Give me your poor, your weak, your bungled Helicomatics!
08-01-14, 05:28 PM
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Give me your poor, your weak, your bungled Helicomatics!
I belong to a couple other cycling forums where the word "helicomatic" is as relevant as the french revolution.
Where do you buy the adapter collars for a threaded freewheel? I have a single-speed Helicomatic with exactly ONE adapter, and need ONE more.
I was thinking about taking the core of a Helicomatic road freewheel to the local machine shop and having a threaded adapter made from it. And, since it's small enough, I'd probably ask them to make it in 30x1mm threading for 13T-15T freewheels. The thing is, I don't know where I'd find a broken Helicomatic road freewheel. I see people complaining about them breaking, but I guess they just toss these out? Not the best way for me to go about finding junk parts to put on the lathe...
Anyone have a junk collection of these things? I can pay shipping
Where do you buy the adapter collars for a threaded freewheel? I have a single-speed Helicomatic with exactly ONE adapter, and need ONE more.
I was thinking about taking the core of a Helicomatic road freewheel to the local machine shop and having a threaded adapter made from it. And, since it's small enough, I'd probably ask them to make it in 30x1mm threading for 13T-15T freewheels. The thing is, I don't know where I'd find a broken Helicomatic road freewheel. I see people complaining about them breaking, but I guess they just toss these out? Not the best way for me to go about finding junk parts to put on the lathe...
Anyone have a junk collection of these things? I can pay shipping
08-01-14, 05:43 PM
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You mean to put a single speed freewheel on to the splined area of the hub? I don't know if something like that exist.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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08-01-14, 05:54 PM
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Would you please upload a photo of the one you have?
08-01-14, 05:55 PM
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This is how it fits together:
I'd like to make another by threading the core of broken Helicomatic freewheel. That's why I'm asking if anyone has a broken or worn/out freewheel that I can pop onto a lathe.
Last edited by Crashman; 08-01-14 at 06:08 PM.
08-01-14, 06:58 PM
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That adaptor would appear to be un-removable once pedaling force torqued a freewheel onto it.
And why does a standard-threaded freewheel have "helicomatic" stamped into it's lockring?
Isn't the adaptor supposed to allow a standard threaded freewheel to fit on?
I mean, if one is making a Helicomatic BMX freewheel, why would any kind of adaptor be needed?
I bought a mid-low-level 1980's Peugeot last night that was in great condition, but has a Helicomatic narrow-6-speed-spaced freewheel and hub.
It's not a good start having to rebuild a rear wheel, but the bike's price was low as part of a 4-bike pkg deal that included a 1970 Gitane TDF in my size.
I'll probably just set these wheels aside for now, and see if some old 27-inch wheels can be thrown on.
Now to figure out what year/model of Peugeot I just bought...
EDIT: Looks like a 1985 model, has Sugino crankset, Rival(?) derailers, 501 main tubes with narrow Rigida rims in 700c, Weinmann 500 w/gum hoods.
I'll look around for any Helico bodies, never know.
And why does a standard-threaded freewheel have "helicomatic" stamped into it's lockring?
Isn't the adaptor supposed to allow a standard threaded freewheel to fit on?
I mean, if one is making a Helicomatic BMX freewheel, why would any kind of adaptor be needed?
I bought a mid-low-level 1980's Peugeot last night that was in great condition, but has a Helicomatic narrow-6-speed-spaced freewheel and hub.
It's not a good start having to rebuild a rear wheel, but the bike's price was low as part of a 4-bike pkg deal that included a 1970 Gitane TDF in my size.
I'll probably just set these wheels aside for now, and see if some old 27-inch wheels can be thrown on.
Now to figure out what year/model of Peugeot I just bought...
EDIT: Looks like a 1985 model, has Sugino crankset, Rival(?) derailers, 501 main tubes with narrow Rigida rims in 700c, Weinmann 500 w/gum hoods.
I'll look around for any Helico bodies, never know.
Last edited by dddd; 08-01-14 at 07:59 PM.
08-01-14, 07:05 PM
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Now this only fits the Helicomatic freewheel? It seems to me it would be too big for any other.
It is kind of an odd thing but I can see where it might be useful.
