sailorbenjamin

Last fall I spent almost 70 bucks on a really nice 7 speed freewheel for my old Trek. Then I was searching Ebay for something and realized that I could have had the same thing in cassette form for about $20. I had a cassette wheelset but it was 9 speed and I didn't have the chain, nor a triple chainring.
Last month I realized one of the doubles that I was almost ready to Ebay was drilled for the 3rd ring so I picked one up at a bike swap. Then I found chains (slightly used) for $10 on the Bay.
Now I had all the pieces and a nice frame with no original parts. I stretched the rear triangle (haven't coldset it yet, don't know if this is the frame I want to commit to this experiment). Had to move the axle spacer over to the drive side so that the small cog would clear the chainstay when installing or removing the wheel. Then I had to redish the wheel a little more than I wanted too.
Now with the RD on the big cog the upper jockeywheel bolt touched the spokes just a little so I added a washer on the head side so it doesn't stick out so far.
The front derailler doesn't like to drop the chain onto the small ring if you're already on the big cog out back. It'll do it but it takes a little english. I've got a slightly longer spindle that might help that. It'll also throw the chain right off if you try to jamb it straight from the little ring to the big one. I tried adjusting that last night but I haven't had it out for a ride to see if it's gonna work. My other homebrew triple does that too but I haven't found exactly the right front derailer to fit that situation yet.
Otherwise it's a really nice ride. Very quiet and shifts like butter. The LBS guy said I'd go nuts trying to find the right gear without indexed shifters but it doesn't really seem to matter if I'm off by a gear or two. It's a 12-26 cluster. I'd like to bump it up to a 32 to help out with the hills around here. I think I've had this RD on that big a cog before, but I only had a double in front at the time. I should go check that as my memory is a little foggy. It might have been a 28 or a 30.

Sometimes hard to get her out from in front of the camera.

sailorbenjamin

miamijim

A few comments.

1. Your chain line looks ok. If you can take a pic of it in the middle front ring and middle rear cog I can get a better idea.
2. You chains too short. Look at pic #4. Lengthen the chain until it hits the upper pully wheel then remove 1 link. You want the 2 pully wheels as parralel to the ground as possible. Lengthening the chain may help alot of your shifting problems. What kind of chain is it?
3. Remove some drivside axle spacers. Get that outer cog as close to the frame as possible. This will improve RD performance. A slight re-dish of the rear wheel may be needed.
4. Did you pay your model with popsicles?

sailorbenjamin

Thanks. Here's the best picture I'm gonna get with my camera before the sun comes up.
I'll lengthen the chain, I have to get some of those single use pins from the LBS. It's a Shimano HG-73.
I'd like to take some spacers out but it gets real tight when I go to take the wheel out. If I could put the wheel in and then install the last cog I could gain several MM, as it is, I could maybe get 2 or 3 MM more.
I could probably fix all my problems with some cheap Shimano deraillers but where's the fun in that?
Oh, the spokesmodel? She'll do anything to get to stay up later than her little sister. Doesn't matter what actual time she goes to bed so long as little sis goes first.

sailorbenjamin

sailorbenjamin

Ok, test ride. The adjustment to the FD fixed the upshifting problem. Downshifting is still an issue. I have to keep just the right tension on the pedals, if I just freewheel it won't quite drop into low. If I shift under power it throws the chain. Real pain on a hill. Haven't had time to try any of your suggestions, Jim.

nlerner

You have an adorable daughter!

Neal