Re: [CR]Vintage Freewheels/Spacing?

(Example: Framebuilders:Alberto Masi)

Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 22:57:44 -0700
Subject: Re: [CR]Vintage Freewheels/Spacing?
From: "Terence Shaw" <terence@shawscycles.com>
To: <NortonMarg@aol.com>, <krawls@visuallink.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <136.f4202d3.2a3a9575@aol.com>


on 6/13/02 5:40 PM, NortonMarg@aol.com at NortonMarg@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 6/11/02 6:36:14 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> krawls@visuallink.com writes:
>
> << The ultra 6 was a narrow
> spaced freewheel designed to work in the space of a 5 speed freewheel on
> frames with 120 rear spacing. >>
> My recollection was you had to add 1 to 2 mm to make this work.
>
> <<The 6 speed standard was designed for 126
> spaced frames.>>
> My recollection is 125mm?
>
> <<They then came out with the 7 speed ultra to work in place
> of the 6 speed standard. All 7 speed freewheels by Suntour are the same
> width.>>
> Was this the switch to 126.5?
> Stevan Thomas
> Alameda, CA
> _______________________________________________

Yes,120mm 5spd, 125mm 6 spd, 126.5 7spd(you set the frame rear forks 1mm wider). Just as important that 1.5mm is added to the right side of the axle for frame clearance. The Campy hubs were designed for Regina Corsa and Oro freewheels. 35mm for the 5 and 36.mm for the six (I belive this info is in cat #17). While all standard spaced Suntour freewheels were almost 2mm wider(than Regina or Atom)), the Suntour ultra six was I belive 3.7mm wider than a Regina 5. All sevens are "ultra" the Shimano Dura Ace/ Sante and the Regina CX/America are the most narrrow. If your right seatstay had a fat dome or the drop out was thin 1-2mm wouldn't do it , but yes if the framebuilder was also a bike mechanic that would be enough! I used normal sixes with my super record rear. It had no spring tension left for the small cog on the sevens making for very sluggish shift(even with bending the spring).
    I used to be an authority on this. I gave about the same info and more to Howard Sutherland for his first edition. T. Shaw Santa Clara, Calif.