Hi, by way of introduction, I have a 1972 Schwinn Paramount Touring, 15-speed, that I am restoring with period-correct components. What is the period-correct freewheel? Mine says Shimano but I doubt it's the original. Also the 14T cog is broken. Is there a source for the freewheel and cogs? Thanks, I appreciate.

Have you checked the Schwinn Lightweight Data book that Bob Hufford put together?
https://www.geocities.com/sldatabook/

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Shimano freewheel being used, since Schwinn did this where suitable. Shimano was better known for producing wide range freewheels than the European manufacturers.

Since the freewheel is a consumable, I tend not to get too concerned about what was the correct part. I've got a good stash of SunTour freewheels and cogs, so that's what I use. I've also got a couple of NOS Regina 5 speed Oro freewheels, and the appropriate removal tool. I'm reluctant to use them, only because they were more prone to breaking when being removed.

oh... whatever freewheel you buy, make sure you have the correct removal tool before you install it.


good luck,
Steve K.

The OEM freewheel for the 1972 P15-9 touring Paramount was a Regina "Oro" with 14, 16, 19, 25, and 31 T cogs. They show up from time to time on eBay.

I have an original available for sale if you're interested. I've upgraded to an n.o.s.

Nothing wrong with this one except for showing wear on the teeth....still some gold in between and works well.

PM me if interested.

Scooper says: "The OEM freewheel for the 1972 P15-9 touring Paramount was a Regina "Oro" with 14, 16, 19, 25, and 31 T cogs. They show up from time to time on eBay."

Thanks, nice that you can share a scan of the original catalog. I have the same cogs, how do you know it is a Regina? Neither the Schwinn catalog nor Bob Hufford's data book name the freewheel brand.

Yes, some are listed on ePay, unfortunately with the wrong combination of cogs...

Are they real gold/gold-plated?

Trust me.

That gear chart is off. 36/31 is indeed a 31" gear, but 54/14 is a 104, not a 100. I suspect the gear numbers were from the traditional 52-47-36 or 52-45-36 Campagnolo triple, not the 54-49-36 reported.

Barndoor, I sent you PM. Scooper, great information, thanks. I have subscribed to many forums, this is the first one that has been helpful.

OK, so the original freewheel was a Regina. Now, I need to remove the existing Shimano freewheel. I seem to recall that the original Regina was permanently bonded to the hub from old age. When it was time to replace it, the bike shop had to saw it off. In the attached picture you will see the sawed-off circle, and the more recent Shimano freewheel. This repair was performed around 1998, so the Shimano freewheel dates from that period. The question is, what type extractor do I need to extract the Shimano freewheel?

Were these Regina freewheels labeled "Schwinn"? I remember when I got my Paramount (71) it came with a Schwinn branded freewheel....I'm pretty sure it was original...can't find it now.

I have a '72 P15-9 that I purchased from the original owner who was a Schwinn factory trained technician and was a teenager working in has dad's SoCal Schwinn dealership when he bought the bike. He told me the freewheel on the bike was original as delivered from the factory. It is labeled "Regina" (no "Schwinn" anywhere on it).

Here's the freewheel and the Regina removal tool:

I don't see any attached picture, but the Shimano freewheels use a splined freewheel tool. I'd be surprised if this Shimano Freewheel Remover wouldn't work.

I have used the shimano early dura-ace/600 2 notch tool on regina freehwheels, it's pretty much the same.

Thanks everybody, this is really helpful. Will be posting more questions as I proceed with the restoration of my P-15: How to adjust the front derailleur so that the chain does not rub inside the cage, period-correct rims and tires, etc... Topics for a future thread.

OK; now I see the photo of your freewheel. It looks like it would take the same two notch tool as the Regina, like cyclotoine suggests.

No chance. It is likely just damage from attempted removal or tightening of the freewheel afterwards. It is impossible to saw that area and achieve any possibility of loosening the freewheel from the hub.

Only thing I can think of is that the present markings are of the shop's failed attempt to remove the Regina inner freewheel body, and in some odd coincidence, they were able to mount the outer body and freewheel cog assembly from a Shimano freewheel onto the Regina body. The possibility of this being done in the first place is highly unlikely in the first place though - the possibility of that combination of Regina and Shimano parts fitting correctly even less so.

-Kurt

Hi kanenas, welcome to BikeForums and C & V .

This is post #17 and I still haven't seen a photo of the whole bike.... .

Come on, give us some photos, please!

East Hill

Fair enough, this is a quick snapshot of the bike in my cellar. Will post more as restoration proceeds.

Wow... that is bad news! Looks like this one will have to be removed destructively also, however, notice the prong removal system is exactly the same as a regina... could it be they combined a regina and shimano? There may be a say to tell... if the threading is stamped on the back of the body as it was with early reginas like F.F. or F.I. you would know it's a regina... I'm pretty curious, that is an old shimano and i wouldn't surprise me one bit if their early freewheels were exact copies of regina. BUT as kurt said it is unlikely but if you know of no attempt to remove the existing freewheel then why is it so damaged?

Best case scenario:
Soak in PB blaster, use top-of-the-line freewheel remover to yank off.

Worst case scenario:
Remove freewheel by removing cogs from outer body (no sense in wasting the cogs, as they do thread on - any in good condition are quite hard to find, and good trade bait here), unscrew dust cap, remove outer body, remove pawls, then place outer body in vise along with rest of wheel. Spin against threading to loosen.

-Kurt

Thank you. It's beautiful sitting in the cellar, so I know it will be a beauty when it comes into the sun light.

East Hill

EH, is that blue star new, or have I just missed it?

In any case, congratulations!

Hello - I am new to this forum and I was recently given the Schwinn Paramount very similiar to what Kanenas has. I am having difficulty removing the freewheel. It is the same as Scooper's showing in the picture with the removal tool (Regina). I am not sure if I should turn it CW or CCW to get it out, I know it sounds silly but it is so tight that I am afraid I may damage the components. Also I have taken out the bottom bracket to inspect the bearings and they seem to be in pretty good condition. Deos anybody has any suggessions/advise on reassmbling it back as I have heard it can be very difficult to get it right the first time.

I have found the Japanese freewheels that I have used as replacements on my Paramounts (originals saved for inclusion if I ever sell them) outshift the Regina freewheels. They don't sound nearly as good, though.

I have always found it difficult to get the Reginas off without distorting the lips where the tool engages.

It helps to use the Q.R. skewer to hold the tool securely onto the freewheel. After the freewheel has been initially broken loose, the skewer can be loosened up.

Thank you all good sport! great tips.