took my newly built ss bike out at the weekend.
it's running a new fsa 34t single ring, new surly singlespeed sprocket and da-bomb twin jockeywheel tensioner. the chain is a new KMC Z510
everything ran fine until i went through some mud and then the chain began to slip under load until i got away from the mud into drier terrain.
i'm thinking that it is because the chain is too wide for the sprocket and chainring and that perhaps i should be running a 8-speed chain instead?
am i on the right lines, or should i be looking at chainline issues instead?
there is a decent amount of chain tension with no visible drooping of the chain line between chainring and sprocket
cheers
I've run SS chains on 9speed cogs/rings before no probs. Look at chainline, don't forget the tensioner alignment.
pic of the setup would help but I'd look at chainline or insufficient chain wrap on the rear sprocket.
Fat chains on thing rings here with no problems too. Check you've set the tensioner up to give enough chain wrap around the sprocket, and that it really is giving you enough tension. And what DONK said re the tensioner alignment - if your hanger is out then it looks like that tensioner could casue some issues.
And check the sprocket carefully... last time I had a skipping chain it was because I'd stripped a load of teeth from it!
Mud + tensioner = probable cause.
Everything else sounds like stuff that works .
i have swapped the spacer cups round now so the narrower cup is on the inside of the sprocket (between the spokes and the sprocket)... i did set it up the other way round as i've bolted the single chainring to the outer ring position on the cranks (rather than the inside of the spider).
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Two most likely causes in my experience are lack of chain wrap around the rear sprocket or a knackered free hub slipping.
Is it a push up or down tensioner? I ended up using a halflink and tensioner on mine because I just couldn't get the right tension with a push down tensioner. Shortening the chain increased the chain wrap and the problem was solved.
My chain used to skip no matter what i tried and i could never work out why.
I finally went for a Surly Singleator and used the pushing up spring and it cured the problem immediately. It still slipped in the pushing down mode so i can only put it down to having more chain wrap around the cog. I ran a 1/8th 34t SS ring up front and normal OnOne cog at the rear (with a 1/8th Sram BMX chain). Never slipped once in the pushing up mode.
I've just split the bike so if you want a Singleator i have one for sale for £18 posted? They look much nicer than other tensioners as well.
the interesting thing is that it all works fine in the dry
In my experience a spring loaded tensioner with a long chain is rubbish! I ended up having to use a gussett batchelor because I wanted to run a slightly longer chain so I could vary my sprocket between a 14t and 16t a sprung loaded tensior just couldn't cope under load with a long chain.
right... i've solved the problem... but i'm not sure exactly how.
i shortened the chain, swapped the spacers round on the back wheel and adjusted the angle of the aft-most jockey wheel in relation to the sprocket (to give the chain more wrap round the sprocket)
took it out last night in the mud and water and it didn't slip once.
onwards and upwards