Today's lesson. AKA not all 1/8" cogs are equal
02-11-15, 05:29 PM
#1
Still kicking.
Thread Starter
Today's lesson. AKA not all 1/8" cogs are equal
When getting a good 1/8" chain(IE Izumi model v supertoughness or eco, kmc 101 & 710) stick to all city, soma, shimano, eai or maybe even Philwood and avoid using the surly track cogs like the plague. There's a very good chance the chain will not fit on the cog properly since it seems the cogs have not been machined properly. Generic cogs work much better. Tried on new 16t, new 17t, new 18t surly track cogs and the following chains did not work:
Izumi: Doesn't fit.
KMC 101&710: Snug on the cog, possible to use(would not recommend), but could cause a headache if chainline is off.
KMC 410: Non rust buster fits, Rust Buster doesn't, colored doesn't. Plus the 410 isn't all that great.
Yet all those fit without an issue on a soma or shimano or eai cog.
Where my thumb and pointer finger is, those rollers should be sitting in between the teeth but that is as far as they go.
Izumi: Doesn't fit.
KMC 101&710: Snug on the cog, possible to use(would not recommend), but could cause a headache if chainline is off.
KMC 410: Non rust buster fits, Rust Buster doesn't, colored doesn't. Plus the 410 isn't all that great.
Yet all those fit without an issue on a soma or shimano or eai cog.
Where my thumb and pointer finger is, those rollers should be sitting in between the teeth but that is as far as they go.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Last edited by Dannihilator; 02-11-15 at 05:36 PM.
02-11-15, 05:40 PM
#2
Bike Nerd
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Brooklyn
Posts: 238
Bikes: '04 Cannondale Track, Custom Steel Disc Road Di2, Rock Lobster CX
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Huh. I've used 17T and 18T Surly cogs on my 3/32" drivetrain and they work fine with several different chains. The tall teeth are a bit wonky, but not overly loud. Not sure why 1/8" would be different.
02-11-15, 05:48 PM
#3
Still kicking.
Thread Starter
Quality Control needs Quality Control for the Quality Control. Need to get a micrometer measurement of the cogs but the Izumi's don't fit and kmc rust buster chains don't even come close to fitting. The 3/32 cogs are incompatible with some chains just don't remember which ones.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Last edited by Dannihilator; 02-11-15 at 05:57 PM.
02-11-15, 05:53 PM
#4
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
I don't know about ALL of them, but the one in your photo is seriously mega wonky.
02-11-15, 05:54 PM
#5
Randomhead
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,402
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,701 Times
in
2,521 Posts
bad batch probably
02-11-15, 06:29 PM
#6
Veteran Racer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,760
Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1337 Post(s)
Liked 765 Times
in
432 Posts
I've had the exact same bad experience with Surly cogs in the past. I now avoid them like the plague.
02-12-15, 08:01 AM
#9
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,556
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4361 Post(s)
Liked 4,005 Times
in
2,674 Posts
Get in touch with Surly and hopefully they will make things right. That sucks though, but now you know Dura-Ace, Dura-Ace, Dura-Ace ; )
02-12-15, 08:47 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,610
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 399 Post(s)
Liked 274 Times
in
136 Posts
I put a lot of hard miles on and still have several Surly cogs...never had a single problem with any of them. I would not hesitate to purchase another.
My drive train is full 3/32" and my cogs are larger - 19t and up (explains my use of Surly cogs), so perhaps that accounts for my good experience being so different from the guys posting here about having trouble with their cogs. For the record, I tend to stick with KMC 810SL chain.
I will second what has already been mentioned - possible bad batch, and my money is on Surly taking care of you if you let them know about the problems...
My drive train is full 3/32" and my cogs are larger - 19t and up (explains my use of Surly cogs), so perhaps that accounts for my good experience being so different from the guys posting here about having trouble with their cogs. For the record, I tend to stick with KMC 810SL chain.
I will second what has already been mentioned - possible bad batch, and my money is on Surly taking care of you if you let them know about the problems...
02-12-15, 08:55 AM
#11
Veteran Racer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,760
Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1337 Post(s)
Liked 765 Times
in
432 Posts
But why even bother with this crap if there are other quality brands that never seem to have this problem. And this isn't an isolated case of one "bad batch", since I had a similar problem many years ago and others like Morgan have reported the same experience.
02-12-15, 10:15 AM
#12
Your cog is slipping.
02-12-15, 02:48 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,909
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,933 Times
in
2,558 Posts
I use 1/8" cogs from 12t to 22t of EAI and DA. Use a 23t Surley (because it is the only 23t I have yet seen that I could buy). It works, but is clearly not remotely the quality of EAI and DA.
I have not seen any significant difference between EAI and DA. Both are competition quality and very consistent. The EAIs have the cog teeth printed on them and they clean up a little faster with a rag, so they are my choice, but once on the bike I don't care. Expensive cogs, but after looking at wear or $/mile, a bargain. I use Izusue chains. $20 at a shop, run beautifully, never a problem and last a long time. They makes for a good life.
Ben
I have not seen any significant difference between EAI and DA. Both are competition quality and very consistent. The EAIs have the cog teeth printed on them and they clean up a little faster with a rag, so they are my choice, but once on the bike I don't care. Expensive cogs, but after looking at wear or $/mile, a bargain. I use Izusue chains. $20 at a shop, run beautifully, never a problem and last a long time. They makes for a good life.
Ben
02-22-15, 03:19 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Denmark
Posts: 80
Bikes: MTB & Road
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just changed the Surly cog on my upcoming configuration to another brand, just in case, to be sure.
Thanks for the headsup!
Thanks for the headsup!
