SURLY® SINGLEATORTM

Thanks for buying our Singleator single-speed chain tensioner. You’ve made a wise choice, Grasshopper.

Installing horizontal dropouts on your frame can be difficult and/or expensive, particularly if your steed is of the aluminum variety. The Singleator
mounts to your derailleur hanger and provides a simple, effective, and adjustable means of tensioning the excess chain slack found in vertical
dropout single-speed drivetrains.

We've made some improvements over the last version. The main body is now forged versus CNC-machined. And, we've replaced the chain guide
loop with circular chain guide plates, so the new Singleator is compatible with 3/32" and 1/8" chains.

READ ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLATION!

WARNINGS:

1. This product was not designed for any purpose other than for use on a bicycle with one chainring, one freewheeling rear cog, one chain, and
one rear derailleur hanger. This product is not for use with a coaster brake or fixed gear. Don’t do it. You could die.
2. Don’t attempt to install this product unless you completely understand the instructions, have the proper tools, and possess the skills required.
This installation is best left to an experienced, professional bicycle mechanic.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Remove all the gear-shifting-related crap: shifters, derailleurs, multiple chainrings, cogs.
2. Choose the desired front chainring and rear cog combination, and install these parts. Cogs larger than 24t could pose a problem, so keep ‘em
smaller than that.
3. Size the chain, and install it. The chain should be as short as possible without binding.
4. Reposition the chainring and cog, as necessary, to ensure a nice, straight chainline. A good chainline is the key to an efficient, quiet, and long-
lasting drivetrain.
5. Are you using a 3/32" chain? If so, proceed to the next step. If you are using a 1/8" chain, you must turn both chain guide plates 180
degrees, so the beveled edges are facing the pulley. See the diagrams on the back of this page.
6. Thread the Singleator assembly onto your derailleur hanger, but don’t cinch the pivot bolt down yet.
7. Align the Singleator pulley under the chain and tighten the pulley shaft bolt. Perfect alignment will be important later, but for now, just get it
close.
8. Now, it gets tough. You have the choice of having the Singleator run under the chain and PUSH UP on the chain, or having the Singleator run
on top of the chain and PUSH DOWN. Depending on the configuration of your frame, what gear you are running, and how much chain slack
there is, you may be forced into one position or the other. The Singleator is shipped with the PUSH DOWN spring installed, because this configu-
ration accommodates most drivetrains. If you have a choice, PUSHING UP will give you more chain wrap, and PUSHING UP will lessen the
chances of your chain skipping over the teeth of your cog. However, if you want to PUSH UP, you must change the spring.
9. Changing the spring. See the diagram for the assembly sequence. Pull the Singleator off the bike. Use a small, flat-bladed screwdriver to pry off
the C-clip. Removal of the pivot bushing and plastic seal will give you access to the spring. Swap springs, and reassemble your Singleator. Make
sure the spring tabs are fully seated in their anchoring holes, and that everything is well greased.
10. Thread the Singleator back onto the bike, but don’t cinch the pivot bolt tight yet. Position the pulley under or over the chain, per your spring
decision. Perfectly align the pulley under/over the chain.
11. Tension the Singleator spring by slipping an 18mm cone wrench onto the wrench flats of the pivot bushing and tension as follows: PUSHING
DOWN spring, turn CLOCKWISE. PUSHING UP spring, turn COUNTERCLOCKWISE. If you do it wrong, you’re going to ruin the spring. Once you
have adequate tension, fully tighten the pivot bolt.
12. Spin the drivetrain, and make sure everything is properly aligned. Your drivetrain should be straight, quiet, lubricated, and not rubbing. Bounce
the bike around, and make sure you have enough tension on the Singleator. Increase/decrease tension and align as necessary.
13. Quit whining about having to buy an 18mm cone wrench or Surly Singleator wrench. Form follows function, and these tools are inexpensive.
14. Go ride. Always check your Singleator for damage, problems, and proper adjustment before each ride.
Pivot Bolt

Rubber O-Ring

Main Body

Push Up Spring-Left
Hand
Pulley Shaft Bolt
Spring M5x12 SHCS

Plastic Seal Pulley Extension Arm

Pivot Bushing/
Chain Guide Plate
Spring Tensioner

C-Clip Pulley Side Plate

Pulley
1/8"
configuration
Pulley Side Plate

Chain Guide Plate

M5x30 SHCS

3/32"
configuration

WARRANTY
Stuff eventually breaks or wears out if you use it enough. That’s beyond our control. We guarantee this product to be free from defects in manufac-
turing and design for one year from date of purchase. It’s guaranteed not to fail under normal riding conditions. Surly is not responsible for the
actions you take on your bicycle, however, and cannot be responsible for products that break when not installed correctly or used inconsistently with
the product’s design. If you’re not sure if something will work the way you want, contact us. If you do destroy your Surly product, fess up and
maybe we can get you some replacement parts to keep you riding. Sorry, the finish isn’t covered, nor is any damage that happens to you or your
other components as a result of any failure of one of our products. Lastly, if you modify or neglect our products we can’t be responsible for them or
what might happen to you while you’re using them.

All potential warranty items should be returned to the original place of purchase, accompanied by a sales receipt. In the unlikely event that this is
not possible, call or email us and we’ll do our best to get you riding again.

SURLY®
6400 W. 105TH ST.
BLOOMINGTON, MN 55438

Phone: 877.743.3191
Email: derby@surlybikes.com
Web Address: www.surlybikes.com