Wheel replacement help
#1
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Wheel replacement help
I have an imported mountain bike that I want to get it back on the road, it has a broken rear axle and I will be replacing it with a new wheel, but I am trying to learn more about Bike mechanical too.
The sticker says Shimano 18 speed but I am not sure why there is a 7 speed freewheel in the back. I identified the tool to use to transfer over the Shimano freewheel should be Park Tool FR1 (12 spline).. Do they sometimes put a 7 speed freewheel even though the shifter is only for 6 speeds (3x18).
I measured the frame to be 5 5/16" which translate to 135mm, and I will be looking for a 135mm spacing wheel.
The sticker says Shimano 18 speed but I am not sure why there is a 7 speed freewheel in the back. I identified the tool to use to transfer over the Shimano freewheel should be Park Tool FR1 (12 spline).. Do they sometimes put a 7 speed freewheel even though the shifter is only for 6 speeds (3x18).
I measured the frame to be 5 5/16" which translate to 135mm, and I will be looking for a 135mm spacing wheel.
Last edited by PoorBiker; 08-19-10 at 11:41 PM.
#2
Senior Member


Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,518
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From: San Jose, California
Bikes: 2001 Tommasini Sintesi w/ Campagnolo Daytona 10 Speed
Check the dropout alignment BEFORE putting in a new wheel. 5-10 minute job at the LBS.
=8-)
=8-)
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5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
#3
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Why not only replace the axle? It's such a simple job that even if you have to have a lbs do it the end sum is likely to be less than a new wheel. Besides, as already suggested, it'd provide a nice opportunity to have the dropouts checked.
And no, parts are not routinely mismatched. But 7-speed freehubs seems to be more common than 6-speeds, so someome probably slapped on what they had after a previous failure to get the bike back on the road as fast as possible again. If you have friction shifters it's a non-issue. If you have indexed it might not run cleanly.
And no, parts are not routinely mismatched. But 7-speed freehubs seems to be more common than 6-speeds, so someome probably slapped on what they had after a previous failure to get the bike back on the road as fast as possible again. If you have friction shifters it's a non-issue. If you have indexed it might not run cleanly.
#4
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Hi, I looked into replacing the axle (cheap), but the cap on non drive side come off easily and the bearings fell out, I don't see any seals, skewer is bent, I can still find the parts on biketooletc.com.
but I remember the rear brake bind fairly loud every revolution, so the wheel is not just a little out of true and it is bent.
The shifter is just a lever, no clicks, there are numbers and an arrow but I never look at it very much. Can I just get any Shimano 6 speed freewheel if I want to do it "right"? Other than that I don't know how to check for freewheel wear, the freewheel doesn't have any in/out play that I can tell.
Is there some way I can do a dropout check on my own Without the tool? At least get a rough idea? It's a steel frame.
I don't even have a car and my bike is missing 1 wheel to go to the LBS
but I remember the rear brake bind fairly loud every revolution, so the wheel is not just a little out of true and it is bent.
The shifter is just a lever, no clicks, there are numbers and an arrow but I never look at it very much. Can I just get any Shimano 6 speed freewheel if I want to do it "right"? Other than that I don't know how to check for freewheel wear, the freewheel doesn't have any in/out play that I can tell.
Is there some way I can do a dropout check on my own Without the tool? At least get a rough idea? It's a steel frame.
I don't even have a car and my bike is missing 1 wheel to go to the LBS
Last edited by PoorBiker; 08-20-10 at 11:46 AM.
#6
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I found the axles and bearings and will be attempting to replace it first.
since the axle is broken and I have nothing to spin it on, I cannot tell how much the wheel is bent
so my question now is how much can a shop true up a wheel through spoke adjustment?
Seems like the combination of replacing the axle, skewer + truing cost the same as an cheap replacement wheel.
I didn't spend alot of money on this one so try to keep the cost low, it will be my backup bike.
since the axle is broken and I have nothing to spin it on, I cannot tell how much the wheel is bent
so my question now is how much can a shop true up a wheel through spoke adjustment?
Seems like the combination of replacing the axle, skewer + truing cost the same as an cheap replacement wheel.
I didn't spend alot of money on this one so try to keep the cost low, it will be my backup bike.
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
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Trouble is, wheels usually end up untrue as a combo of spoke tension + rim damage. And even something like 1/2" of sideways throw by rim damage is really hard to save through trueing alone - spoke tensions become too different for the wheel to be reliable.
#8
Thrifty Bill

Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Actually, the economics are worse than you describe. I find good MTBs wheels cheap all the time, bought a set (attached to a bike) for $5 at a garage sale Saturday, included wheels, tires, cassette, tubes, etc........ It is not unusual to find used MTB wheels for $5 to $10 each. Since you are starting with a low cost bike, I would hunt for a donor bike or a cheap set of used wheels.
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