It is kind of an odd thing but I can see where it might be useful.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
08-01-14, 07:59 PM
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I know what its trying to achieve but doesn't it almost kinda sound "oxymoronish".....to.have a threaded adaptor for a Helicomatic cassette hub......
08-01-14, 08:00 PM
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These aren't cassette hubs, they're freewheel hubs with a unique splined thread to make the freewheel easier to remove. In BMX, I believe the point was to make them "quick-change".
08-01-14, 08:16 PM
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I put a Suntour 16T freewheel on mine but I'm afraid to use it because of the non-removability. I'd like to use a smaller freewheel, but to do that I'd need to actually make my own adapter with the smaller "Metric" freewheel thread. And, to do that, I'd need something with the Heli splines. Hence I'm looking for a broken Helicomatic freewheel to experiment on. I know a machine shop that can hook me up free
These aren't cassette hubs, they're freewheel hubs with a unique splined thread to make the freewheel easier to remove. In BMX, I believe the point was to make them "quick-change".
These aren't cassette hubs, they're freewheel hubs with a unique splined thread to make the freewheel easier to remove. In BMX, I believe the point was to make them "quick-change".
BTW, I had the Helicomatic system on a couple of my 80's Peugeots. Got rid of them after they ate their teensey little undersized bearings, despite all the maintenance I slathered on them..... There's a good reason why the Heliicomatic osystem is only maybe 50/50 favorable in most C&V forums. But then you can also be one of the lucky ones that will never have problems with them.....
Last edited by Chombi; 08-01-14 at 09:01 PM.
08-01-14, 08:22 PM
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Well it is a sort of "semi-cassette" as it shares the same advantage that the newer cassettes have of avoiding the difficulty of removing your cogset from the rear hub, .........although you still need to break out the chain whips to change out the cogs...
BTW, I had the Helicomatic system on a couple of my 80's Peugeots. Got rid of them after they ate their teensey little undersized bearings, despite all the maintenance I slathered on them..... There's a good reason why the Heliconatis system is only maybe 50/50 favorable in most C&V forums. But then you can also be one of the lucky ones that will never have problems with them.....
BTW, I had the Helicomatic system on a couple of my 80's Peugeots. Got rid of them after they ate their teensey little undersized bearings, despite all the maintenance I slathered on them..... There's a good reason why the Heliconatis system is only maybe 50/50 favorable in most C&V forums. But then you can also be one of the lucky ones that will never have problems with them.....
08-01-14, 09:34 PM
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Will this work?
08-01-14, 10:08 PM
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08-01-14, 11:15 PM
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I get what your looking for a missed up Helico hub and Freewheel not rearly behind or understaning but, Let me check I may be able to pick some stuff for you.
08-01-14, 11:36 PM
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Right, I'm just looking for a messed up Helico freewheel, so I can use a piece of it, to make a copy of the adapter seen above. These adapters are hard to find.
08-02-14, 12:26 AM
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I do have a grumbly freewheel you are welcome to . But postage could be a bit steep from here in New Zealand !
08-02-14, 12:45 AM
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I believe these single-speed hubs all came with one adapter. Exactly one. So you only really get one shot at this. When your freewheel dies and you can't get it off the adapter, you replace the hub
I'm hoping someone has a collection of trashed Helico freewheels in the US that they're looking to dump. One would be good, two would be great!
I'm hoping someone has a collection of trashed Helico freewheels in the US that they're looking to dump. One would be good, two would be great!
08-02-14, 04:35 AM
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Pastorbobinnh may have one or two boddies around.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
08-02-14, 05:47 AM
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The adapter would come off the hub fine (that's the whole purpose of helicoil). Does it have flats on it to hold in a vise for freewheel removal?
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08-02-14, 07:25 AM
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Well back in the day for a hot minute colored heli hubs were sold BMX.
08-02-14, 08:49 AM
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08-12-14, 02:39 AM
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08-12-14, 04:25 AM
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Sorry to say, I have nothing Helio in my vast stash of freewheel stuff. 
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08-12-14, 05:06 AM
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08-12-14, 08:19 AM
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Hey there. I happened across a functional Helicomatic freewheel in my stash. If you're needing one, it's your for the price of shipping. Being butchered for the sake of your revival seems like a nobler end for it than getting rusty in the storage-room. PM me for more information on shipping.