Freewheel experts: can you replace thread of a freewheel?
12-28-14, 11:41 AM
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Freewheel experts: can you replace thread of a freewheel?
I have two old Sachs 6 spd freewheels. I hastily ordered a new one from France with higher teeth count on account I need them for climbs on my Trek 520. About a second after ordering it I realized, "it's from France, will probably have French threads, sacrebleu!" So now I have two freewheels that ain't cutting it. What I am wondering is if I can remove the threaded body of the original one (English) to the new one so that I can use it; or can I transfer those extra rings of the French threaded one to the original one with English thread? Is that difficult? Last time I removed that Sachs freewheel a bunch of bearings went rampant and it was quite the game to find them all and get them to stay put while I put on the largest cog back on. Thanks for any and all advice.
12-28-14, 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by therover
I have two old Sachs 6 spd freewheels. I hastily ordered a new one from France with higher teeth count on account I need them for climbs on my Trek 520. About a second after ordering it I realized, "it's from France, will probably have French threads, sacrebleu!" So now I have two freewheels that ain't cutting it. What I am wondering is if I can remove the threaded body of the original one (English) to the new one so that I can use it; or can I transfer those extra rings of the French threaded one to the original one with English thread? Is that difficult? Last time I removed that Sachs freewheel a bunch of bearings went rampant and it was quite the game to find them all and get them to stay put while I put on the largest cog back on. Thanks for any and all advice.
Harder but still possible is to swap the English threaded core for the French. As long as the freewheels are the same model, the only difference should be the threading of the core. This would give you the chance to service the balls and pawls, which should be done about once a year anyway. If the freewheel is worth it - otherwise a throwaway.
BTW: I have several 6 and 7 speed Sachs freewheels. They are fine, but a $15 Shimano HG freewheel performs better. Smoother shifting and the cogs actually last longer. This should be your Plan B.
12-28-14, 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by therover
can you replace thread of a freewheel?
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12-28-14, 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
NO Freewheel bodies are heat treated to ensure good bearing life. So the steel threads are too hard for any machining operation. Even if they weren't hardened, it would require expensive equipment and setup work that would dwarf the cost of replacing outright.
12-28-14, 02:01 PM
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By the time Sachs took over Maillard's freewheel business, virtually all freewheels were English/ISO anyway, so it's unlikely you'll have a problem.
12-28-14, 02:03 PM
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i would look into, if you haven't already, a lower tooth count chainring.
12-28-14, 02:40 PM
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Fichtel- Sachs Group was German but the Malliard Division was a French Company ..
SRAM had no intrest in Malliard so when the rest of Sachs' Machines went to Taiwan , the Malliard division went into the Loo.
SRAM had no intrest in Malliard so when the rest of Sachs' Machines went to Taiwan , the Malliard division went into the Loo.
12-28-14, 02:56 PM
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
By the time Sachs took over Maillard's freewheel business, virtually all freewheels were English/ISO anyway, so it's unlikely you'll have a problem.
12-28-14, 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by cny-bikeman
+1. Why don't you wait till the freewheel arrives before you panic. Unless it specified French threading (35x1) it's highly unlikely you will have a problem.
12-29-14, 10:13 AM
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It sort of specified in the box details, not the written description, so that has caused me to think it's actually French. Alas, I shall wait for its arrival. Thank you for all the info on freewheel mechanics folks!
12-29-14, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by therover
It sort of specified in the box details, not the written description, so that has caused me to think it's actually French.
