Reid Fisher asked:
>- Are there sources for 5-speed threaded freewheels to fit older
>120-mm spacing rear wheels (for my '64 Carlton Flyer), or must one
>try to find them used/NOS thru the listings, Ebay, etc.? My LBS
>says they could only find a cheapy 14-28,
That would be Shimano. Although they are inexpensive, they are among
the finest freewheels ever made. Don't let the low price fool you.
>and I don't have hills that steep. I'm looking for 14-26 max, maybe
>less than 26.
We've got Sun Tours: http://harriscyclery.com/
>Are there different freewheel/hub threads to be aware of?
Basically there's "regular" and old French. French is VERY uncommon.
>
>- Even though the '72 Campy Nuovo Record rear derailleur on that '64
>Carlton Flyer should handle a 14-28 freewheel (per the archives),
>the chain length needed for this bike would be longer than the new
>chain I just bought (like 57 inches+) -- unless I just bag using the
>big/big combo which makes sense anyway. Am I somehow asking for
>trouble by setting it up that way and just remembering I can't use
>the big/big combo?
Absolutely! DON'T DO IT!!! You would be tempting Murphy...and he bites!
>It looks as though with a long enough chain, I could in theory run
>all ten gears on this 46/54 and 14-28 setup. If I find a 14-26 or
>smaller freewheel, most of this navel-gazing question just goes away!
>
>- What chains can and cannot be used on '60's and early '70's era
>bikes with Campy chainrings and ye olde 5-sp freewheels?
I would avoid "9-speed" chains, but other 3/32" chains will work fine.
We've got some NOS "West German" Wippermans that are a particularly
good choice for 5-speed systems: http://harriscyclery.com/
Sheldon "Tick Tick Tick..." Brown
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
| Give a man a fire, and he will stay warm for a day. |
| Set a man on fire, he stays warm for the rest of his life. |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
--
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com
Useful articles about bicycles and cycling
http://sheldonbrown.com