Greetings,
That was a common problem with Regina freewheels around that time. It may not be a broken ratchet but metal chips in the mechanism!
This has been frequently written about and you can find lots of info in the archives.
I had a Regina Oro freewheel lock up on me during a fast descent off of Sandia Peak behind Albuquerque in 1975 or 76 - from 10.6K to 7.5K altitude on essentially a fixed gear bike.
A short time after that I had another Regina lock up on me on a short hill around town.
We tore both of those freewheels apart at our bike shop plus several others that had failed about the same time. They all had loose metal chip inside them.
The chips could have been left over from manufacturing if the bodies were not properly cleaned but it's more likely that one or more disgruntled employee/s threw the chips in during assembly - the Italian way!
Since then I pretty much avoided using sacred Regina freewheels and their over priced chains! We saw no difference in chain life or performance between $18 Regina Oro chains and $6 Sedis chains (1970s prices)!
If you decide to tear into the freewheel, the lock ring on the face turns counterclockwise (I think - it's been a long time). Use a prick punch and a hammer to loosen it. Once loosened hold the freewheel over a box or open container because you'll get a rain of 1/8" ball bearings.
Everyone should try it at least once... ;-)
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
> Group
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> I have a five sprocket Regina cluster with a broken Ratchet.
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> It is from 1975 era. Is there a way to repair the assembly? Is
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> Regina still in business?
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> Bill Hackett, Mesa Arizona