How to determine if wheel is 5 or 7 speed freewheel?

[retrobiker273891]

The bike, which is a mountain bike if it is pertinent, is 3x5 however I recall I bought a new wheel from the bikeshop at some point which would have been about 2003-5 or so.

The frame is 135mm dropouts and I notice on the back wheel there is large space between the end of the freewheel cogs and the dropout. There is a nut on each side to fill the space.

Does this indicate that they could have given me a 7 speed wheel and just filled the spacing to put the 5 speed freewheel back on?

Any measurement or such to determine one way or the other?

I read that 5 to 7 speed freewheels is not simple and would require redishing but if the wheel was already 7 and was just using the stock 5 speed that would be handy.

 

[bikeworkshop]

If its a 135 axle it will take 5,6 or 7, and even an 8 speed freewheel.
The choice is yours - but needs to match the shifter.
And if course the derailleur stops will need different adjustments.

Some 8 speed dérailleurs will struggle to stop across a 5 speed, and sometimes even a 6 speed freewheel.

As a rule, 7s fws are the best quality, and a 5 will show a little too much axle.

 

[retrobiker273891]

If its a 135 axle it will take 5,6 or 7, and even an 8 speed freewheel.
The choice is yours - but needs to match the shifter.
And if course the derailleur stops will need different adjustments.

Some 8 speed dérailleurs will struggle to stop across a 5 speed, and sometimes even a 6 speed freewheel.

As a rule, 7s fws are the best quality, and a 5 will show a little too much axle.

Thanks, so for the axle measurement from where to where should I measure? The frame is 135, I don't know what the axle is. The axle is the 'pole' that goes through the wheel right? Sorry not up on all the lingo, I know the words but not what they indicate exactly, just generally.

Is the thread the freewheel screws on to different in size for 5 speed and 7/8 speed freewheels?

The shifter is non-indexed so that shouldn't pose an issue.

 

[retrobiker273891]

If its a 135 axle it will take 5,6 or 7, and even an 8 speed freewheel.
The choice is yours - but needs to match the shifter.
And if course the derailleur stops will need different adjustments.

Some 8 speed dérailleurs will struggle to stop across a 5 speed, and sometimes even a 6 speed freewheel.

As a rule, 7s fws are the best quality, and a 5 will show a little too much axle.

I also seen on sjscycles that freewheels even go up to 11! Is that really right? https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/freewheels/

The cost of those though make it defeat the purpose in this case, but interesting to know for future projects. I thought that they only went up to 8 speed and then were scrapped in favour of freehubs. Would even the 11 speed have 7 speed spacing? I am guessing that is an error on the site when they really mean cassettes because I am unable to find 9+ freewheels on other sites?

However in the description it definitely states

- Screw-on freewheel compatible with rotary hub

Also in the description further down provisos about how it may require coldsetting/redishing to work! So looks like freewheel alright!

NOTE: To fit this freewheel to an existing hub you may require a longer axle, more spacers, the frame to be made wider (ie bent out) and the wheel to be re-dished. With a screw on freewheel there is always the chance of a broken rear wheel axle, this chance increases as the length of spacers increases to accommodate more cogs on the freewheel.

7 speed at 34t seems a good balance between price and low gear ratio. Though this 10 speed, with gradual spacing of cogs, for just another £10 to the 7 speed, does sound tempting, if it would fit: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/freewheels/vg-sports-10-speed-freewheel-1136t/.

Oh and here are some pictures of the rear hub:

 

[bikeworkshop]

I'd suggest you find a bike shop (where they know what they are talking about and have good low-end stock) and discuss with them what you want to do, and let them sell you the right parts and the tools to fit them.
They should advise you on your options.

A lot of people who are unsure of fittings and compatibility waste a lot of money on buying the wrong parts online and/or end up with things not working or breaking.

Chain twisted and stuck behind the chainset, and derailleur in the wheel are popular results.

 

[retrobiker273891]

I'd suggest you find a bike shop (where they know what they are talking about and have good low-end stock) and discuss with them what you want to do, and let them sell you the right parts and the tools to fit them.
They should advise you on your options.

A lot of people who are unsure of fittings and compatibility waste a lot of money on buying the wrong parts online and/or end up with things not working or breaking.

Chain twisted and stuck behind the chainset, and derailleur in the wheel are popular results.

Huh? That is what this forum is about..tinkering.

I am not taking it to a shop to do all the work!

I just measured the spacing and there is 40mm spacing between the biggest cog and the spacer dropout and a couple of mm left over.

That 10 speeder states 40mm size so it should fit no?

 

[bikeworkshop]

I'm not saying take it to a shop to do the work, but so you buy the right parts (and tools) and then do it yourself.

 

[retrobiker273891]

What does 'rotary hub' mean: https://bikevg.com/en-gb/collection...eel-screw-on-freewheel?variant=43795257983267

It says it is a freewheel then says rotary hub. I don't see the term to be common in search results.

Is it definitely an old style freewheel because I also see it listed on other places as 'cassette flywheel'. Descriptions seem all over the place.

Reading reviews on amazon it apparently is a freewheel as initially expected.

 

[Gtpulse]

Interesting idea!

Didn’t know they did freewheels beyond 8speed. I may be wrong but I think that the industry stopped back in the day at 8 speed as the freehub was developed. The largest freewheel I have of that period is a Sachs 8 speed. I think the ones you’ve found on SJS may be more recent attempts to plug a gap that didn’t really need filling hence them no longer stocking any suitable hubs.

They do look like they would screw on to a freewheel type hub, would need both hub and freewheel in hand to be sure. Best/only place you can do that without parting with the cash is wherever you are going to buy it. I think that’s what @bikeworkshop is eluding to. You’re in to the realms of some tinkering, trial and error. All fine if you’re already sat on said parts at no further cost. From my own experience it’s a costly road to go down. If you know the thread type on your own hub and the seller description specified the thread then maybe you could order with some confidence. I’m sure it can be done, but I suspect you’ll need new shifters, rear mech and chain if you went for 10 or 11 speed.

I converted a 1990s Marin to 1 x 11 for my brother. Even with that solid starting point the parts list kept growing, he wanted all new parts, I made it work but it was very costly (certainly relative to the bikes value and the cost of a new equivalent). From top of my head needed new rear wheel for a compatible hub, chain, mech, shifter, cables, chain wheel, bottom bracket to change the chain line. It did change the bike, in my opinion not enough for the better to have been worth doing. He ended up just buying modern, he only had the Marin as it was one of my surplus not because it was retro.

Your hub width/spacing can be measured by the OLN measurement. It’s not perfect as people can add/remove spacers on the axle. It’s basically the measurement from the outside of the locknuts to each other.

 

[Tootyred]

I think your probably goingbto start wasting money buying expensive freewheel to graft to a very cheap quando hub. I would junk the wheel and buy a cassette hub pair of wheels.

It will save you loads of heartache in the long run. Plus you will have better, lighter wheels if you shop well.

Put up wanted advert on here for some 8+ speed wheels with kinda lx level or better hubs and see what people offer. Or go to your local bike charity/ shop/ tip and see what's second hand there.

Its far more future proof and cheaper. To give you an idea, I got a few 8 speed cassettes hg50 shimano from wiggle for £6.99 each in the sale...With sram chains the same!

Failing that, take it to a shop to get them to take a look and sell you a freewheel. Im pretty savvy, but would be in educated guess territory ordering one of those bigger freewheels for that hub! Im sure it would work, but your into fiddling and dishing territory!

All the best.