I'm looking at a set of older Campy hubs with 100/120/mm spacing as they are a 36/40 hole . My plan is to buy a longer axle and replace the 5 speed axle that's there now. I know I'd need to add spacers as would be moving out to 126 (or even 130mm).
Will that work for an increased freewheel size?
I was looking at an axle from Wheels Manufacturing. I bought one from them before when I snapped an axle in a 6 speed rear but that was a straight forward axle-for-axle switch.
https://wheelsmfg.com/products/hub-p...s/axle-09.html
I have an '83 Expedition with a 6 speed freewheel (126 mm). I changed it out for a
7 speed IRD 13-32 Mark 1 freewheel. The stock axle was a little short, so I replaced the axle with one from a 9 speed Deore hub. I used one washer and axle nut from the Deore hub to space out the drive side just a little and it all worked. I also had to use the skewer from the longer axle.
Stock, my Expedition was supposed to have a 13-30 Suntour New Winner Ultra 6, but for some reason it had a 13-28 Suntour (this was the Expedition's first year, so maybe parts were in short supply?). Replacing the 13-28 with the 13-32, and replacing the inner and middle rings (from 28/44/48 to 24/36/48) I've reduced my gear inches from 27 to 20, given myself a better range in the middle chain ring, and now have better gear spacing.