research question
 

ok, i'm not actually going to do this, not even thinking about it. i'm just writing a story, and i wanna have a character do this, but i wanna make sure it's possible first.

ok, getting that outta the way, is it possible to beat the crap out of a SS freewheel so it won't freewheel anymore, and function like a fixed cog? i'd experiment myself, but i dont wanna waste my useless freewheel.

tia,
-rob

he could solder the the whole thing together so it doesn't move...

.......or you could inject epoxy in thru the grease port...

When Freewheels go Bad (IV)
they default to a freely spinning mode. This is pretty rare, and the roadside fix is to tie the large cog to the spokes. Usually, its the pawles which get gummed up, and you can free them with a squirt of WD-40, then some oil.
Its hard to imagine how a freewheel would break in the fixed position.

purple loctite (not blue).. JB weld; that's a little flexible.. Sand.. lots of sand.

Or just jam bits of metal in it.

I believe Superchivo has a real life cyclo-cross experience that may be on point...

welded freewheels
 

It can be done easily...I MIG welded a Shimano BMX freewheel together for my fixie and it works fine w/ a few hundred miles so far. I also welded an old 6 sp freewheel together w/ all but one cog removed...this worked but I had problems w/ the chain jumping...this had not been a problem w/ the BMX freewheel even though the chainline is not perfect.

I have an old set of Spinergies with an 8-sp Campy cassette body which I no longer use and would like to use them for my next fixed project. So I guess welding is the practical way to go?

it might work...though chainline and tension would have to be very good to use a cassette/freewheel type cog and not have chain jumping problems. also, it would be best to remove the cassette body from the hub first if possible before welding as it will get VERY hot....the grease in my freewheel caght fire while welding

If I'm not mistaken there is a adapter that will lock the cassette body in place. There is a guy on the fixed gallery that is using a set of the new shimano R540's that has this and claims all is well. I think cost is ~$60. He has a webiste about the bike. www.usrnull.com/bikes. Maybe this will work for you.

Dave

I find that getting your having the chain jump the bottom cog of your derailleur and sucking the derailleur into the rear wheel makes for a good start.

You’ll know you’ve done this right when you are in the middle of the woods and have a derailleur hanger bent about 45 degrees into the frame.

Remove the rear derailleur - and here's the important part - break the chain, reassembling it so that it is snug on the next smaller cog than its natural chain line.

Now, ride home. Once the chain skips up keep riding – don’t let the noises from the hub or bottom bracket deter you. That should about "fix" the freehub. I know it doesn't exactly go with the storyline you wanted, but it's real world tested.

By the way, anybody know where I can buy a removable freehub that screws into shimano hubs? Seems like they would be cheaper than an all-new hub?

auk.......thanks, I believe the Surly Fixer is only compatible with Shimano based freebodies. My Spinergies are for Campy cassettes.

Or you could spend $15 on a fixed-gear cog and lockring!

oops!

this got out of hand. i was jus' doing research for a story i'm writing. i've got a surly fixed/fixed with a track cog; i'm not looking to do this.

i just wanted to know if you could deliberately mess up a freewheel so it behaved in a fixed manner in a road(or trail) side caveman-style maneuver.

but, i'm thinking that if you were to clobber your freewheel with a rock, you'd just break it, and couldn't ride it as if it were fixed. so i guess the story will need to be altered, or scrapped entirely.

thank you all for your responses.

-rob