Raleigh Record Sprint + 7 speed freewheel - possible?

[stevesey]

Have dusted off the old girl - 2 25km rides last weekend and 50km today (all @ 22kph).

Anyway can I fit a 7 speed Shimano Tourney HG37 in place of the 6 speed - I've seen a few posts suggesting it can be done. 13 (from 14) at the bottom would help crusing/downhill and the 28 at the top would really help up the hills (possibly with a 38T front as well - if the 28 is not enough).

 

[stevesey]

Re:

Been doing some measuring - 120mm dropout :-( sprockets looks like 5.25mm with an overall dimension of 28mm (possibly 5.35/28.6 after looking at Shedlon's crib sheet - http://sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-spacing.html)

Shimano HG is 5mm/31.9mm - so an extra 3.5-4mm width.

Key question is where is the extra 4mm - if that's extra offset on the wheel side I'm OK. 2mm either side I'm OK - just (most likely?). All 4mm on the frame side and - I'd probably need to cold set the frame by a couple of mm and add a washer/spacer either side of the axle.

 

[FINNEY1973]

I stretched mine and got 8 on the rear, should of cold set but just went for force to get the extra 2mm. However, mine was a later model and was 126mm to start with.

 

[stevesey]

Re:

Well it fits

With the aid of a washer on the drive side, without that the chain just rubs the dropout. No cold setting - and wasn't really aware of springing the frame much to get the wheel back on with the washer. Checked the centre of the wheel with a long steel rule and it looks spot on. Needed to adjust the derailleur to get up onto the 7th 28T cog. That was about it. Haven't ridden yet as it's dark/wet now (and rain forecast for the weekend )

Re-greased the bearings - not sure if I they need a tweak can feel a slight movement at the rim.

 

[latman]

what is the bcd of the spider , I have never seen a 38t personally but they can apparently fit on 130BCD cranks , be careful as some tooth (eg 53-38 = 15) gaps are too big for front mechs though

also the total difference at the rear is sometimes too much for that mech (28-13 =15 in your case)

 

[stevesey]

Re:

Holding off on changing the front until I've ridden for a good few kms. Rear mech seems to cope fine at present, a few rides will confirm.