Customer Reviews

Shimano CT-S500L Alfine Vertical Chain Tensioner (Black)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This chain tensioner has limited application, but is just the right thing when you need it. Application to multi-speed hubs with single or multiple front rings is good. It can also be used in recumbent drivelines to take up extra chain and as an idler. Spring is really stiff compared to derailleurs. Attachment may need to be modified. Tap M10X1.0 to mount if not using stock hanger.

This tensioner works very well, the only kind that allows retention of the front (crank) derailleur together with a single speed or multispeed hub. And at a great price.

WARNING - This tensioner is for use ONLY with Shimano Alfine hubs ONLY running narrow chainline

First of all, this is a very fine product. But the sales literature is non-existent. Do NOT buy this for your Alfine hub if you have flipped your cog to get a 47~ mm chainline. It will not work no matter how many spacers you put in. The 47~ mm chainline is the "normal" chainline for MTB (68/73 mm BB).

Like I said, its a fine product and if you have not flipped the cog then it will work nicely for you. But if you have a MTB with the standard 50 mm chainline, do NOT buy this tensioner.

Have a bike with vertical dropouts and you want to use an internal gear rear hub? This is just the part you need to control the chain tension. I have used these on two bikes now and I certainly will use it again. I installed both an Alfine 11 speed and an Alfine 8 speed hub with this product on bikes that originally used derailers. Works great. Just bolt it onto the frame hanger in place of the original derailer. Only thing you have to adjust is to align it with the hub sprocket gear. There are shim washers included with the tensioner to help with the alignment. It does specify 3/32 chain (narrow or super narrow) which you would be using anyway if replacing a rear derailer. I don't understand why Shimano specifies a max sprocket of 20T. There does not seem to be any reason for this with Shimano internal gear hubs. A 22T sprocket does work fine on my bikes and it looks like the 23T (max size) sprocket would also be good too.

I bought this to tension my singlespeed. Little did I know that it's not compatible with a 1/8" chain. I guess I should have read the description better. It still works with my 1/8" chain, but it makes a bunch of noise, so I had to order another chain tensioner. Very high quality though. My biggest complaint is that it only has 5mm of chainline adjustability. It got 3 stars for lack of adjustability, not for 1/8" incompatibility (although that would be nice).