i need a 5-speed chain recommendation. maybe from kmc or sram around the $10 mark.

problem: a new 8-speed kmc chain (x8 series) doesn't shift efficiently on the lowest gears of a new sunrace 5-speed (14-24t) freewheel. it can get caught between the two biggest cogs and just rattle around. i've never had this issue before. previously, i've only purchased 8-speed chains for 5- and 6-speed freewheels. they've always worked wonderfully. on this freewheel there is more space between the biggest cogs than the smallest ones.

it is possible to remedy the situation by downshifting past necessary and the then upshifting back down to the gear needed. i don't like it. it's not fluid.

since this hasn't happened to me before, can any of you share your experiences with this? will a 5-speed chain remedy the issue between the largest cogs and still shift properly over the smallest ones?

this 14-24t sunrace was hard to find. only one seller on ebay. maybe this is the reason??

thanks. here's a pic.

SRAM PC-850 ($14 on Nashbar) works fine on my SunTour 5-speed FWs. I wonder if the spacing on the SunRace FW is stupid-wide or something.

^ yes, i think it's "stupid wide." it's at least 1mm wider than my others across the biggest cogs.

i've never had this problem before with an 8-speed chain.

will a 5-speed chain remedy this issue and still shift smoothly across the smallest cogs?

anyone run into this before****************************************???

I've never heard of a 5-speed freewheel with uneven spacing between the sprockets. According to Sheldon the total width of the freewheel cluster is the measurement from the inner side of the inner sprocket to the outer side of the outer sprocket, and it should be 24mm on standard 5-speed clusters. If each sprocket is 2mm thick this would mean a center to center measurement of 22mm from the inner to outer sprockets, and if the spacing were even this would result in exactly 5.5mm between sprockets (c-c).

I have a number of '60s and '70s Maillard and Shimano freewheels on hand and recently decided to measure them. I found that the Maillard freewheels matched those numbers exactly, however Shimano freewheels were 1mm wider (25mm) overall, resulting in a slightly larger (but still even) spacing of 5.75mm between sprockets (c-c).

What is the total width of the SunRace sprocket cluster? How thick are each of the sprockets, and what is the exact spacing between them?

While from your description so far it sounds like the freewheel is the cause of your problems you may want to try either an original 5-speed chain (e.g. Sedis, Regina) or a wider new 6-speed version such as the KMC Z33: Z33 » KMC Chain

^ thank you!

i only have a metric ruler. using it with those instructions, the freewheel is about 24 or 25mm wide. (my ird freewheels look slightly more narrow.)

the cogs look about 1.5mm wide. here's the gap difference between each:

5-4: over 5mm
4-3: 5mm
3-2: under 4mm
2-1: under 4mm

the shifting problem begins to occur when moving down (bigger) from cog 3 to 4 with that 5mm gap. i can get there, but it's difficult.

i'm wondering if ...
1. i should replace the freewheel with an ird fw i know works with a 8-speed chain
2. this freewheel will work better with a different chain like the one you mentioned.
3. this 14-24t sunrace freewheel, being hard to find, isn't made any longer due to this reason.

i want to add, i've never had a problem with a new sunrace freewheel, but i usually buy 6-speeds, and have never before purchased one like this. maybe i should send it back to the ebay seller.

I'm convinced those Sunrace ones all have weird spacing...on mine, if you're on the middle cog, you have to trim it PERFECTLY or else it will chatter slightly.

"chatter" is fine. i would love this freewheel to merely chatter when moving from cog 3 to 4. but it slides like the chain has fallen off a chainring. i think it might be pretty unsafe.

here's the ebay listing: Sunrace SR HG5B 5 Speed Cassette 24 14T Silver | eBay

i paid over $21 a couple weeks ago, and now it's $11.

OK, that sounds normal.

That's where it gets strange. Original 5-speed freewheels had 2mm thick sprockets leaving 3.5mm (Maillard, SunTour) or 3.75mm (Shimano) gaps between each of the sprockets.

With sprockets only 1.5mm thick, with even spacing there would be 4.5mm gaps, and with uneven spacing from what you are saying the gaps could be 5mm or more between some of them, which could allow a narrower chain to slip between cogs. This sounds like a freewheel design defect to me. While you could try different chains I would probably try a different freewheel instead, especially if you could return it for a refund.

