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Singlespeed: Grease the cog?

Started by Jasper Janssen · · Last activity · 6 posts · 330 views

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01 / Original postSinglespeed: Grease the cog?Jasper Janssen · 30 Jul 2005 02 / This pagePosts 1–6Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #6Tom Reingold · 1 Aug 2005

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Original section
Cycling Equipment
Published
30 July 2005
Last activity
1 August 2005
Original author
Jasper Janssen
Posts
6
Discussion status
Public discussion
Total views
330
Views / 30 days
0
Topics
Contact pointsChain lube and cleaningIndoor trainersSingle-speed and fixed-gear

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  1. Original post
    Jasper Janssen
    Archived post
    #1

    On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 17:38:42 -0700, "(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:

    From various posts, I've got the impression that a cogset only lasts through
    five or so chains.

    Seems like with an SS, that situation is even worse because all the wear is on a
    single cog.

    Nope. The thicker, much, much stronger chain and the always perfect
    chainline and -tension more than compensate. Not to mention stronger,
    thicker cogs with higher teeth. Of course, if you're riding a single speed
    with derailler cogs, chainrings, and chains, it might be a little
    different, but even there the chainline and tension will keep wear to a
    minimum.

    Quoted message said:

    Given that and the fact that chain lube seems tb mostly an internal thing, would
    it make any sense to smear some grease on the teeth of the cog once in awhile?

    My intuition says "no" - that any grease on contact points will worn away in the
    first few minutes/hours of riding.

    More like seconds. The pressure between the cogs and the rollers is more
    than enough to drive out grease from between the contact points.

    Jasper

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  2. Lou Holtman
    Archived post
    #2
    (PeteCresswell) said:

    From various posts, I've got the impression that a cogset only lasts through
    five or so chains.

    Seems like with an SS, that situation is even worse because all the wear is on a
    single cog.

    That is correct. On the other hand the chainring and cog is (ought to
    be) perfectly aligned. The chain and cog keep matching for a long time
    even when worn and you only have to replace one cog of course. Not a big
    deal costwise.

    Quoted message said:


    Given that and the fact that chain lube seems tb mostly an internal thing, would
    it make any sense to smear some grease on the teeth of the cog once in awhile?

    No, because there is no relative movement between chain and cog once
    engaged and the grease would be gone in a matter of seconds.

    Quoted message said:

    My intuition says "no" - that any grease on contact points will worn away in the
    first few minutes/hours of riding.

    Aha, you figured it out yourself ;-)

    Lou, also singlespeeder

    --
    Posted by news://news.nb.nu

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  3. maxo
    Archived post
    #3
    (PeteCresswell) said:


    From various posts, I've got the impression that a cogset only lasts
    through five or so chains.

    That's a lot of miles and cogs are cheap. My single uses Shimano DX bmx
    cogs on a spacered freehub with a KMC ss chain. The rear sprocket has @3K
    on it and I can't see any wear other than it being a bit shinier in spots.
    It's something like 3x thicker than a cassette sprocket anyway--and the
    cost is five bucks. I hardly ever even think about the drivetrain, much
    less replacing a sprocket five years from now.

    Just lube your chain (or not) and get on with riding.

    Report
  4. (PeteCresswell)
    Archived post
    #4

    From various posts, I've got the impression that a cogset only lasts through
    five or so chains.

    Seems like with an SS, that situation is even worse because all the wear is on a
    single cog.

    Given that and the fact that chain lube seems tb mostly an internal thing, would
    it make any sense to smear some grease on the teeth of the cog once in awhile?

    My intuition says "no" - that any grease on contact points will worn away in the
    first few minutes/hours of riding.

    Commments?
    --
    PeteCresswell

    Report
  5. David L. Johnson
    Archived post
    #5
    (PeteCresswell) said:

    From various posts, I've got the impression that a cogset only lasts through
    five or so chains.

    Seems like with an SS, that situation is even worse because all the wear is on a
    single cog.

    Not really. Many single speed sprockets, or fixed ones, are 1/8" rather
    than 3/32" thick, so are pretty durable. But even with the thinner ones,
    since the chainline is (or should be) nearly perfect, there will be less
    wear than with a derailleur chain.

    Quoted message said:


    Given that and the fact that chain lube seems tb mostly an internal
    thing, would it make any sense to smear some grease on the teeth of the
    cog once in awhile?

    Grease would attract bits of grit. Not a good idea.

    --

    David L. Johnson

    __o | Deserves death! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve
    _`\(,_ | death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to
    (_)/ (_) | them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.
    -- J. R. R. Tolkein

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  6. Tom Reingold
    Archived post
    #6

    Also, small sprockets last shorter than large sprockets because small
    sprockets spread the load over fewer teeth, adding load to each tooth.
    If you make a single speed bike with a 16 or 17 tooth sprocket, that
    sprocket should last a very long time.

    Tom

    Report

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