Help with wheel advice please.

[barbelfisher]

I have just purchased a bike with a 27 1/4 rear wheel and a standard six speed freewheel squeezed into a 120mm rear spacing and the outer cog is nearly touching the rear stays. The frame was resprayed so I do not want to alter the OLN. I think this should have had a five speed freewheel not a six in this space. I have another wheel with a seven speed freewheel on it which is much better quality which I want to use, but this obviously has a wider axle. Advice please as to how to achieve putting a five speed onto the seven speed wheel. i.e could I get away without redishing and what do about the quick release hub which is far to wide. Many thanks.

[GavinC]

6 and 7 speed wheels have the same OLN - 126mm. As you've found, you can usually 'spring' a 120mm OLN frame so that a 6/7 speed wheel can fit.

If you want to fit a 5 speed block instead of a 6 or 7 speed, you could reduce a 126mm hub to 120mm by taking out spacers on the non drive side. But you will need to redish the wheel (which is easy) and you may need to get a shorter axle, which is a bit of a pain. Better off to get a wheel the correct width to start with, I'd say

regards

Gavin

[enigmatic]

Have you tried fitting the wider wheel into the frame by flexing the rear ends? Plus you should be able to get the rear end cold spread without needing a respray. Have you asked your LBS?

[PW]

I'd cold set it. All you need is a length of threaded steel bar, 2 nuts and some strong washers, keep a check on the geometry by running a length of cotton from one dropout, around the headtube and pulled tight & knotted at the other dropout. Just measure from the thread to the seat tube on both sides. If it's +- 5mm that's as good as some frames ex-factory. I altered an old Viscount sports frame from 126 to 135mm, it had to go out to 165 & leave it for 1/2 an hour before it settled where I wanted it. The frame stayed perfectly in track.

[fatboy]

I have just purchased a bike with a 27 1/4 rear wheel and a standard six speed freewheel squeezed into a 120mm rear spacing and the outer cog is nearly touching the rear stays.

How close is it? On my tourer (8 speed) there isn't really any space between the smallest sprocket and the chainstay but it works fine.

Could you get a freewheel with a smaller top cog?