That's what I like to hear. No, not merely that your hi-performance bike's drivetrain is suddenly working better with the addition of a less esteemed brand's O.T. chain, but that you stayed up until after 2am getting a vintage bike working to acceptable standards. No, YOU the man!
David Snyder having just finished riding my just-bought 1981 Bianchi Super in Auburn, CA, usa
Bob Hansen wrote:
> Good idea David,
> I see exactly what you mean about the bulged side plates. That does make
> perfect sense as you describe the actual shifting and I can almost
> visualize
> the alternating wider openings of the bulged plates helping to simply
> dropping
> a hooked chain around the tooth...
>
> I have a couple of spare silver Sunrace chains, so before I had even
> finished writing this e-mail, I have just tried one. Amazing. I can
> immediately
> see a dramatic improvement in shifting.
>
> You the Man David!
>
> Thanks Much!
> Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, NM, USA
>
>
>
> David Snyder wrote:
>
> Bob,
> Your PC-58 chain has straight-sided sideplates that don't really reach
> out
> far enough to go fully over the teeth under certain conditions. I've
> also
> had this problem with the previous Sedisport chains on Maillard
> Helicomatic
> cogs. Very annoying, this unwanted, sudden freewheeling.
>
> Switch to a chain with bulged-out outer sideplates. Pioneered in the
> modern
> era by Shimano with their Uniglide chains, and available today in their
> HG-91 model.
>
> Others, including KMC, Sunrace, YBN (IRD) and SRAM (with their latest
> 851/951(?) models), have also adopted this design, but most super-narrow
> (9
> & 10sp) chains use flush pins and beveled, but not bulged-out sideplates.
>
> The Shimano-style chains also grab vintage chainring teeth more
> aggressively
> for easier shifting up front. Shimano's current chains are also
> definitely
> among the very longest lasting.
>
> The Sunrace 8-speed chains come in a bit narrower than Shimano's HG-91
> and
> are my current favorite for friction shifting because they are less
> finicky
> about precise shift lever position. These attach traditionally with
> normal
> press-fitted pins, are inexpensive, seem to be long-wearing and have an
> attractively polished finish.
>
> David Snyder
> preferring Uniglide sprockets above all others in
> Auburn, CA
>
>
>
> Bob Hanson wrote:
>
>> I've noticed recently that a new SRAM PC-58 chain tends to "Hang" -
>> riding
>> atop the cogs of an old Maillard compact 6-speed freewheel. These cogs
>> featured the familiar symmetrical "notch-top" teeth designed to help
>> lift
>> up a
>> chain. Maybe not too helpful a design, but they nevertheless had been
>> produced
>> for many years. So, I thought I had just suddenly begun shifting very
>> sloppy.
>>
>> However, examining the chain and freewheel carefully, I noticed that
>> the
>> chain's outer plates are actually tapered considerably. This creates a
>> clean
>> knife-blade like fit into the teeth of the cogs. This was not an issue
>> on the
>> old Sedis chain which I replaced - which had side plates which were not
>> beveled, and it is not an issue with old Regina Oro or Corsa chains
>> which
>> have
>> just flat side plates.
>>
>> I love the Sram 8-speed chains which I now use on most bikes - even
>> with
>> 5-speed freewheels... but, definitely not with these cogs. So, can
>> someone
>> please recommend a good modern chain to use on this style of freewheel?