Hi y'all. I'm looking at replacing my Suntour freewheel with a Regina Oro. My Suntour is currently on my Campy High Flange hub but what I'm not sure is the type of threading (English, Italian or unlikely French) that I'll require for my Regina.

Is there any way to tell what kind of threading is on my current Suntour freewheel. The only thing I know is that there are two notches to remove the existing one. So I'm also assuming that I'll need the Park FR-2 to remove that too.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...

Chances are it's English.

English and Italian threaded freewheels are generally compatible and can be interchanged. The threads per inch are the same but the pitch of the thread is not exactly the same. I wouldn't go back and forth to many times, however.

Of all the Suntour freewheels I've owned, bought, inherited, or found at the dump, all had English threads. I believe it is a safe bet to buy an English threaded Regina. What size are you looking for (how many cogs and what gear range)?

From Sheldon Brown:

".....Italian threading is a curious mixture of metric and British. Diameters are specified in millimeters, but threads are in threads-per-inch! In addition, the thread angle is 55 degrees, like the obsolete British Whitworth system, rather than 60 degrees as with U.S. and metric threads.

Italian freewheel and headset threads are the same as British/ISO, except for the thread angle difference. They may be interchanged, but you should not go back-and-forth bewteen Italian and British/ISO headsets....."

Every Campagnolo Record rear hub I've had has English freewheel threading, as has every Regina freewheel.

Not that there aren't Italian threaded out in the wild somewhere, but chances are...

I used to use nothing but Regina Oros because that's what I saw the pros using back in the 70's. I tried a modern twist tooth freewheel a couple of years ago and I'll never go back. The modern freewheels shift much better. Also, the gold ones don't seem to turn brown as fast as the Reginas.

Which golden twist-tooth freewheels would those be?

If you take a peep behind the last cog, you may be able to see marking on the hub. If so try to look for 1,37 x 24 or 36 x 24. 1,37 is English and 36 is Italian. I agree with the rest that your Suntour freewheel is probably English.

Thank you guys much! I thought that it was odd that my entire 1971 bike has Italian components with the exception of the Suntour freewheel! (..and well the Weinmann brakes too, I guess). Maybe it was a replacement part at some point. Hmmm

Pastorbob, I'm looking for a 5-speed 13-21 combo. I would actually prefer a 6-speed but i'm not sure if that would present a problem with the width and fit of the (assuming bigger) freewheel. I'm still a noob at this...

If you want to stay Italian, I have this one available. I don't think it's seen a chain:

I have this same Regina CX/CX-s on my Masi but I prefer the Regina Oro since it's a more period correct than the CX (this one came out in the 80's if I'm correct). Very nice though!

I have the six speed in that range. I believe it is spaced for 126mm spread. It's in great shape. If you are interested I could take some pictures. However, it sounds as Old Fat Guy has what you need. EDIt: Opps! I see his is a 6 speed as well.

I have a Regina 13-21 6 speed on my Raleigh Gram Sport (that was originally a 5 speed) and did not have any spacing issues.

I may be preaching to the choir but you did say "any help".

When you remove that Suntour use the QR or wheel nut to keep the FR2 tool on the freewheel as the 2 notch versions slip very easily and on an older hub that freewheel might be welded on pretty tight.

Putting the tool in a vise will also aid in removing it and once the freewheel releases you can back off the nut and will probably be able to finish removing it by hand.

A little lube / grease on the freewheel threads keeps them from seizing up.

You also have to be pretty hard core to rock a 13-21... I bet the Suntour was installed to change the gearing ratio to something less "pro" and more manageable.

I have other freewheels I can swap into my Raleigh for rides that involve more climbing and love Suntours for their excellent performance and reliability.

The FR-2 is what you need fer sher.

Guys, I don't know what I was drinking but my Suntour is actually a 6-speed. Here's a picture that I took. The large cog is perhaps a 29?? There are no markings on the cogs...

Big ring looks like a 28, counting the teeth.

There seems to be a little more wear on the smaller cogs but Suntour freewheels tale forever to wear out and think it could still be run with no problems.

I'll trade you either a Regina 6 speed or a Suntour 6 speed for your Suntour 6 speed. Both of mine are in great working order

French thread SunTour freewheels were clearly marked "METRIC" on the inner body (where you insert the remover tool).

I have a number of the Regina CX/CXS freewheels that are english threaded. They all are distinguished by a groove in the form of a ring on the back side of the freewheel body.

I tried to tell him.

PLEASE DON'T USE A REGINA..unless you are building something that is a true restoration. I have used Suntour, Shimano and IRD freewheels. ALL of them put older Regina's I have used to shame. The Regina freewheels also take a specific removal tool that can be a bit hard to track down, if you don't already have one.

Okay! I think I got the hint. So I'll stay with my Suntour and maybe just change out the cogs. I was really hoping for a pure Italian bike though...