I have looked it up and the wolftooth is compatible with 10-12 speed chains, the Surly cog with 6-9 chains. Now, I still have a spare new Wolftooth lying around, so I'd like to replace my Surly cog with another 17t cog that is compatible with 10 speed chains.
Any tips on what cogs I can use, preferably something I can buy in Europe? Or do there exist chains that would fit both the surly cog and the wolftooth chainring?
I have used Surly cogs with 10-11 speed chains because I happened to have such a chain lying around, unused. if the chainline is straight, it should be fine. Surly says it will with with 11/128" chains (11 speed) bu they are optimized for SS or lower-speed chains. I don't see any reason why the Wolftooth ring would not work with 8-9 speed chains, and those are cheaper while just as reliable as a narrower chain. why not just stick with 8-9 speed chains?
Compatible with all 10, 11, and 12-speed chains except Shimano 12-speed chains.
If using a 9-speed drivetrain use a 10-speed chain (shifts and works well on a 9-speed drivetrain and fits the ring tighter for better chain retention).
There is no reason you can't use a 8speed chain on that for singlespeed use. The admonition to use 10+ speed chains is for retention for 1x drivetrains with a rear derailer. Since you don't have a derailer, it should not be a problem. The worst case scenario is that the chain has more room to wiggle on the ring, which
you will only notice if you pinch the chain with your fingers and wiggle it like a weirdo.
This is why most of the chainrings we have on the market don't come in odd tooth counts as well- only weirdos want to ride a bike that only has one gear. Those chainrings are designed for 1x systems with a rear derailer, which is what 99.9% of the market wants on their bikes.
Ok thank you very much, then I'll buy myself an 8-speed chain!
Btw, is there any reason why a 1-speed chain such as the KCM S1 I'm using wouldn't fit a Wolftooth? Like I said, I have been using that combo for a long time, but it does make a slight noise sometimes and I can 'feel' it in my feet that it is not so smooth as one of my other bikes.
Used the Z610HX up until a couple years ago, when I picked up a couple new KMC x8.93 chains at a LBS. When I got around to using one of those chains, was comparing it to the old Z610HX to determine the correct length and discovered that the Z610HX actually had a half link. Something I had never noticed before. Don't know if they are still that way and easy to remove if so, but definitely something to be aware considering the N/W rings most use these days.
There's been a ton of conversation on MTBR about chain/cog compatibility. Years and years of it. Many things "work" but aren't ideal.
You can do your own research and form your own opinion, try multiple setups on a half dozen bikes, test all the stuff you want, or you can just take my word for it. Get an 8 speed KMC chain and never worry about it again.
It's on my bike now, runs buttery smooth, even on my worn chainring, thanks!
I'll wear this chain down and then I'll replace my cog and chainring with wolftooth products and put a 9-speed on it.
Speaking from past experience, the reason they probably say its 10/11 specific is because that's what the teeth were designed around. If you use an 8 speed chain the ring will wear differently and later down the road, an 11 speed chain won't work anymore. I went through this with my AbsoluteBlack oval ring. I ran it on my single speed with the typical 3/32" 8 speed chain I always use, then tried to switch it to my 11 speed full suspension and the 11 speed chain no longer meshed with the ring because the 8 speed had worn it differently. It happened pretty fast too, maybe 500 miles or less.
I called AB and they confirmed this is what was going on. Aluminum chainrings happen to be soft enough that they wear into what kind of chain you use. So just take note that if you use an 8 speed chain on that ring, there's a good chance you will always be using that size chain... not a big deal if you can anticipate that ahead of time. If you want to swap between bikes then maybe consider running an 11 speed chain.
@Onespeed, will do, I'll keep this thread updated
@SingleSpeedSteven, thanks for the headsup. I have noticed wear in chainrings before yes, even when I ride a chain a bit too long, the new one I put on makes too much noise.
Z610 chain with a half-link is new to me, but the last time I had one was years ago. Not certain, but I think the target market for that chain is fixed-gear riders? That explains the half link. BMX chainrings are almost exclusively 1/8" width, which is the z410hx chain.
as echoed above i find any chain narrower than the 1/8" track chains works well for singlespeed. i used 1/8" chains for a bit because they are the burliest; but found that maybe because they are so much wider than the rings they seemed to be more likely to fall off than narrower chains all other things equal.
always wondered why no one makes 1/8" ss mtb rings and cogs... as a "big boned" guy who wants burly sh!t where it counts; i'd buy em...
they are saying their stuff is optimized for 9, 10 and 11 speed chains with no other specifics mentioned.
I've been happy with sram chains in that spec on WT rings and cogs.
I have switched to a new WT chainring with a stainless WT cog and a KMC 10 speed, the new one. Wow, I had forgotten how smooth and silent my bike could be. I had this clicking noise the last months which I thought were my pedal bearings but I guess my front chainring was worn out. Pity WT doesn't make stainless steel chainrings in bigger sizes, they only make mtb sizes.
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