Quick chain question

[ARThriller]

I'm planning on making a century ride tomorrow on my converted SS and since the shop here doesn't have any 130mm single chainrings I decided to throw my old stock triple chainring back on my bike to give me a few more options if my legs get cranky. So I throw on the old chainring, put the chain on the middle ring, and throw it up on the trainer. It works fine. I take it off and head outside for a test and as soon as I start the chain starts making a popping sound and eventually pops the master link out and breaks the chain. Could it be that my single speed chain doesn't work with my triple chainring and just getting the other chain size will make it work or could something else be the culprit here?

[DaveM]

Was the chain the wider 1/8" size? Technically these can be used on 3/32" chainrings (which your triple is) but it does put a bit more stress on them. Note that you can't use a 3/32 chain on an 1/8 inch cog. So if your rear cog is 1/8, you have to use the wider chain.

How is the chain line with the triple crank? If it's badly off, that would also stress the chain.

Finally, may have just been coincidence or that you didn't get the chain rejoined properly when you adjusted it for the triple crank. Even with a master link, every time you "break" the chain it weakens it a bit making it more likely to actually break.

[ARThriller]

Yeah the bike started out as 21spd road bike and I converted it to singlespeed and added singlespeed chainring,cog, and tensioner and went with the singlespeed chain. No matter if it is on the middle or largest chainring with the triple it makes a horribly bad popping sound back around the tensioner area and such every time I turn the cranks. It works smooth as butter with the singlespeed chainring I bought for the conversion but It is a 48t and I was going to go a little lighter since it will be my first century and supposed to be windy tomorrow.

[DaveM]

Hmmm, not sure what's up but "horribly bad popping sound" certainly isn't a good sign.
Note that single speed stuff can either be 1/8" or 3/32". Multi-speed is always 3/32.
The triple crank doesn't have biopace (oval) chainrings does it?

If you can't get a chainring, you could change the cog in back instead. Going one tooth less in the back will have a much bigger impact than one less in the front of course.

[ARThriller]

dUH! Can't believe I didnt think of that. I have a 16t right now, is there a common setup that works with the 48t up front.

[DaveM]

You can use any common size cog in back, it just depends what gear ratio you want. Going to a 17 would give you a roughly 6% lower gear (1/16). Not huge, but noticeable. Roughly the same affect that switching to a 45 up front would achieve.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/