth) it jumped.   I tried to adjust the cable tension from the front adjuster, to the barrel adjuster, then the screw adjuster.  But the bad shift kept on.

I avoided the 19t and used 21 or 17t to experiment the standing up when climbing the hills (instead of 34 x 25) which was slower and lazier way to climb.  Surely such a practice makes one stronger and faster

So I peered at the gears and I suspected a broken 19t gear. (Whew where will I find a 19t spare Campy cog?) What is saw surprised me:  there is an uneven space between 17t and 19t.   So I removed the cogs from the free wheel.  The trouble was with the spacer.   The first two spacers with the groove was between the 25 23 set with 21 19, and  17.   I placed the flat spacers which caused uneven spacing.  When I rearranged the  spacers and the cogs looked of even spacing, I tightened the nut and tried to shift  It was perfect.

Without this observation and analysis, this problem would persist and the mechanic could have fooled me and recommended something expensive.

Too much DIY can create problems; if you are not careful

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
June 5, 2017

I could not use my Fuji carbon fiber well lately.  It would not shift well between 21 to 23  and 12, 13 and 14 at the cogs.

I found out today:

1. That the  nut for the cogs was not tight  (the tool that I used Taiwan made does not fit well the Campy cogs.) Fortunately today, I found the Shimano tool that fit;

2.  I used the wrong spacers:   between 21 and 23, it had to the wider spacer with the groove;  I saw that the distance between 21 and 23.  The correct spacer was between 12 and 13, both would not shift well.  

Compared to Shimano, even if you interchange the spacer, there would be no problem

So I had the spacers interchanged, tightened the nut.

Tomorrow, I could use the bike well?

Keeping the bike always in tip top condition

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
September 12, 2016

Today I went to Villamayor Bike Parts to have the Bianchi road bike put in tip top condition.  There were two tasks to be done:

1,  Add length to the chain.  It would not shift to 53 x 32 because the chain was stretched to the limit.  There was an extra length that I cut.  I wanted the mechanic (Betoi) to do this for me to lessen the likelihood that there would be cut chain in the rides.

2.  Adjust the bike wheel, or derailleur so that it would shift to 39 x32.  The shift was no longer possible after I had the rear wheel re aligned for slight wobble and up and down play.  The alignment of the wheel was correct but of the cogs not ok.

#1 was easily and effortlessly done by Bitoi. But the #2 job took a while about almost an hour.  He reversed the axle, and realigned the wheel next. After reversing the axle, the wheel stayed close to the right side.  So he realigned the wheel by increasing the tension to the left side so that it would stay away from the right side to the left side.  That meant he would release the tension on the spokes at the right side (now I am learning about truing)   The increasing and release of tension was about one turn only.

It was job well done. I can fully use all the cogs and there would be unnecessary tight tension on the chain

I spent an extra P100.00 wasted on earlier alignment and truing.  The mechanic was not well experienced  yet and could not think of the solutions to the problem he created.  Always go for the best, albeit the most expensive mechanics.  You save more money that way

Versatility of MTB gear ratios (inches)

Wheels of Happiness

December 23, 2015

It will be Christmas in one days time.  Merry Christmas

I looked again at the gear ratios of the MTB vs the compact (50 x 34) chain sets and found the versatility of modern MTB cogs and chain sets.  As I mentioned earlier, for the 44 largest chain set x  11 to 32  cogs, the  biggest gear inches and the smallest would cover the gear inches for a 50 x 34 chain set

Roadie      50 x 34 chain set

                              50                       34

11                          112                     76

12                          103                      70

13                            96                      65

14                            90                      61

15                            84                      57

17                             79                    54

19                             71                    48

21                             64                    43

23                             58                    39

25                             54                    36.7

Changing my bike gears again!?

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal Philippines
November 12, 2015

I changed the gears of my bike from 12x 28 to 11 x 36, and the chain rings to triplet (from 53 x 39 to 44, 32, and 22)  I changed my changer to 105 triplet.  However, I noticed the gears to be uneven and noisy with the changers.The inner guide of the changer would rub with the chain.

So I decided to:

1.  Use only two chain rings of the triplet:  the 44 and the 32 since I am not using the 22 any way (come Mt. Province and other rides, I would use them again.  But for now, I would be happy with just two chain rings. 

2.  Re install the 12 x 28 cogs for smoother gear changes.

I was able to change these gears in a jiffy. Tomorrow, let me see how the gears work.

Test trial of my SARS Hill Climber

Wheels of Happiness

Angono, Rizal Philippines

                                               Deore triplet crank

                                       Sora rear long cage roller, and STX ten speed 11 x 36

                                        Rear view of the finished project

Ever since we came from Benguet, Mt Province, and Sagada where we quit some of the stages, I vowed that we would return with a bike with gears suited to the grade.  MTB only will do.

So I upgraded/converted my SARS bike to be my hill climber:

Here are the mods:

1. Removed the FSA 53 x 39 crank and replaced it with Deore triplet with 175 mm arm, 44 32, 22

2.  Outfitted a 3 way SORA sti, removed the front left Ultegra 2 way STI

3.  Replaced the ultegra rear roller with a Sora long cage rear roller