Sprocket Adapter Vendor?

I just put a rag joint sprocket made for a 36 spoke wheel on a 32 spoke wheel , I had to drill some holes to get 8 of 9 bolts through the rag joint. It works and all, and I got it rolling pretty smooth but there is still some wobble and I dropped the chain a few times. I think if I tinker I could balance it out, but I think I would prefer to dump the rag joint and maybe go with a better sprocket setup.

So I am looking for someone making/selling a sprocket that I can use on my hub. The bike is a 1990 Specialized Rockhopper Comp Mountain Bike, wheel has a Shimano Deore LX FH-M550 7 speed hub, I assume sprocket adapter guys should recognize that and know if their kit will fit...

Budget is kindof an issue, so I would like to get something that will get my 32 spoke wheel rolling smoother as cheap as possible.

Thanks in advance for any advice....

Yah, $50 bucks at this point seems a little steep, I don't think a new hub with a disc brake mount is gonna be very economical either...

rustycase said:

I've been busy trueing a bunch of wheels, for use on my MAB projects.
...Real junkers I'm re-cycling !
But I'm getting fairly good at straightening wheels and getting them to run true.
...then I can go through the pile and see which ones have the best bearings and such.
Now I need to learn about dishing a wheel...

Next, I must learn about lacing a hub to a rim, from salvaged components.

Point is, it is NOT necessary to use a hired bicycle mechanic at a shop to get this stuff done. It can be done at home, in your own bike forks, with a spoke wrench that costs $5 to $12 and a piece of wire wrapped around the frame as an indicator.

Hope that will help you stay on budget... I don't really have a budget, myself! just kinda work with what I got

Best
rc

Click to expand...

I am kinda with you on this, and not really the patient type....

So when I saw the $50 price tag on a better sprocket adapter I decided to just spend the time last night and rip apart my rag joint and modify it so it fits my bike properly (36 spoke rag joint on 32 spoke wheel). I already drilled two new holes to bring it down to an 8 bolt sprocket (to match my 8 pairs of spokes) and it bolts on without spoke interference, but the rag joint had some balance issues since the holes are not on center for each pair of spokes (the way it would be on a 36 spoke wheel). I don't really have a problem truing rims, been doin' that since I was 12, my rim is good, its just the rag joint and sprocket is not designed for a 32 spoke wheel....

To make life easier I got a drive adaptor for my cordless drill so I could get that rag joint apart fast without too much stress on my hands. Once apart I threw out the sprocket side rag, which was thick and preventing the sprocket from seating all the way down the hub where it centers and balances itself. I made a new thinner sprocket side rag out of some rubber material I scrounged up from the basement. Fitting it all together it looked like it would run smooth, so I bolted her up and sure enough it spins flat and true now. It's nice and solid and balanced, I don't expect that I will have any more problems with it. If I do I will probably go another route like new 36 spoke rim, or swap in a disc brake hub, or maybe a high tech sprocket to hub adaptor. I was thinkin' (or hoping) that a sprocket adaptor would be more in the 20-30 range, for that money I might have avoided the hassle of balancing the rag joint, at half the price of an engine I find it hard to justify. If I am gonna spend $50-$65 I think I would probably invest in a disc brake hub or new wheel rather than the adaptor.