Replacing an old freewheel. What's the usual way to go about it?

[CarltonWorksop]

My old Carlton has a five-gear freewheel. I need to change the chain and I seem to remember it being best practice to replace the cassette/freewheel at the same time? So, as my bike has two chainrings and five gears on the freewheel, then that makes it a 'ten-speed' bike right?

I can find ten-speed chains no problem, but not sure what to replace the rear freewheel with, or just to keep it. What's the usual procedure?

 

[Nob]

You’ll need a block remover either splined or 2 pronged

 

[novocaine]

not a ten speed chain. 5 speed chain. it's the number of cogs and the gap between them that defines the chain.

on modern bikes it's the norm, but on older bikes, they are less prone to issues. you might not need to change it at all.

 

[LondonClassic]

The chain you're looking for may be labelled as 5/6/7/8 speed chain - its all the same (3/32") chain. After 9,10 and up etc, the chains are thinner and specific - and will not work with your 5 or 6 speed freewheel beacuse the sprockets will be too fat.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Cassettes, especially the multi geared ones, wear a lot faster than an old 5 speed freewheel
Those old fw teeth are so thick, and lacking any cutouts for indexing, they can almost last for ever.
Certainly many, many chains.

Their main problems aren't wear by the chain, but lack of lubrication of the freewheel mechanism, and seizing onto the hub threads.
I would recommend you deal with these 2 issues and just fit a new chain.

 

[CarltonWorksop]

Thanks for all the help guys. I’ve decided to keep the freehub/wheel (Atom 77) and just put on a new chain. The new one looks narrower, hopefully that should not be an issue.

As far as wear and tear is concerned I’m now more worried about the chainrings. The big one especially has sharp teeth!

 

[CarltonWorksop]

Finally.

Can I leave this thing off? Prefer how it looks without.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Thanks for all the help guys. I’ve decided to keep the freehub/wheel (Atom 77) and just put on a new chain. The new one looks narrower, hopefully that should not be an issue.

Wrap the chain round the large freewheel sprocket. If it fits, it's ok.

As far as wear and tear is concerned I’m now more worried about the chainrings. The big one especially has sharp teeth!

Big ring teeth should be ok.

Finally.

Can I leave this thing off? Prefer how it looks without.

Trouser guard only necessary if you wear flares and no socks.

If you do, there's a warm welcome awaiting in the BMX section

 

[CarltonWorksop]

Wrap the chain round the large freewheel sprocket. If it fits, it's ok.



Big ring teeth should be ok.



Trouser guard only necessary if you wear flares and no socks.

If you do, there's a warm welcome awaiting in the BMX section

 

[bagpuss]

Freewheel removal tips .
If your freewheel is two notch type you will find it a lot easier if you place the tool in a vice . First drop some plus gas down the spoke side of the freewheel and leave over night . This will help break the bond .
If the hub is alloy you will more than likely find that the steel freewheel has bonded to it .
Place the tool in vice and insert the 2 notches onto the fw .slowly turn the wheel from side two side in order to break the bond between the two different types of metal .
Unless the tool is firmly held in place it is very easy to ruin the notches.

Of course none of the matters if you are not removing the freewheel .

Two get the fw running smoothly drop a little light sewing machine oil onto the front of the fw and leave to penetrate into the body .