5 spd cassette removal question....(BIG photos)

Triathlon Forum
1

I have an old schwinn world sport (circa early 1980’s) and I’m working on putting it back into workiing order. I want to make turn it into a single speed (maybe a fixie, but my area is relatively hilly) and the cassette is rather “out dated” for a lack of a better word. It doesn’t have the normal lock ring, or skewer for that matter. It’s more of an axle and I really have no idea how to take the cassette off. Can I take the cassette off and make it a SS? Or would it be best to just leave it as is and poisition the chain on the right cog for a direct chain line. Here are a couple of photos: (sorry, they are huge, just look at the axle, “lock ring” area)

http://i15.tinypic.com/2rekw13.jpg[/IMG]

http://i15.tinypic.com/2a0kg14.jpg[/IMG]

2

park tools has a good bike repair info

and the sheldonbrown.com is the bomb in fixed \ single speed on the cheep

good luck

I find having riding friends at the lbs is worth it’s weight in gold when i need help fixing somthing .
they like cops like donuts :wink:
6 donuts go a long way their.

dirt

3

that will most likely be a freewheel, as opposed to the modern freehub design we have these days,
http://sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.htm

this explains much of the freewheel stuff,

http://sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

single speed free wheels here too
.

4

Ps you don’t want a single speed !
if you want that just don’t shift.
fixed is the way to go

dirt

5

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=48
You’ll need the FR-2 freewheel tool(above is a link for you to see). It is the Suntour 2-notch removal tool you’ll need.

http://www.yellowjersey.org/stkeys.html another link for you to look at.

6

yes, this is a freewheel, not a cassette…I have the tool down on my workbench. Ah, the good old days! Just get the tool and insert similar to a lock ring tool and trun until the whole cog set comes off in one piece. The ratchet assembly in in the cog set, not the hub. As I recall, unless the wheel is reversable, ie threads on both sides, it won’t work as a SS fixie.
Good luck, and thanks for the memories!!

7

Thanks for all of the help. So what I’m gathering is that I should make it a fixed gear and not a single speed, which seems like more fun anyway, but I might not be able to do it because of the freewheel. (I’m thinking outloud). Is this right? I’ll have to take it into the shop (which I’m good friends with) and see what my options are. Thanks again for the wise words.

8

Should you be able to get the cogs (or cluster) off, you’ll find one right hand thread, suitable for another set of cogs from the same era (now I feel old!), a fixed wheel has the same thread for the fixed cog and another smaller left hand thread for the lock nut. The locknut is left handed so that you don’t unwind the cog when you’re slowing, basically if you want to go fixed you’ll need a new hub.

9

no this ain’'t so about needing a new hub
all my fixed gear bikes use old 5 speed hubs with the freewheel removed and a track cog which has the same thread spun on using a bottom bracket lock nut the secure the cog.

the only hard part is to redish the wheel to get a nice chain line

check out sheldonbrown.com fixed gear info and the parts you could buy if you are not handy at bike repair.

dirt

10

Cheyou speaks the truth. I took it one step further. I put some spacers behind the track cog on my freewheel hub. This eliminated the need to re-dish the wheel. I also skipped the BB locking part as I did not have room after putting in the spacers. I put some locktite on the cog. No problems thus far. I do make it a point to use my brakes to slow myself down rather than using the drivetrain (this saves on my knees, and does not put force attempting to unscrew the cog).

11

life is all about having the LBS owe you a favor
then the redish is free and the lockring fits on :wink:

it is all about donuts

dirt.

12

http://www.resizr.com
.

13

Cheyou speaks words of wisdom. Listen to him.

14

So it is possible. Glorious! I may post some pics when I finish it up, but don’t expect anything too special. After all, I’m using some old black 105 compnoentry. Thanks for the tips.

15

After all, I’m using some old black 105 compnoentry.

black 105 ain’t old !!!
you kids are somthing :wink:

dirt

16

I’ve done that years ago (use a BB locknut). Have you ever had one come loose?

17

I meant “old” as in I’m not using it any more.

I’ll rephrase: after all, I’m using some extra parts that I had lying around.

:wink:

18

No with a BB locknut I have not had a problem
If you are worried use some locktite
I never have
I traded for the 5 speed wheels (GP4 tubbies)
They were like new less then 100 miles
I have a brake on the front of my fast fixed and 2 on my fendered, rainy day fixed.
The brakes on the fendered bike stink, 1960s single pivot.

dirt

19

You’ve got me thinking, I might hava to dig out that old steel framed Tommasini (with some rear wheel adjustment even though thay are not horizontal) and make my self a fixie.

20

I was going through this same dilema before I went out and just got a fixed hub/rim. Don’t even bother converting a current rim over. I got a Suze flip/flop hub laced to a rim for $40. It was a hell of a lot easier than redishing the old rim and wht not. I though about just putting on a single track cog on the freewheel cassette but it is not real safe as it will more than likely spin off even with a locknut because it is not meant to run that way. Watch Craigslist and get a flip/flop rim and you can go fixed and freewheel. It is so much easier and safer then the alternative.