Replaced quite a number of parts on my bike, including putting in a new BB, derailleur and chain ring since the bike already was on the third chain.
Before I had two chainrings in the front, a 50 and a 34, but found myself almost never using the 34 or the small sprockets in the rear.
So I decided to get a single 38T chainring as replacement, but of course one chainring has less thickness than two, so the chainring screws were too long to tighten.
I used these regular washers instead. I know you can get shorter chainring screws or perfectly matching washers, but I'd really like to be able to use the bike again on Monday. My question is: Will this be fine for long-term, or should I order the replacement parts? I don't really care about the optics. If sensible I can also use some loctite thread locking compound.
by mampfer
16 Comments
quite many janks
Eh, send it. As long as the washers are thick enough that you can fully tighten and torque all five bolts, you should be good. If the bolts are strong enough to mount two chainrings, they’re strong enough to mount one plus some extra metal.
Opinion:
It looks like shit but if it works, who gives a fuck?
The only thing I’d change here is the orientation of the chainring. That tab goes behind the crank arm.
Single ring chainring bolts are super cheap. Considering that, it’s fairly janky. But, will likely still work.
5 out of 6 janks
I wouldn’t be afraid to ride that, but I’d also order shorter chainring bolts. They’re cheap, and would silence intrusive thoughts of jank or aesthetics and just think about the ride instead.
Five aluminum chainring bolts will cost you <$5 at your LBS (my old shop had a box filled with the problem solvers brand.) The threads are standard but as you discovered, the widths are not. Bring your crank so they can check for the correct fit.
Loc-tite is recommended and there is a brand-specific torque-spec. It will be around 9-11nm. Do some google research to find this.
As to your direct question – no bike mechanic will agree that your setup is safe. Given the low cost and local availability of the correct solution, you are trading off inconvenience vs safety. Not a good trade, in my opinion, but I’m likely older than you.
as long as its torqued to spec its no problem. hardly jank since its not visible
First of all, the lil tab goes behind the crank arm. You don’t want to look like an amateur. Id run that, till the right ones show up. But clock that ring to hide the tab.
Lol I’ll post my mtb 1x set up when I get home this isn’t very jank from a safty standpoint.
This is LOW on the jank scale.
It’s hardly a bodge, and doesn’t even register on the Jim-omelet
Send it!
No issue with this at all, but i suggest always using thread lock on chain ring bolts (personally, i put it on all threaded items on my bike except cable tensioners).
How’s your chainline?
as long as the female piece of the chainring bolt is engaging with both the chainring and the crankarm it is fine for indefinite use.
the only thing you have to worry about is being shunned for not aligning the tab on the chainring with the crankarm
Dude I did the exact same thing on one of my bikes! Send it!
If it does the job and you can live with how it looks does it really matter?
At least those washers look new and clean😁