Single speed conversion on free hub
10-18-18 | 08:21 AM
#1
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Single speed conversion on free hub
I found a dumpster Schwinn that I am restoring. This is my first time doing such a project. The bicycle originally had a 7 speed rear cassette. I want to convert the bicycle to single speed. I've removed the rear cassette to expose the free hub. What next? Do I buy a single cog, install spacers and tighten the lock ring? I don't want to talk about gear ratios. I need some education on how a single speed conversion works. My free hub has 9 splines (one that is very thin unlike the others). Do I need to take measurements to make sure the cog will fit? What determines the size of the spacers?
Best,
blaubner
Best,
blaubner
10-18-18 | 10:13 AM
#2
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Joined: Jun 2010
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
you got the basics.. < ideally >
a single speed conversion cog should not have the shorter teeth
of a cog optimized for shifting..
(some freehubs of 7 speed era used the high gear cog
to hold the stack on)
....
a single speed conversion cog should not have the shorter teeth
of a cog optimized for shifting..
(some freehubs of 7 speed era used the high gear cog
to hold the stack on)
....
Last edited by fietsbob; 10-19-18 at 10:07 AM.
10-18-18 | 10:20 AM
#3
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Sacramento, CA
Bikes: old ones
...you can probably scrounge up some free spacers from old cog clusters at a bike co-op or from discarded cog clusters. You appear to be describing a Shimano Hyperglide freehub, and there's a lot of stuff bouncing around that will fit. You need enough of them so you can get your single cog to run more or less in the center of the freehub. or wherever the chain line is straightest to your crank chain wheel.
You also need enough spacers so that when you tighten the lock ring, there is pressure on the stack, so stuff does not move around back there.
You also need enough spacers so that when you tighten the lock ring, there is pressure on the stack, so stuff does not move around back there.
Last edited by 3alarmer; 10-18-18 at 05:38 PM.
10-18-18 | 11:18 AM
#4
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
So up to now you've got no money invested.
What do your dropouts look like? If they are vertical, you are going to need some kind of slack take up device but that kind of negates the single speed panache. . The simplest way to do that is to just keep the existing derailleur in place.
If you have horizontal dropouts, you could try to disassemble your existing cassette and find or fabricate some spacers to make the cog that you like line up with your chainring. I'd look to see if I could find some PVC plumbing that had about the right ID. It doesn't have to be perfect because the free hub body will hold your cog concentric. You'll need to keep the smallest rear cog because it has ridges to match up with your cassette lock ring.
Good luck.
What do your dropouts look like? If they are vertical, you are going to need some kind of slack take up device but that kind of negates the single speed panache. . The simplest way to do that is to just keep the existing derailleur in place.
If you have horizontal dropouts, you could try to disassemble your existing cassette and find or fabricate some spacers to make the cog that you like line up with your chainring. I'd look to see if I could find some PVC plumbing that had about the right ID. It doesn't have to be perfect because the free hub body will hold your cog concentric. You'll need to keep the smallest rear cog because it has ridges to match up with your cassette lock ring.
Good luck.
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My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
10-18-18 | 11:10 PM
#5
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Joined: Aug 2018
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Show us a picture! most of us work better with visuals like you. Mr I don’t talk gear ratios.
Lets see how many times that gets quoted
ok no ratios. So I ask. Do you want to pop wheelies like no ones business or do you want to race people? Red or blue pill pick one. Any in between answer and I won’t come back to this thread and you’ll never know an important detail to that conversion lol answer that if you ever come back and I’ll tell you what you need.
Lets see how many times that gets quoted
ok no ratios. So I ask. Do you want to pop wheelies like no ones business or do you want to race people? Red or blue pill pick one. Any in between answer and I won’t come back to this thread and you’ll never know an important detail to that conversion lol answer that if you ever come back and I’ll tell you what you need.
Last edited by AtNjineer; 10-18-18 at 11:18 PM.
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