Maillard Freewheels

[Jono Bolton]

Im sure you get a fair few newbies like myself coming on here asking about converting their bikes over to single speed/fixed, but I seem to be a bit stuck, and could do with some help!

A few months ago I picked up a Phillips Phantom, with the intention of converting it to single speed, and I've been doing some investigation and discovered that I have a Maillard screw on freewheel. I was just going to remove the existing geared freewheel and replace it with something like a Shimano MX30, but I've been told that Maillard hubs are only compatible with Maillard freewheels. Does anyone know if that's the case? Will my idea work or will I have to go down the route of buying a new, more suitable wheel?

P.S Sorry if my terminology's a bit off, but I'm pretty new to all this!

 

[hamster]

There are conventional screw-on Maillard hubs, plus a rarer beast called a Helicomatic, which is probably what your pal is talking about. If you have the misfortune to have a Helicomatic then you will need a new hub, therwise a conventional freewheel will fit fine.

You may have to fiddle a fair bit with the chainline or respace the hub and redish the wheel even if it works as a single sprocket will be far to the left of the chainring.

 

[Midlife]

Most common reasonable Maillard freewheel I came across was the 700 which was just a screw on. As hamster says it's a bit of a pain to use a single speed on a 5 speed wheel as the chainline is completely wrong. If it's just for knocking about see which sprocket of the block lines up with the chainring and try that

Shaun

 

[Jono Bolton]

Thanks very much! I'd seen the Helicomatic on the Sheldon Brown site but having looked at it, it's not what I've got thankfully! It was the shop I was going to buy the Shimano freewheel from that said that Maillard freewheels only work on Maillard hubs, but I thought that might not be right. I know the the chainline would be off if I just screw the Shimano straight on, so I was looking at this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150878174773? ... 1957wt_922

With that I should be able to screw it straight on and then screw the freewheel onto the adapter to straighten out the chain, has anyone else tried one?

 

[Midlife]

Never seen one of those but no reason why it shouldn't work....wouldn't like to use it for a fixed though, even with the adhesive supplied LOL

Might be able to source a wheel for that price though

Shaun

 

[Old Ned]

I would question your LBS's competance with that sort of advice. Refer them to Sheldon Brown next time you're in there. They might pick up something worthwhile.

 

[biggs682]

as long as std Maillard hub ask your lbs to re dish the wheel to suit single freewheel use , my lbs have done this loads of times for my without any issues at all .

 

[bm0p700f]

Does your shop have the tool to remove mailard freewheels. Var make one, supplied by JD Whiskers if they don't.