I frequently convert older road frames into single speeds. I re-paint, re-grease, and the whole 9 typically. I have been buying ACS brand freewheels from my LBS at like 19 bucks a pop and just realized that everything is much cheaper online. How are Dicta compared to ACS and Shimano?

I know Shimano are quite a bit better quality (or so I have been told) so would it be wise to order 4 or 5 from the cheapest available online vendor possible? Keep in mind that I am trying to make a little money doing this, but I also want to give my buyers the best quality possible without breaking the bank.

Does Shimano make a 3/32 freewheel? I only noticed 1/8.

Another thing while I am at it. I would like to do fixed as well, but it's not the greatest idea to run a cog and BB lock ring on let's say a Rigida 27 1/4" wheel. Normal lock rings will not fit and I am not really into "half assing" things. If I am putting the work into it, I am going to do it right the first time.

Any/all advice appreciated.

shimano does make 3/32" freewheels. that's the one i have now. although shimano's quality is not bad, they not rebuildable. for the price of buying and stocking 4 or 5 freewheels, you may as well buy a white industries freewheel. they are completely rebuildable and is designed to last forever. i don't have one yet, but i'm saving up for one. the sound it makes is super good too.

Dicta to my knowledge is a decent freewheel. If you have a welder take and weld the backside of the freewheel,grind it smooth,then hit it with some paint to prevent rust. Once it's on you will never know it isn't a regular freewheel. I got bored and that's how i made my other old road bike fixed. *Shrug*

Well, the reason I was going to purchase 4 or 5 of them is because I haev 4 or 5 projects that I will be using them for. Should I just order the cheapest freewheels out there to ensure maximum profit on my bicycles? I mean is Shimano going to really make that much of a difference to a buyer do you think? I just got a Dicta for my gf's varsity and I really like the sound it makes. Much quieter then the ACS. I have runboth SHimano and ACS and they both make the clicking sound. Maybe Dicta doesn't? Keep the comments coming y'all.

I've used both Shimano and ACS freewheels and in my experience they are pretty much the same. Both brands sound pretty clunky, but they work reasonably well. I have no experience with Dicta. For your purposes, I would get whatever is cheapest since the buyer may swap it out to change gearing anyway.

^^^ yep...thanks.

Welding up a freewheel like that still risks having it unscrew once you convert it to fixed. No lock ring is used and reverse torque transmitted to the welded up freewheel is trying to unthread it from the hub. Not a safe procedure for making a FG setup.

I was thinking the same thing. Anyone know of any reasonable 27" wheelsets that will accept a cog and lockring. A bunch of guys at school used to JB weld the cogs and bb lock rings on....not a good idea.

On the subject of Dicta freewheels, is there really a difference in models (other than the number of teeth)?