gnrboyd

Bike: Early 80s Raleigh Rapide 10-speed road bike. (currently in full overhaul mode)

Does anyone know if you can still buy an economical Shimano 6 speed 14-30 freewheel? (Similar to the Shimano HG22 at 14.00) I've looked around and found many 14-28 which seems to be a popular size but can't find one of the more economical ones in a 14-30. I found a few on eBay but they are either NOS and cost more than new ones or they appear to be junk. I have a 14-28 5 speed that developed a noise issue after cleaning it with brake cleaner. I may still try and open it up and lube it but I really would like to go to a 6 speed with a 30 gear anyway. (For a couple of killer hills in my neighborhood.)

The first question.... is that an oddball size which is why I can't seem to find one? (At least an inexpensive one.) Second, will I have any problems with my derailleur fitting a 30 tooth ? I know some of the mega gears require a specialized derailleur but I wasn't sure at what size that was required. (My derailleur says Raleigh and Suntour on it but no other markings that I can see.)

I looked on the Shimano site but they don't seem to list everthing they make and therefore I could not determine if the HG22 is made in a 14-30.

Any ideas? Thanks

meb

30 is a rare size-I've been looking for 30T freewheels and cassettes myself on ebay as my AWD mountain bike powers the front wheel via a takeoff matched for a 30T cog and I'd like to have a spare wheel with a 30T in place. I just recently found a freewheel for that spare use.

I don't know what rear deraileur you have, but my Raleigh Super Grand Prix of that vintage works fine with its 14-32 5 cogger. I'd be surprised if you had a problem with a 30, 32 is where modern Shimanos are at the envelope. Pre-index shifting rders usually accomodated bigger grannies but being unfamilliar with your model, it's hard tell what your rder can handle.

If you switch to 6/7 speed, you need replace your spacer by one 6 mm wider. If that is an aluminum frame you could damage it spreading the dropouts to fit the respaced wheel. You likely would need to redish your wheel if you go to 6/7 speed. And, particularly if you have a quick release rear wheel and are over 200 lbs, you risk breaking a rear axle. I'd recommend sticking to 5 on your replacement. 14-32 was a common 5 cog freewheel, can always find them on ebay and hope your rder handles it. IRC may be your best bet for finding a freewheel with a 30T bottom.

davidad

https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#6

meb

Thanks for the correction, he wants freewheels like ird makes not tires like irc.

top506

SunRace makes a 13-30 7-speed I've had pretty good luck with.

https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...oducts_id=5153

Top

conspiratemus

Grnboyd, I have a 13-30 Suntour 7-speed freewheel, nearly new, that has been interred in my parts drawer for years. I had bought it for our tandem early 1990s but used it only a season before we replaced the rear wheel with a cassette hub. (Freewheels can be *very* difficult to remove from a tandem because the two riders drive it on really hard, and axle breakage issues are also compounded.) Suntour freewheels shift really well and are finely made but never in this life will I need a 30T cog on a freewheel bike.

This is a 7-speed, and as meb says, you will need 126 mm spacing between the dropouts.

Anyway, you could have it for the cost of mailing it to you. The only catch is I can't let you have my 4-prong Suntour remover tool because I need it for another smaller Suntour freewheel that I use on my commuter. The two-prong tools made for European freewheels won't fit.

PM me if you think you could use it.

HillRider

Unless your Sun Tour is very different from all of the ones I've worked on, a two-prong freewheel remover will indeed work on four notch Sun Tour freewheels. It isn't as secure as the four prong but it does fit.

As with any of these removers you have to clamp it in place with the qr skewer or axle nut to be sure it doesn't slip when you apply the gorilla-torque needed to break the freewheel loose.

conspiratemus

You could be right, HillRider, and you definitely are about the need to secure all of them the way you describe. I should have been more clear: The two-prong tools I have fit my Sachs/Maillard freewheels but they are just a bit too widely-spaced to engage two of the notches on the Suntour. I don't doubt that two-prong tools made for old two-prong Suntours would engage four-prong Suntours....I just don't have any. :-(

Edit: OK, with my glasses on and a better light, I can see that one of my two-prongs will just barely fit down into the Suntour but because the outer diameter of the prongs is a millimetre too wide, it won't seat securely and rocks a bit. Strip City....

steve-d

I have a 14-32 Shimano, six speed. PM if you need this size.

Steve

gnrboyd

conspiratemus.... Thanks for the offer but I really don't think I want to try and make a 7 speed work. I think 6 is pushing it with the space I have. I'll keep yours in mind if I get adventurous some day.

steve-d... I don't think my derailleur would handle a 32 and that is probably a little too low anyway. My low gear now is a 28 and I only needed the 30 on a couple of hills in my neighborhood. I can make it with the 28 but my legs are not getting any younger and thought a 30 would help a little.

I lubed up my 5 speed freewheel and put it back on today. I will just keep my eyes open for a 6 sp 14-30 but in the mean time will just ride what I have.

Thanks everyone for your input.