[RAYD8R]

Hey all, I’ve been in here before but I can’t find a conversation I participated in for this subject and instead of starting a new topic for it, I’ll try this.

It’s confusing to me because some sites prefer starting a new thread over commenting on an old one and some the other way around and I’m trying to get my bike back on the road now so I don’t have time to read the rules so I apologize either way.

I have been having all sorts of issues with this old Irom Horse FS 3×9. I know, it’s an old piece of junk but it’s what I have and I can’t afford a new bike that is decent. The cheapest I can find for what I want is at least $2400 and I just don’t have anywhere near that kind of money to drop on a pedal bike at this time but I need the one I have working, like now!

So originally my big issue was finding an FD that would even fit this frame set because the available space for one is highly limited due to how they have the pivot for the rear triangle welded to the seat post tube. I finally found one that fits without any clearance or chain line issues but it’s a Shimano Tourney series. I have tried several different ones from the guys I have been talking to at 3 different local shops and a co-op. The only other one that was close was also a bottom line micro shift and in order to get it to work, I had to grind some material from the rear triangle pivot mount and I didn’t like the idea but it got the bike running. The original FD was a Shimano but it didn’t have a model number, only a single 3 digit code on it which referred me to a site for cross reference and indicated that it wasn’t a part from any of their normal series but parts they make for specific manufacturers on their lower end bikes to keep costs low and I was only able to find a couple of used ones on eBay that were basically in the same condition as mine, JUNK. This is when I appealed to the local shops who also directed me to the co-op but still no go besides the Micro Shift and my now customized rear triangle mount.

So the next big issue was when it came time to adjust the FD I wasn’t able to get a screw driver onto the low stop adjustment screw. I used needle nosed pliers to get about a 32nd of a turn on it all the while scraping the heck out of the paint and aluminum on the bike and messing up both high and low stop screws but I got it to where it needed to be to ride it and have it shift ok.

A few days ago I spit my chain on the way to work. I have chain tools and spare parts in my tool kit that I keep in my backpack so I repaired it and was back on the road albeit late to work. The chain wasnt that old but I figured with the 3×9, although I do my best to not cross chain, I know they still take a lot of abuse back and forth through the gears as I am at the base of the foothills on the eastern slope of the Rockies a bit west of Denver proper so I do a lot of hilly riding. So i went to the bike shop and got a new Shimano HG93 9 speed chain.

Yesterday, I spit a 3 day old chain that I know I installed right. The incident landed me in the stream on my way home from work with my work clothes, boots, and gear as well as my 9mm and my phone. Not to mention being pissed off, even hough I did a good job of hiding that from a couple of onlookers, I have had it with this 3×9. I want a 1x drivetrain to eliminate the FD issues altogether and for the simplicity of it. At first I wasn’t on the 1x train but now that I have had so many issues with this 3x and after yesterday’s fiasco, I’m on board 100 %.

I was looking at options and I have a few in mind but I am having other struggles at the moment so I can’t afford any of the upper end options that I’d like not to mention this old beast isn’t really worth sinking $400 to $500 into one for it. My cassette is an 11 to 36 Hyperdrive and my crank set is also Hyperdrive, 22,32,42. I’m usually in the middle range on the front but I do use the lowest and highest combos a lot for climbing and speed on the few long downgrades I like to ride a lot. I think the 32 front is OK but it looks like I’ll need more range in the rear. However with my financial struggles of late, I was hoping to be able to get by with the 9 speed for a while.

From reading through this it looks like that if I try to go the cheapest route and just remove the FD and the lowest and highest chain ring, which I can do because they are removable and it’s not a riveted set, that I’ll need a device to keep the chain from coming off?

Or a different type of chain ring such as a narrow wide? I’m not clear on what I need to do to the front as I don’t want to struggle with a chain that’s going to be coming off. If I do need a narrow wide, do I also need a new crank set and or BB?

The current front is a Shimano M-361 set that came with everything, BB UN300 73×113, 175mm arms, and the 3 rings. the rear is CS-HG201 9 11-36t cassette, Acera RD-T3000 9. Any advice and or recommendations for a broke a$$ mofo are greatly appreciated!

[RAYD8R]

Sorry, I guess I’m not in the “correct” forum for tech questions. Although I’m sure there are plenty of capable mechanics frequently here, I am just now figuring out that this site is geared towards riding and trails and gear for riding more than parts and mechanical stuff.
So with that said I’m sure many here are familiar with Colorado, but if not, you should be. There’s lots of great riding here. I don’t do extreme technical or any kind of competitive riding, I’m too old for all that now but there is plenty of any type of riding you may be into from paved flat trails to pretty tight switchbacks and lots of rocks… Oh and do I even need to say HILLS! Mountains… Lots and lots of mountains with hills on them… How’s that sound?
Anyway I took some pics of my brakes but this site don’t seem to like direct uploads from my devices and I don’t feel like all the hosting bs so I will go to another forum I belong to which is more tech geared and allows photo uploads. Thanks and happy trails…

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