Help me convert this MTB to FG. (it has horizontal Drops)
 

First, yes I know its a cheap bike with a cheap frame, thats what Huffy produces. However, it was free, it has horizontal dropouts and it weighs next to nothing. Basically I want to make this as cheap as possible. I guess going with a bunch of spacers on the rear would be that route? So, I would like to know which hub size I need for the rear or should I buy a full wheel set from BikeIsland, or run spacers. The only way I wont convert this is if it will run me over $200 to $250 to do. Otherwise, I do not need people telling me its a waste of time. I just want to use this as my campus thrash bike.

I know I will need: rear hub/spacers or new wheel set, chain, rear cog, pedals. Would like to keep the crank and just put on spacers on it if needed for alignment. I do not mind running a suicide hub, I will be keeping the brakes.

I was looking at either a 26" wheel set from BikeIsland or a hub from Harris Cyclery. I am guessing I need a 130mm rear hub.

So here are pics and measurements I took. Let me know what other measurements are needed to help figure this out.

18 inches from Center of Crank to Back of Rear Dropout.
5.5 inches from the Outside to outside of Rear fork
Under 5 1/4 inches (cant think right now, picture shows exact) from Inside to Inside Rear fork
3 3/4 inches from Inside to Inside of Front Fork

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...taldropout.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../Bike/rear.jpg

front wheel
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...heelspokes.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...frontwheel.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../crankside.jpg

Rear Fork Outside to outside measurements
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...etooutside.jpg

Rear fork Inside to inside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...detoinside.jpg

Front Fork outside to outside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...idemeasure.jpg

Front fork inside to inside
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...forkinside.jpg

front fork inside to inside again
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...idemeasure.jpg

I think I covered everything. 2 other photos in the second post.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...Bike/pedal.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...Bike/crank.jpg

i think you can just take off that freewheel cassette and replace with a freewheel cog. that'll get you rolling as a singlespeed. if you want to ride it fixed, i think you'll need a new rear hub. in terms of costs, if you already have the tools and knowledge (or have a good hookup at a lbs), it shouldn't cost you much. however, that doesn't seem to be the case (sorry, no offense), it may be more trouble than it's worth. i just mean that if you're going to be taking that back to the shop for every little unexpected nuisance, it could add up quick.

that'd be a fun unique build...like to see how that turns out. don't know what kind of freehub you have, but the Surly Fixxer might work? otherwise, suicide hub'd be a good bet.

Well I definitely want to make it fixed. The Surly fixxer may be an option but I was hoping I could get away with a new rear hub and just thread that in or at the very least a suicide hub.

I am unsure of who makes the hub. It just has China printed on it with FN-something. I do know it is a 36 spoke.

I did a similar conversion. I did it because the frame was decent (an 80's rockhopper) and it had sentimental value (my first "real" bike).

Considering the situation, I assume that bike was given to you, I'd recommend spending a minimum of money on it. And by minimum, I mean zero.

Get an entry level FG bike like a Mercier TT or something like that. The price of a decent rear wheel alone is about 150$, and you'll probably want slicker tires too. Perhaps you'll want to get a chainring and a chain as well. All in all, you'll end up spending almost as much and ending up with a bike that's probably less than satisfactory.

Maybe, if you're on a minimal budget, convert it to a SS, but if you're gonna spend more than 100$ on that bike, I'd say it's a waste of $.

FYI, my conversion cost me around 350$, including tires, a decent new 26" wheelset (my old ones were shot), a new headset (old one wouldn't turn unless I exerced force) and BB (to accomodate a Shimano 600 road crankset that was given to me). I got some KoolStops in front for emergencies and a new brake lever.

As I said earlier, I have a sentimental attachment to that bike, but if it was for financial reasons alone, I should have gotten another bike.

if you've got a freewheel hub i don't think the surly fixxer will do you any good (it's only for cassette type hubs).

you can get a flip flip rear hub and use your old rim. you'll probably need to get different spokes due to different lengths depending on the flanges on the hubs you get.

Looks like a freewheel to me

I would take it off, screw on a fixed cog (loctite if desired) then use a BB lockring, I tightened mine so much against the fixed cog I didn't need loctite.

now that i've given it another look, i don't know why i thought it was cassette...haha ok, so scratch the Fixxer.

Well, the bike is now completely stripped except for the crank is still on the frame. The hub is definitely a freewheel. I either need to buy the socket to remove it or take it to my LBS. I will call the LBS tomorrow to see how much they want to rip me off for to pop it loose.

04jtb: are you saying take off the freewheel and screw a fixed cog onto the hub that is already there? Will I need the spacer kit for this? Any pics of what you have?

http://nycbikes.com/item.php?item_id=649

$89 ss wheelset from NYC bikes

Thanks for the link. :thumb:

no problem, vuelta makes alright stuff, i meen for the money it's prety damn good. I have a Vuelta crank on my Soma Rush and really it performs very well. So hopefully if you do choose to get the wheels (great price) hopefully they'll perform well too. Good luck