Bicycle Mechanics - 6-speed freewheel on 5-speed hub?

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GoJacob
09-06-07, 07:01 AM
well, i have decided to abandon the nishiki that i've been working on... i replaced the stem with a couple of different lengths to no avail... it's just too long of a top tube.

so now, for my fall trip to ann arbor (from toledo oh) i need a dependable bike. my miyata's rear rim is starting to crack (works fine for now unloaded)... so can i take the freewheel (6 speed) off the miyata and put it on the the nishiki wheel (5 speed freewheel currently on hub).

or should i just have the miyata's rear hub rebuilt with a new rim?

thanks

tellyho
09-06-07, 08:12 AM
I'm sure you'll be able to make it work. You could even get 7 on there if you wanted to.
HillRider
09-06-07, 09:05 AM
The 5-speed bike is probably spaced 120 mm and the 6-speed is 126 mm so the 6-speed freewheel is too wide to work on the 5-speed hub. As vpiuva noted, the 6-speed freewheel will stick out beyond the locknut on the 5-speed wheel. Also swaping freewheels is likely to cause skipping as they will no longer match the chan unless both chains and both freewheels are nearly new.

Recommendation: have the 6-speed wheel relaced with a new rim.

GoJacob
09-06-07, 01:48 PM
Recommendation: have the 6-speed wheel relaced with a new rim.

I think that's what I'm going to have to have done. and I'm sure it will be cheaper to have my hub relaced with a new rim than buying a whole new wheel. I'm assuming they don't reuse spokes, so i'm looking at the cost of 36 spokes, a new rim, and labor.....

it will also allow me to sell the nishiki with 2 wheels...

thanks everyone.