Bicycle Mechanics - Are all 6 speed freewheels created equal?

One of my regular riding buddies has an older road bike with very tall gearing (originally was set up for triathlon). It has a 53-42 front with a 13-14-15-17-19-21 freewheel. He's reasonably fit and weighs about 160lbs, but suffice to say he often struggles when we come across some hilly terrain.

I know you can get 6 speed freewheels for both 120 and 126mm frame spacing.

If the frame has 126mm spacing (which I think it does), I was looking at getting him a new freewheel from Harris cyclery (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#6), probably a 14-28. Any reason why this wouldn't work?

If it's 120mm spacing, what are the options to get lower gearing on the bike?

If the spacing is 120 look for a Suntour Ultra 6 freewheel they were narrow spaced
but you needed Ultra 6 chain. Not sure if the newer 7/8/9 speed chains will work
on this.

Marty

If it's 120mm spacing, what are the options to get lower gearing on the bike?

If the bike is 120mm OLD, it's probably steel. If so, you can get it spread to 126mm.

120mm with Ultra-6 freewheel is probably Suntour. You might be able to take cogs from another Suntour freewheel and rebuild it with a larger range but keep it as Ultra-6 spacing.

Another possible option is to get a smaller inner chainring. If the crankset is Shimano (130mm BCD) you can go as small as 38T for the inner ring giving a low gear that's 10% lower. However, if it is an old Sugino with 144mm BCD, 42T is the smallest you can go.

Another option is to get a new crankset with 110mm BCD which can take an inner ring as small as 34T. 34x50 is a good combo for a 13-21 freewheel. Drops the low gear by 19%.

You could also get a triple crankset.

The frame is steel, and very pretty. Not sure on the brand - it has no decals, and I haven't spent enough time looking at it in detail to figure out what it is. If it were a slightly larger frame, I'd be doing my best to convince him to buy a new bike so I could use it as a fixed gear project bike!

I'll have to check out the spacing tonight, but I am pretty darn sure it's 126mm. The chainring replacement is a good option too.

I have an old style bike with 126 OLD. I switched from 5 to 6 to 7 speed freewheels with no problems. The 8 speed chains work, you dont need the thin 9 speed ones.

I have an old style bike with 126 OLD. I switched from 5 to 6 to 7 speed freewheels with no problems. The 8 speed chains work, you dont need the thin 9 speed ones.

I did something similar. I had an older steel frame from the 80's. It was 126mm spacing with a 6 gear rear cassette. It was spread a little to accept a 9 gear DuraAce cassette. Combined with a DuraAce DT shifter it has become my favorite ride.

I have an old style bike with 126 OLD. I switched from 5 to 6 to 7 speed freewheels with no problems. The 8 speed chains work, you dont need the thin 9 speed ones.
7 speed is an interesting option, with a nicer spread of ratios... might look into that! I assume you could still shift with the 6 speed derailleur and shifter in friction mode?

Go on E-Bay and find a 6 speed Suntour, but the Winner freewheel was a better freewheel then the Ultra 6, so try to get that. Otherwise do like I did when my Winner freewheel failed after 130,000 miles-I went with a 7 speed Shimano freewheel (which are still manufactured) to gain 2 more speeds. With a 7 speed you do not need to spread the rear stays, the LBS had to redish the wheel slightly. And the friction system has no problem handling the extra gear. Also by maintaining a 6 or 7 speed cluster you can still use a thicker chain WHICH LAST LONGER THEN THE THINNER ONES USE WITH CASSETTES! About 12,000 miles average according to my LBS (mine was 15,000 average), while the thinner chains last from 3,000 to 5,000 miles and cost more.

Go on E-Bay and find a 6 speed Suntour, but the Winner freewheel was a better freewheel then the Ultra 6, so try to get that. Otherwise do like I did when my Winner freewheel failed after 130,000 miles-I went with a 7 speed Shimano freewheel (which are still manufactured) to gain 2 more speeds. With a 7 speed you do not need to spread the rear stays, the LBS had to redish the wheel slightly. And the friction system has no problem handling the extra gear. Also by maintaining a 6 or 7 speed cluster you can still use a thicker chain WHICH LAST LONGER THEN THE THINNER ONES USE WITH CASSETTES! About 12,000 miles average according to my LBS (mine was 15,000 average), while the thinner chains last from 3,000 to 5,000 miles and cost more.
Like this? eBay linky... (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42332&item=3674316987&rd=1). How does that rank in the suntour lineup? Would it be a better freewheel than the $20 Shimano one I linked at Harris Cyclery in my first post? The bike has 105 shifters/derailleurs.

I checked last night, and it does have 126mm dropouts. He's not too bothered about moving to 7 speed, as I think he'd like to keep the cost and simplicity of the change down.

A Shimano 7 speed is probably the cheapest and simplest option. They are still made, they work well and you dont need any modifications esp with friction shifters, just adjust the end stops of the rear mech. I didnt even have to redish my wheel.

I did something similar. I had an older steel frame from the 80's. It was 126mm spacing with a 6 gear rear cassette. It was spread a little to accept a 9 gear DuraAce cassette. Combined with a DuraAce DT shifter it has become my favorite ride.

Same here... 9spd breathed new life into my 7spd Paramount!

Like this? eBay linky... (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42332&item=3674316987&rd=1). How does that rank in the suntour lineup? Would it be a better freewheel than the $20 Shimano one I linked at Harris Cyclery in my first post? The bike has 105 shifters/derailleurs..

That Suntour Perfect freewheel was one of their lower quality freewheels and the going price is WAY to much. Go with the Shimano 7 speed freewheel, if my memory serves me correctly it cost $18-but that was about 3 years ago.

That Suntour Perfect freewheel was one of their lower quality freewheels and the going price is WAY to much. Go with the Shimano 7 speed freewheel, if my memory serves me correctly it cost $18-but that was about 3 years ago.
Thanks. When I first linked it, I think it was at about $5. I'll go with a Shimano... :)

Thanks. When I first linked it, I think it was at about $5. I'll go with a Shimano... :)

A Shimano 6 speed freewheel will work just fine, just make sure of the following:
1. Thread is adequate.
2. Get a new chain, inexpensive @ ~ $8-9 SRAM or Z, an old chain on a new freewheel may be a nightmare.