Campag road 6 & 7 speed

Aqua

Dirt Disciple
Hello everyone,could you tell me if I can fit a 7 speed freewheel to a hub that has a 6 speed freewheel now and is the chain width the same for them?
 
Maybe and probably not. The seven speed will almost certainly be slightly wider than your 6 speed, it all depends if you have enough space left to fit the seven speed in. I have some wheels that will take six and seven speed but the chain just fouls the lower part of the seat stay with the seven speed, okay as long as you don't want to use the smallest sprocket. The seven speed will almost certainly use an eight speed chain equivalent which may well work with a six speed too, mine does, but you may have a wider chain on. You might just have to try one and see how you get on - they are cheap enough, I just picked one up on fleabay for £5.50 posted. If you have enough space and an eight speed chain or similar then you should have no problems or further expense!
Dave
 
Adding to what was already mentioned above by dogsnadgers...

The chain width is the same. It's 3/32". These chains were the standard size that all bikes used from 4 speeds through to 8-speeds inclusive. Chains got narrower when 9-speed was introduced.

In terms of fitting a 7-speed freewheel, you need to ensure that the thread is the same on the hub as the freewheel. There is English, Italian and French threading. Most hubs and freewheels are English threaded, but I have a set of late C-Record hubs from 1990 which have French thread, so it's worth checking just to be safe.

If the threads are the same, then the only issue is chain clearance as already stated. Put it on, and have a go. If the chain rubs against the stays, you can put some spacers behind the axle's locknuts to widen the clearance to stop the chain from fouling the stays. You may need to pull the dropouts apart to get the wheel in, but it's not really an inconvenience. The only other issue you might face is whether the axle is long enough to sit in the frame once the spacers are on. It's worth checking that enough axle is sitting in the dropouts to hold the wheel in place when riding.

Anyway, give it a go, and see.

Last thing. Put lots of grease (or better yet, anti-seize), on the hub threads before you put the freewheel on. Without grease, the freewheel will be a right bugger to get off after a few years of riding.
 
I've done this successfully - depends on the frame and the shapes of the rear drop out and the angle of the seatstays e.g. a frame with shot-in rear stays might be tighter. I'm afraid it's just a case of trying it.
 
Yes it works. 7 speed Regina block,NOS,plus NOS Campag hubs from someone on here,via E-bay,plus VO polished 700c rims and 700x28 Schwalbe delta cruiser gumwalls fitted to 1983 Raleigh record ace. Chain rubbed slightly at first on end of mech mounting bolt,but slight adjust of stop screw and it just clears,and works a treat. Thank you folks.
 

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