How hard/expensive is it to change out a free hub on a wheel from seven speeds to nine speeds? Do I need any unusual tools?
Thanks,
Adam
I think your popular answer will be - you cant (well you can but why? and how hard are you willing to hunt for parts and new spacers for the axel?). I would look to pick up a new wheel.
I wish it was possible because there are all kinds of older 7 sp freewheel Hed discs, etc on ebay for a psalm.
If you use Shimano bar end shifters, you can switch to friction and run an 8 speed freewheel and just loose a gear. I did this last year and it worked. I did upgrade and sold a disk for cheap.
Hi Adam,
Which 7-speed hub are you talking about? The new free hub body has to match your existing hub. It would be easier and almost as cheap to buy a new rear hub.
All the other posts are talking about freeWHEELS not freehubs.
Free hub or freewheel really doesn’t matter. If you buy a cheap disk off ebay and it is even a 6 speed, friction shifters would allow you to shift into any gear with out gear spacing issues. I’m not posting about hub changes, just the thought of being able to put an old cheap disk on the back and making it work.
I was looking at cheap disc wheels on Ebay, just as someone mentioned. I don’t know if I used the correct terms, but I wanted to take a seven speed wheel and turn it into a nine speed. I know eight and nine speed hubs are compatable, but seven isn’t big enough or just doesn’t work.
Here is the wheel: 700c Matrix clincher disk Sachs-Maillard 12-19 7spd freewheel
If it can been turned into a nine speed, great, if not, I’ll look for something else.
From what other people posted, I’m a bit confused. Some said that it was possible with friction shifting. My understanding is that it won’t work because there isn’t enough room for the cassette to fit. Anyway, any help would be great.
Thanks,
Adam
Adam,
I can give you the 4-1-1 on this subject for a HED disc. I have an old 7-speed FREEHUB 650c disc and I want to bring it up to 9-speed spec. I called HED today and they said that they could do it. They will inspect the wheel for problems, replace the bearings and install a 9-speed FREEHUB body all for the sum of $50. Can’t beat that with a stick. The axle is already 130mm over locknut so that is a non-issue. I’m going to guess that you have a Shimano freehub body on your wheel. If HED can locate a freehub body to fit this hub, I’m sure you can do the same for yours.
Good luck.
"I can give you the 4-1-1 on this subject for a HED disc. "
Do you realize that you’ve just tripled the price of the old Hed discs on ebay. I honestly didn’t think it could be done.
Given that info, what you want to do will not be possible. The reason is that there is no 9 speed freewheel that is made.
If you have a 7 speed wheel with a FREEHUB it could be changed to 8 or 9 speed by changing the FREEHUB you might have to put in a longer axle and will have to redish the wheel so it will be centered in the frame,thats if your spokes are long enough to allow the redishing, if you have a hub with a Freewheel you cound get a 8 speed Freewheel,the two types of hubs are not interchangable
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