Rocket-Sauce 

SHOW US THE WHOLE BIKE!
Please?

SJX426 

That is tight. My 83 Colnago was purchased with a 6spd. Big gap so I thought I would check out a 7sp freewheel. Works great, though I think I might have more room than you do. Be careful about spacing when the chain rides up on the cogs it may get closer to the seat stay.
6 spd:
[IMG]P9201293 by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]
7spd:
[IMG]PA121374 by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]

BTW, no adjustments to the wheel

icepick_trotsky 

I had similar spacing issues when I replaced my 6 speed Regina freewheel with a 7 speed Shimano one on my C-Record equipped bike last week, @mgreen3691. It's a very similar derailleur and crank, as others have pointed out. I ended up just putting another 3mm spacer on the drive side of the axle to give myself a little more room. The dish isn't perfect, but it wasn't an issue over the weekend on the century ride I took it on. I will probably redish the wheel eventually, though.

Spaghetti Legs 

Here's a pic which may be of some use. I started a thread a few weeks ago about trying to get a 7 speed freewheel to fit in my 126 mm Tommasini frame. I tried a Sunrace freewheel and it wouldn't even turn it went in so tight. I returned it and now am using a Shimano 13-28 which is tight but works fine. The Regina CX 7 speed off my other bike fits much better than the either of the other two. Here's a pic to show the contrast between the Regina and Sunrace freewheels. I moved the 2 mm spacer to the drive side and redished the wheel, because I'm kind of anal that way.

BTW I have a Super Record short cage RD and it's stretched but works OK on the big cogs.

mgreen3691

Thanks for the pics guys.

SJX426, that is a lot of room there. Perhaps your spacing is 130mm? Seems unlikely based on the vintage of the frame and components, but wow, what a gap compared to mine. My '89 Bottecchia is 126mm.

icepick_trotsky, in my paranoia I put in a very thin washer so that the axle nut would protrude out just a bit more past the freewheel lock ring. I did not measure it but if it was 1 mm thick I would be surprised. I may be lucky and not need to re-dish this one.

Spaghetti Legs, that shot really illustrates the difference in the freewheel design that I mentioned. I am surprised the lock-ring versions even exist. Thanks for posting that as I was not sure if folks knew what I was trying to explain.

Rocky Gravol

I just want to know how to pronounce 'Campagnolo'.

Rocket-Sauce 

mgreen3691

Figures, all the smart alecks are from White Center.

dddd

The lockring became part of the design when Hyperglide-style cogs needed to be positioned in a certain rotational orientation so as to allow full-power shifting while using handlebar-mounted indexed shifters.

So we're stuck with this design for most all of future freewheel production.

The lockring isn't more than 3.5mm thick though, which is minimum clearance between frame and small cog for use with 8s chain.

mgreen3691

Thanks, makes sense (I think). I get what you are saying.

To me it seems to be the lock-ring on the inside over the large cog that causes the most consternation. If that was eliminated, like on the Regina design, then the freewheel could fit further inboard towards the spokes and there would be less issue of dropout side clearance. Anyway, after more research I'm finding there are actually quite a few options but for now the DNP seems to be ok and I will ride as is.

noglider 

Cahm pahn YO lo. I anglicize it and say cam pan YO lo. The important thing to know is that in Italian, "gn" is pronounced like the "ny" in "canyon."

dddd

On the back side there is no lockring!

That's just a flange that is needed since modern, better freewheels don't have threaded cogs, especially not the bigger cogs.

The flange looks like a lockring possibly because it is shaped around the profile of the broad splines that keep the cogs from rotating independently of the freewheel's outer body.

Not to say that there aren't differences among different freewheels in terms of how far that the cogs are offset from the seating surface at the base of the threading on the hubshell. Apparently there are differences of opinion among brands in terms of just how close that the derailer cage should be allowed to come to the spokes, but most freewheels are within a fairly close range in this regard.
Old-fashioned Italian freewheels often were fitted at the factory with a 2mm "freewheel spacer" placed on the hub before the freewheel was screwed on, so these freewheels tend to position the large cog closer to the spokes if no such spacer is used.

mgreen3691

OK, I am an impatient fellow and dropped the money on a NOS Suntour New Winner 6 speed 13/30. I think it has a much better aesthetic than the DNP and looks more 'period correct' on the bike. The big bonus is that it actually shifts better, and by better I mean worse, which is better you see.... Here is what I mean. The DNP has all the modern ramps, asymmetrical teeth and what not and reacts instantly to the slightest input from the shift lever but it is almost too much. I was constantly fiddling with the lever and had to have just the right touch to move only one gear at a time. With the Suntour the older technology seems less prone to jumping up and down and since it is a 6 speed I was able to engage my indexing again which is working out very nicely. I am really happy with this freewheel and gearing combo and I think I'm all set.

I rode up Jamison Creek Road today and the 39/30 worked out fine. Alba is next. [edit 4/7: Crushed Alba. Done with gearing. Alpe D'huez is next...]

More pics for y'alls

Lots of clearance


Better looking to boot