Confused by freewheel and hub threads
 

On my classic 1970s bike I have a Campagnolo rear hub marked ITALY 35x24F, obviously an Italian thread. When I removed the Atom/Maillard freewheel, I was surprised to read FRENCH M34.7x100 on the back. How did a French thread freewheel fit in the Italian thread hub? This freewheel had been installed on my bike by a reputable dealer and former racer himself. Is it possible that he made such a glaring mistake? I should mention that I was able to remove the freewheel effortlessly.

Later, out of sheer ignorance, I mounted a Regina Oro freewheel marked F.I, so obviously an English thread. That freewheel also went on the Italian hub effortlessly. Because English and Italian threads are supposed to be semi-interchangeable, that shouldn't be a huge surprise (I have some trouble removing the freewheel now, because the Regina two-notch system is rotten). I still don't understand how both a French-threaded Atom and an English-threaded Regina fit on my Italian-threaded hub just fine.

Brute force and ignorance conquers all...

In most applications, this is not true. But evidently there is enough thread area on a freewheel to sort of put up with the "thread shaping" that goes on with putting Italian on English or vice versa. Word on the street is that going from one to the other will work, but going back and forth is asking too much.

If it were me, I would be reluctant to do this to a hub I cared about. But, on an exhausted old hub, why not.

jim

This still won't explain how the French threaded freewheel fit in. I doubt that it had to be forced, because it came off easily.

Of course I care about a Campagnolo hub. As long as you replace the stressed components (axle and bearings), shouldn't the shell itself last forever?

I agree. If it is Campy, then it is automatically a worthy hub. As long as it was not overly abused in its past life, it is a good piece of equipment. Maybe the freewheel was not really French, notwithstanding the stamping on it? Do the threads look messed up?

Last forever? Practically, yes. Bearing races can be wrecked through improper adjustment pretty quickly. But usually it is the cones that seem to take the brunt of the wear, which is good since they can be replaced. Some hubs have pressed in races that could be pressed out and replaced. Never done this and do not know how feasible it is though.

jim