120mm OLN Rear Hub / Wheel Dilema

[starockets]

I am tidying up an old steel road bike and I am running into a few problems sorting out the wheels for it. The rear spacing is 120mm which means finding replacement wheels has been a bit of a nightmare so far.

I have cleaned up the hubs that came with it ready for them to be re-built on new rims but the cost of the re-build looks like it is getting near to £130, which to be honest is more than I really want to pay out. The bike was given to me and I am just using it as a bit of a weekend / evening fun project.

Can anyone please throw some ideas into my head because I am wilting fast with this :cry:

All I can come up with is to buy some new wheels from someone like Graham Weigh (hopefully 126mm OLN) and up the freewheel to a normal 6 speed (currently a funny 6 speed freewheel), I'm not sure if this will cause problems.

Any advise would be most welcome.

 

[monty dog]

Fifty quid should see you sorted with a decent pair of used wheels via the forum. You could get the rear drop outs cold set to 126mm and increase the number of options available.

 

[bikenut2010]

wheels

just wondered why you are rebuilding the wheels? too many broken spokes/ rims stuffed / worn out? You can pick up a good used set 125 spacing probably with tyres and freewheel too for 60-80 unless you need something exotic which doesn't sound like the case.

If you can get the rims true and hubs serviced there are a multitude of 5 / 6 speed freewheels to suit.

 

[starockets]

Re: wheels

just wondered why you are rebuilding the wheels? too many broken spokes/ rims stuffed / worn out? You can pick up a good used set 125 spacing probably with tyres and freewheel too for 60-80 unless you need something exotic which doesn't sound like the case.

The existing rims were mismatched and every part on the bike was either oxidised or rusting so I stripped it all down and have polished everything back to a reasonable state. I never thought at the time that the wheels would be such a pig to sort out.

As you have said I don't need anything exotic, just something that looks right and can be brought up to a nice condition.

 

[bikenut2010]

wheels

this caught my eye for a bike i'm about to work on in similar rusted up state...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/700c-Alloy-Hy ... 277wt_1398

 

[starockets]

Re: wheels

this caught my eye for a bike i'm about to work on in similar rusted up state...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/700c-Alloy-Hy ... 277wt_1398

I've been looking at these ones and similar from Graham Weigh, I think the Quando hub is spaced at 130, my frame is a 120 and unfortunately has been powder coated already so i'm a bit wary of trying to cold set the rear. i'm trying to find out if I can reduce down the spacers on each side as a possible solution.

 

[Ross 1964]

My daily bike runs a 126oln hub and it was only recently I measured the dropout width and it actually springs back to 122mm when the wheel is removed. It's been like that since I got it new in 1985, without me ever noticing (I'd never heard of OLN until I got to this website). No cold setting required or planned, it's just fine the way it is, springing out 2mm each side very easily.

The choice of used 126 stuff is extensive and good value. It also means you can screw on a 7 speed which is what I did. Not OEM but easier gaps for daily use.

 

[bikenut2010]

Re: wheels

this caught my eye for a bike i'm about to work on in similar rusted up state...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/700c-Alloy-Hy ... 277wt_1398

I've been looking at these ones and similar from Graham Weigh, I think the Quando hub is spaced at 130, my frame is a 120 and unfortunately has been powder coated already so i'm a bit wary of trying to cold set the rear. i'm trying to find out if I can reduce down the spacers on each side as a possible solution.

Think the axle width , dishing and chainline goes against that approach... the world is awash with good used 125 wheel sets...

 

[bm0p700f]

I had to do this with a old bike recently. Spreading the rear triangle was the only way and then fitting a 126 rear wheel - I get these new, they are not high spec wheels but neither was the bike. Cold setting is not that hard -sorting out the alignment after wards can be but in this case it was not.

If you reduce the spacers down on both sides by equal amounts then the wheel dish should be uneffected. Reduce them on one side only and you should re dish the wheel but this will affect the strength of the wheel and significant dish changes may require different spoke lengths. I cannot comment if this will be the case for you as I do not have enough information but probably not. As for chain line changes - since you will have a 6 or 7 speed freewheel, I don't think this will cause you an issue.