INTRO: This concerns a bike that is pictured on these forums somewhere. A
Gazelle Champion AB frame. (The frame was exported to Germany, so
"Champion Mondial" had to be shortened to just "Champion" due to some patent thing.) It's a hand-assembled frame in Reynolds 531C with a "pegged" BB ... ie: it doesn't move!
))
PARTICULAR:
• I live on flat land in Sendai, Honshu Japan. I cycle on the floodplains and levees of two confluent rivers.
• Consequently, when I built this bike from the frame up, I selected the gearing (the entire 'transmission') to match the cycling I'd be doing (and have been doing) ....
• Compact chain wheels up front. Close ratio 13-18 Shimano MF-6207 freewheel.
• This has been brilliant. Very smooth changes. The ratios have been perfect for the flats, and they are good ride in headwinds.
PROBLEM - 1
• The MF-6207 has been on the Mavic Montherly hub and rim ever since it was given to me years ago. I have never removed it.
• The two prong tool used to remove MF-6207 is virtually unobtainium. The problem has been discussed here on BF. Moreover, this freewheel has a reputation for being particularly difficult to remove. One solution is to file down a 2 prong SunTour tool ... and ... er .... try. Someone suggested a Regina 2 prong tool will work. Good luck finding one.
• I've tried veteran bike shops.
• I tried drifting the unit out with a punch. I was careful, but I still dinged one of the prong dents!!
SIGH!
• PLAN: File a Park FR-2 two prong SunTour removal tool. Torque it on with a long 5-6 M bolt and nut and turn the rim on a large vice.
I don't expect success.
Whatever I eventually end up with will go on a mint, Campagnolo Record hub laced on an NOS Mavic rim. YUMMY!
PROBLEM -2 ... and I don't understand why this has not come up in a thread/s
• There is hardly any selection among
new freewheel stock. It looks like we are stuck with 13-24 ( and they are often
out of stock), 13-28, 13 - HUGE GRANNY sprocket. Sunrace, generic Chinese stuff, Shimano TZ blah blah at Tourney level that is 13-28 and larger. No close ratio race options, AAAAHHHHH-1!!!!!
• I'd even go for 13-21, but they are no longer around. I think Sunrace may have made them
• Used and NOS is expensive — or even silly/ rediculously expensive. Then there is added shipping overseas and weeks to get here .... AAAAHHHH-2!!!!!
QUESTIONS:
•
What to do? I really don't want to give up what I have. So a compromise is OK. But I'll never use 24T and 28T — forget it
• What do you vintage riders/ builders do?
Any suggestions, remarks, advice will be very gratefully accepted. And even by some chance I do manage to budge the MF-6207, having something as a spares and an option for other builds would be a good thing.
By the way, I've not been around here much. Work and stuff got in the way, and it was all I could do just to get out and ride. But I got forced into retirement due to the usual Japanese work protocols. (Which is why I'm not going to spend $100+ on a used and dubious freewheel. It's a usual problem for many of us, I'm sure. You have some money but not the time. You have time but not so much money
)) — Cheers - Lorne / Lenton58