Working on this A-D for my sister that I believe is from 77, as that is how the Normandy hubs are marked. Had to go to the co-op as I didn’t have the small 2 prong freewheel tool for the Regina 5 speed on it. Taking off revealed a shim behind the freewheel that abuts the flange on the spoke protector disk. I’ve never seen one and wondered if it was just necessary in this application. Suntour and Shimano freewheels screwed on fine.





It seems that a 6 speed might fit fine on this bike even with 121 rear spacing. I will know in a day or so after new bearings and spoke tightening. Stainless spokes on this bike interestingly. Is that Regina something nice? I don’t have the tool, so I’m not in a hurry to use it.

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the spacer is a means of fine tuning the cycle's chainline

they are typically offered in three thicknesses: 1.0mm, 1.5mm & 2.0mm

many/most shops and workshops stock only the 1.5mm thickness so it is "that or nothing". if you measure what you have there you shall likely find it to be the 1.5 size.

the Regina Extra is the manufacturer's economy (base) model gear block

yes, you could run a 6V gear block if you wished; it would need to be a narrow six such as the Suntour Ultra 6

six cogs in the lateral space of a conventional five


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Your Regina looks to be an ORO or gold sprocket model. If the sprockets can be removed from the body (a special tool is needed to hold the freewheel body in order to reverse thread off the largest two sprockets from the back side of the freewheel), they can be polished to a high luster.

Before polishing:

After polishing:

Polishing results vary based on the sprockets, however the above example is about average.

The freewheel itself, is in my opinion, nothing special. The machine tolerances are very sloppy when compared to Suntour and Shimano freewheels of the same approximate era.

Regina freewheels were standard issue on so many bikes, especially European models, so there is value in servicing and maintaining them. While your Regina is a bit cruddy, it looks to be in otherwise good condition and should not be tossed in the bin.

Thanks for the info on that freewheel. It will go into the parts bin for my kids to wonder about after I am gone. I probably won’t buy that freewheel tool when I have better freewheels. That spacer is 1 mm behind the freewheel also. As Juvela said a standard spaced 6 probably won’t fit. Looks like plenty of room at the dropouts, but eyeballing it looks like the chain would hit the diagonal frame stay.

[MENTION=494396]sd5782[/MENTION] that makes sense.
When cleaning up the Colnago several years ago, I noticed a large gap between the smallest sprocket and the DO. This is a 6 speed but still 126 OAL.
P9161255 on Flickr


I stuck a 7 in there and it worked out fine. Some frames can accommodate, others not. I have not heard of a 120 spacing work with a 6 speed with the exception of the Suntour, which I have experience.
PA121374 on Flickr

Freewheel shims were also a common solution to chains and freewheel bodies rubbing on the spoke protector. Freewheel shims were the same size as English bottom bracket fixed cup shims.

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btw -

you inquired earlier regarding the possibility of the A-D having a metric ("French") gear block thread

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in this image a groove can be seen on the hub shell inboard of the gear block threads and outboard of the flange

this is Maillard's marking to indicate that the hub threads are of BSC/ISO dimension

when the groove is absent the threads are of metric dimension

Maillard did not produce hubs with Italian thread


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It’s always fun with a new project with all the variables involved. Interesting on the freewheel threading, although it may be more market driven. The steerer tube takes the French sized stem though while the bb is standard English. Also interesting that the shim could be used in a bb if ever needed.

A very nice Suntour Compe-V FD from the co-op clamps right onto the 28.1 seat tube just fine also. That would’ve been the stock unit on my 72 Fuji Newest which is now VX equipped. Perhaps I should keep the Compe-V.

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the steerer and headset on the A-D are BSC dimension ("English")

however the wall is a bit thicker than a regular BSC steerer yielding a stem diameter of 22.0mm rather than the 22.2mm one might expect, while the metric/french size is an actual 21.9mm

the manufacturer also has a steerer size unique to them of 26.0mm O.D.
afaik this is not employed with any of the models of the A-D range


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