The Tester Approves thread (see first post)

TA are a good choice

What's the current Tester Approved chain oil that won't immediately clog up my chain with black shit? Don't mind reapplying after heavy rain etc.
Used Pro Gold Pro Link for many years and very happy with it but seems they no longer sell in the UK.

Tester Approved chain oil

There isn't one. Wax for racing, factory grease with the excess wiped off for everything else. I value my time too much to be spending any of it moly coddling chains which cost <£20

What is "factory grease"?

The stuff that's on the chain when it leaves the factory

So if a chain starts squeaking after a ride in the rain it’s time for a new one?

I think boeshield t9 is the tester approved solution for rodent infestation

No, it's time to stop worrying about squeaks 🙂

boeshield t9 is the tester approved solution

In theory. I might buy some if my can of GT85 runs out🙂

Anyone in the front of the class tell me the bolt pattern measurement on this deore crank?

I'm looking for a working class 1/8 single speed ring for it, should anyone have suggestions.

https://www.bigimagerack.com/cfs/img/2014/ca7a4da0/weblrg.jpg

Looks to me like Shimano FC-T551, BCD 104/64.

Looks correct. thanks. found one for the cost of a dozen eggs.

@gbj_tester I'm buying some Mitutoyo Vernier's. I'm stuck between analogue vs digital vs dial. What do you use?
General purpose working on Bicycles and Motorcycles. Will soon be learning to mill with a lathe; making non critical bullshit out of aluminium.

I have digital, fast to read but may not last forever. Vernier will last until the end of civilisation if you look after them and of course are much cheaper. Dial are good for quick relative measurements, such as quality control in a production environment. As with everything, the deciding factors will be budget, use case and personal preference.

Personally, I don’t like dial callipers, I prefer verniers. For machining, it is a lot quicker to take measurements with a calliper with a thumb wheel though. I’d get the coolant-proof Digimatic ones if you can afford them. They don’t fail, they always measure correctly and the batteries last forever. DO NOT be tempted to buy cheaper digital callipers though, they’re unreliable 👍

And obviously don’t get the normal Digimatic ones if you’re likely to be working with coolant. They don’t work once they’re full of coolant 😀

I once used someone's digital calliper and with every measurement the number was different, that was enough for me to stick to analogue ones.

Whats the best chainring bolt tool out there? I have a shitty little spanner thing and always risk scalping my knuckle when undoing them. Do not understand why they are not all like SRAM and have 6mm allen one side and 5mm the other.

There is almost certainly a better tool, but I just used an oven mitt to save my hands when I needed to use one.

Happy to have a chainset now that doesn't use them...

Whats the best chainring bolt tool out there?

This pattern to get them out, then replace with nuts you can hold with an Allen key

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I once used someone's digital calliper and with every measurement the number was different

Sometimes that's user error🙂 But yeah, lower quality Chinesium ones can be more prone to error because the mechanical construction is less precise, so they move more when you apply inconsistent contact load. That applies equally to Vernier types as it does to digital. Most cheap digital ones use relative scales, and they can lose steps. The Mitutoyo Absolute Digimatic doesn't suffer from this.

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The one i used randomly went back to 0 halfway during opening or closing.
Definitely Chinesium though so not really a useful comment from me...

And obviously don’t get the normal Digimatic ones if you’re likely to be working with coolant. They don’t work once they’re full of coolant

I'm reminded of how digital watch modders fill cheaper watches with oil for epic depth proofing. Obviously, oil wouldn't work in something without seals, but perhaps the circuitry in a caliper could be protected with grease? Or potted with hot glue.

anyone experience with the force power meter spindle? got a new sram red axs crankset for cheap and dont want to invest 800,- for a red spider one

What's the go to chain tensioner these days?

I don’t care what the cool kids say, Shimano Alfine CT-S500
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hub-spares/shimano-alfine-cts500-chain-tensioner-black/