Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Convert five speed Schwinn Suburban to internal hub

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Convert five speed Schwinn Suburban to internal hub

Old 08-09-09, 09:45 AM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 25
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Convert five speed Schwinn Suburban to internal hub

Hi Folks. My wife has a Schwinn Suburban 5 sp. Wants to convert to an internal hub (5-8 gears). Is this doable, can a anyone do it and is there a cheap way of making it happen. This would be my first major bike job. Thanks for all. Will cross post to vintage.
Michael Gugliel is offline  
Old 08-09-09, 12:16 PM
  #2  
Gear Hub fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 2,829

Bikes: Civia Hyland Rohloff, Swobo Dixon, Colnago, Univega

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Should not be too difficult if the bike is steel as the rear dropouts can be widened as necessary for the new hub. If the frame is aluminum this cannot be done. Different hubs have different widths from about 120mm to 135mm.

Any good LBS can build an IGH wheel or you can get the parts and learn to do it yourself. Harris Cyclery does a lot of IGH wheels per their web site and have some ready built wheels.
__________________
Gear Hubs Owned: Rohloff disc brake, SRAM iM9 disc brake, SRAM P5 freewheel, Sachs Torpedo 3 speed freewheel, NuVinci CVT, Shimano Alfine SG S-501, Sturmey Archer S5-2 Alloy. Other: 83 Colnago Super Record, Univega Via De Oro

Visit and join the Yahoo Geared Hub Bikes group for support and links.
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/Geared_hub_bikes/
tatfiend is offline  
Old 08-09-09, 02:57 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 799
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 268 Post(s)
Liked 54 Times in 34 Posts
I'm curious: do internal hubs typically require different spoke lengths than normal rear hubs? Is their diameter larger or not?

I would think that the case would be no...that they are the same diameter as normal rear hubs.

I ask this b/c I'm seriously contemplating picking up a mercier tt track bike from bikesdirect and installing an internal hub, using the existing wheel assembly.
adlai is offline  
Old 08-09-09, 03:10 PM
  #4  
Slow mechanic
 
ryker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 237
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by adlai
I ask this b/c I'm seriously contemplating picking up a mercier tt track bike from bikesdirect and installing an internal hub, using the existing wheel assembly.
I would say that chance of that working out is... about zero.
ryker is offline  
Old 08-09-09, 03:32 PM
  #5  
¡Senor Member!
 
time bandit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South Philly
Posts: 1,710
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by ryker
I would say that chance of that working out is... about zero.
yeah, except for the fact that it does work, and people have even posted pictures of track frames with internally geared hubs on this very forum.
time bandit is offline  
Old 08-09-09, 03:47 PM
  #6  
Slow mechanic
 
ryker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 237
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The poster wants to reuse the spokes.

I imagine it could be done if new spokes were purchased, the rear dropouts were re-spaced, and clamp on cable stops were added.

Last edited by ryker; 08-09-09 at 03:54 PM.
ryker is offline  
Old 08-09-09, 04:12 PM
  #7  
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
 
Jeff Wills's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,811
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 788 Post(s)
Liked 688 Times in 367 Posts
Originally Posted by adlai
I'm curious: do internal hubs typically require different spoke lengths than normal rear hubs? Is their diameter larger or not?

I would think that the case would be no...that they are the same diameter as normal rear hubs.

I ask this b/c I'm seriously contemplating picking up a mercier tt track bike from bikesdirect and installing an internal hub, using the existing wheel assembly.
As others have said- the chances are nearly zero that you will be able to reuse the spokes. Internal gear hubs tend to have much larger flanges than fixed or freewheel hubs and thus use shorter spokes. There's a very slight chance that it could work with a different number of crosses... for instance, switching to an internal gear hub and changing from 3X to 4X spokes. The spoke length could work out.

Old Sturmey-Archer 3-speed hubs are close to the same diameter as high-flange hubs- it could work in this case. However, if the existing wheels are 32-spoke it's a no-go. If they're 36-spoke, then this just might work.
__________________
Jeff Wills

Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.