Identify this freehub
05-30-17, 11:37 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Identify this freehub
My reading about Shimano freehubs suggests there have been principally two: Uniglide and Hyperglide. Examining the spline pattern of mine as compared to pictures of Uni and Hyper, it would seem to be neither, and yet I find no mention of this mysterious freehub body. What is it?
More info:
The wheel is from a circa 1985 Schwinn Super Le Tour (though likely irrelevant, as I don't think it is original to the bike). 6 speeds - 3 cog cassette followed by spacers and 2 more cogs that drop in place, and the smallest that threads on with integrated spacer. The cogs that drop on only do so in 1 orientation (Hyperglide-like?). The splines follow a wide-narrow-narrow pattern, and the narrow ones are rounded, except for one. They seem to protrude less than pictures of other freehub bodies I've seen. The outer ring (which I've not removed) reads "HC Shimano China." I see no markings on the hub itself. I think the OLD of this hub is about 124mm (that is the spacing of the dropouts anyways).
What am I trying to do anyways?
I'd like to turn the Super Le Tour into a 1 speed bike. I actually have a Surly cog on order which, despite being "designed to fit on standard Shimano compatible freehub bodies," I fear is not going to fit on this one. I've seen videos, articles on swapping a Hyperglide body onto a Uniglide freehub ... not sure if that could be done in this case as I think the body is quite short (haven't measured it).
I would consider a new wheel, though I'd rather not "cold set" frame to increase the dropout spacing. I've wondered if I could pull them apart enough for a 130mm OLD hubbed wheel (haven't tried), though even if I could, I'm not sure I'd know what to look for ... maybe a wheel that just takes a BMX freewheel, or a wheel with the shortest Hyperglide cassette you can get?
More info:
The wheel is from a circa 1985 Schwinn Super Le Tour (though likely irrelevant, as I don't think it is original to the bike). 6 speeds - 3 cog cassette followed by spacers and 2 more cogs that drop in place, and the smallest that threads on with integrated spacer. The cogs that drop on only do so in 1 orientation (Hyperglide-like?). The splines follow a wide-narrow-narrow pattern, and the narrow ones are rounded, except for one. They seem to protrude less than pictures of other freehub bodies I've seen. The outer ring (which I've not removed) reads "HC Shimano China." I see no markings on the hub itself. I think the OLD of this hub is about 124mm (that is the spacing of the dropouts anyways).
What am I trying to do anyways?
I'd like to turn the Super Le Tour into a 1 speed bike. I actually have a Surly cog on order which, despite being "designed to fit on standard Shimano compatible freehub bodies," I fear is not going to fit on this one. I've seen videos, articles on swapping a Hyperglide body onto a Uniglide freehub ... not sure if that could be done in this case as I think the body is quite short (haven't measured it).
I would consider a new wheel, though I'd rather not "cold set" frame to increase the dropout spacing. I've wondered if I could pull them apart enough for a 130mm OLD hubbed wheel (haven't tried), though even if I could, I'm not sure I'd know what to look for ... maybe a wheel that just takes a BMX freewheel, or a wheel with the shortest Hyperglide cassette you can get?
05-30-17, 10:32 PM
#3
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
My fixed-gear is an old 126mm-spaced bike. Just use about 3mm of spacer on each side of a (common) 120mm-spaced single-speed wheel and you're done. 
05-30-17, 11:11 PM
#4
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,446
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,105 Times
in
1,369 Posts
*sigh* if only it were chrome and not brown
__________________
Genesis 49:16-17
Genesis 49:16-17
05-31-17, 04:14 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
+1
Pull it off - you need a splined puller for that - install BMX-type f/w with an appropriate tooth count - and ride happily ever after.
For extra merits, move some spacers around to correct chain line, redish wheel, and ride happily ever after.
You'll need cone wrenches and a nipple wrench for that.
If you have access to a little more stuff, maybe scrounge some discarded freewheels of a shop, take these apart and use their spacers together with the existing sprocket of your choice to make a SS f/w of it.
06-01-17, 01:47 PM
#7
Really Old Senior Member
If you'd just Googled-
Shimano MF TZ20
Shimano MF TZ20
06-02-17, 09:59 PM
#8
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,838
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 805 Post(s)
Liked 706 Times
in
377 Posts
Incorrect. "Freewheel" and "freehub" are two somewhat different styles of mechanism. They have the function but the construction is different.
Good info: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html
__________________
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Last ride 76
Classic & Vintage
3
08-25-18 01:46 PM
LlamaBikes
Bicycle Mechanics
8
02-25-16 08:43 PM
