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gbj_tester
Can someone do a sanity check for me? Just got a late 40s 4-speed back on the road. Derailleur is excessively worn so I’m running it single speed on the 18T cog (second largest). Brand new chain from my LBS which seems to be either a KMC Z7 Narrow (7-speed) or KMC Z8 Narrow (8-speed).
The chainline is pretty straight and fairly taut, but the chain keeps getting caught on the freewheel teeth, riding up and re-seating with a bang. It’s trashed the chain and actually broken a couple of side plates on the way home.
I think the chainline isn’t the cause. See how on this chain the side plates are heavily ramped and very thin, is it this causing the problem with the very squared-off teeth profile on the freewheel? It’s 3/32” but it’s a really loose side-to-side fit on the teeth. Do I need to find an old-style chain with plain, flat side plates instead? Or does my freewheel look excessively worn?