^ thanks, man.

freewheels other than 14-28t are becoming difficult to find.

anybody ever used an epoch freewheel? i notice they're inexpensive and come in 14-24t.

my other option is ordering one of the more ubiquitous 14-28t sunrace freewheels that seem to work fine as they don't have such a wide (5mm) gap between cogs.

Back to chain for a second. I have used KMC Z33 on 5 speed bikes for years, can be found for $5 on line. I typically use the KMC Z-50 chain on 5 and 7 speed bikes. Been doing that for years too, can be found on line for under $6.

^ yeah, so, back to the original question: if those kmc z series chains are wider than this x8 series chain, and can shift across a 5mm (or wider) gap, i should try a new chain first.

Your x8.93 chain or whatever it is should have the width on the package. I'm pretty sure they are 7.3mm so it shouldn't fall between your cogs.

I have an epoch freewheel. It is fine and better quality than the sunrace but I have a hard time finding just the right gear. It could be because my dropouts may be slightly misaligned as I am suspecting recently.

^ it's not that it falls between the biggest cogs and gets stuck. we've all been there when our chain falls either below the smallest cog and actually gets stuck between freewheel and frame, or it hops the biggest cog and gets stuck between spokes and freewheel. it doesn't get stuck.

what it does is slides across the gap between the biggest cogs like the chain came off a chainwheel. pedaling and going nowhere.

if the z-series chains are wider, maybe that's the simple solution to try first, then an epoch freewheel... ****, i don't know.

It's a bummer because 14-16-18-21-24 is a nice progression if you don't need a 28. If it were mine, I'd be tempted to try and spin off the 14T and see if I could thin down the thickest spacers (or substitute thinner ones).

"it's a bummer."

you said it. and (about 14-24t), they just look better (lower profile) on those really nice, fast road bikes where i know i'm not going to put a rack on the back and load it down with weight. it kind of forces me to ride it a little harder, the way it was probably intended.

Heya. I'm running a 14-28 Sunrace with a KMC 8 chain on on my rig. I only just installed both and in the limited miles I've ridden since I've noticed that the shifting is a bit finicky. Not terrible, and nothing dangerous, but it can be tricky to get in gear cleanly without trimming. I'll try to update as I get more experience with the set up.

But it sounds to me like your chain might be "skating" over the cogs? I've seen this issue before where the chain will ride on top of a cog (on its side plates) and basically skate over it and "freewheel" forward. I couldn't figure out what was causing this but it was unnerving when it happened, especially when it spontaneously skated under load.

They really do. Lately, the biggest cogs on my bikes have been looming larger, and I've pondered swapping to cassettes with tighter gearing. At the same time, I'm frequently fooled into thinking the big cogs on other people's bikes are smaller than they really are. (Went on a ride a couple weekends ago with a person whose cassette went up to 36T, but I would have sworn it was a 32T at most.)

I must be developing some kind of cog size dysmorphia.

check this out........

Classica Freewheels 5/6/7-Speed ? Interloc Racing Design / IRD

^ check what out?

the ird store doesn't list a single 5-speed. before i ordered this bad sunrace one, i looked at the ird store, and they only had a 14-28t in the 5-speed. i have two of those already. they're great, though maybe not worth the extra cash. the sunrace 14-28t wheels seem to work fine. i got duped with this latest 14-24t one. and now ird doesn't show a single 5-speed available. you can get them elsewhere for two or three times the price of a sunrace.

i'm sending this sunrace back to the ebay seller, and i bought a new epoch 14-24t today for less than $2 plus shipping. hope it works.

I guess they didn't have stock? (Their website shows a 5 speed with a 13 to 24 available) https://static1.squarespace.com/stati...pg?format=300w
Your welcome

as written, i was looking for a 14-24, which ird never offered. the ird store lists no 5-speeds. but, as posted, one can probably find an ird 5-speed for around $40 on an ird distributor's site, like bicycleclassics.com.

Rant: Why no 13-26 or 14-26? These are the perfect compromise size when dealing with short cage derailleurs and the need to climb a hill.

(Zombie thread alert) So did it work? I have the same issue you were having.

I also asploded the original Sedis chain yesterday climbing a hill so I want to get the correct chain. I have the original French FW and it's probably French thread, so a challenge there.

He can't reply.

[MENTION=27118]Grand Bois[/MENTION] - why?