Why Skiptooth?

[8ball]

I was standing around my bikes with a couple of guys. We got to talking about the chains when one of them asked... "Why did the older bikes have the wide gear tooth spacing". I couldn't answer why, just that the old bikes had "skiptooths".

Why were there 1" pitch chains/sprockets? After WW2 they went to 1/8" then finally to 3/32" for modern multi-gears. I understand the latter was to accommodate the many sprockets... making the chain narrower.

Was the skiptooth as we know it just the way things were, then someone designed the next version of chains, and why, or was the "original" design for a reason? More torque, less friction, more reliable?

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Originally they didn't know how to make a hollow inner link so it was solid hence the reason for the skipped tooth. Later as dies became available they started to produce the more modern chains in the same spacing so they would match up and eventually changed to what we see today.

 

[udallcustombikes]

Here are some previous threads covering the topic.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23905&p=238811&hilit=block+chain#p238811
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30777&p=301220&hilit=skip#p301220

 

[8ball]

Perfect answers. THANKS!

 

[karfer67]

is it better no probably not it is just how it was i guess. however in the modern age i like it for the same reason car guys like flat head ford v8 engines. they have a look and sound all their own

 

[KJV]

i like the pedaling feel better on a skiptooth.
it doesn't tear up bell bottoms like the 1/2'' :lol:
they did also use 1/2 pitch in the 1930's.

 

[deorman]

Because it's old and looks cool, and it takes a days pay to gas up a '60 Caddy. :wink: