FreeWheel Adapters

[dmaddalena]

I received my Quote for the aluminum freewheel adapters today. $76 each, but I'll have to order 12. $565 if I just want 1. I have no experience in this area. What do you guys think of this price? I found a couple more shops I can get Quotes from, but I'll have to visit them. This Internet sure has me spoiled.
Thx,
Dan

[dmaddalena]

Yes, I have an old SunTour 12T-19T, seven gear FreeWheel I want to use first, after that it'll be whatever I get on my 'finds'.

[TheKid]

Does it have to be aluminum? $76 is a lot for a part you can buy for 10 or 15 bucks in steel. You could also make your own steel adapter from a freewheel hub, or a left side BB cup from a BB for 3 pc. cranksets.

[dmaddalena]

Doesn't have to be aluminum. The salesman told me it would be 'cheaper' to go aluminum, because it was so much easier to machine. I think I'll have him re-quote using steel and see how that comes out. I thought $76 was a little steep. If that quote comes back as too much, I'll explore making my own. I'd prefer to have it made, I'm not confident in my ability to make these as accurate as they need to be, at least not in a reasonable timeframe.

Thanks for the input,

Dan

[dmaddalena]

Duh, Ok I understand now. Guess I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack. I think I could put something together using the BB cup. I'll at least give it a try.

[TheKid]

You can also buy them. If you're using a 5/8" axle, it'll fit just fine, if you're using a 3/4" axle, you'll have to drill it out to 3/4". If you want the adapter that also has a disc brake mount, I posted plans in the forum, and one of the guys actually made it. I'll locate and post those threads.

[TheKid]

Here's the one made by Sparky using a BB cup:

http://forum.atomiczombie.com/showthread.php?t=664

[TheKid]

I posted this originally, and Sparky made his accordingly.:

Why not make them yourself? All you need is the flat bar and a left side BB cup. Cut the disc, grind it round, drill and file the center hole to 3/4", drill and tap the disc holes, (Or use nuts and bolts) file out the BB cup center hole from 11/16" to 3/4", then weld it to the disc. You could use the BB locknut as a spacer. If you don't mind filing hardened steel, you could use the freewheel side of a hub instead of the BB cup.
I forgot to add welding a shaft collar onto the assembly if you don't want to weld it to the axle. You could either drill a dimple into the axle for the set screw to hold into. or better yet, remove the set screw and drill through the shaft collar and the axle, and use a harnened bolt and nut to hold the adapter in place.

If all you need is a freewheel adapter, you could buy one from bikepartsusa.com. It's 5/8", so you'd have to drill it out to 3/4". Sir Joey and I both used stepdrills from Harbor Freight to drill ours out. Here's links for the adapter and step drills:

http://www.bikepartsusa.com/bikeparts/item/01-6778743/search/Miami-Sun--Trike-Freewheel-Adapters-58in&category=search

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91616

[dmaddalena]

Thanks Kid for bringing that post to my attention. I remember seeing it but it didn't stick. Thanks Sparky for the pics I think I should be able to duplicate these adapters and save a large sum of money in the process.
Dan

[Sparky]

lets just cross our fingers that it will hold. i havnt had mine ridden more than a bit down the street yet :cool:

[gbbwolf]

Got pretty much the same quote from the local machine shop here.
73 bucks but I only had to have 1 made and that was with the brake adapter on it and drilled .

Using e-machineshop.com came out to like 400 bucks a piece unless you had 50 made then it was like 12 bucks LOL.

If I find someone to make em cheaper I will let ya know.

I got my 3/4 hub adapter from elliot only problem I had with it was set-screw was too small it broke right off.

And I just used a round 2.5 inch washer and a 3/4 shaft collar from the local hardware store for my brake adapters.

I got to go outside soon and drill a hole through the broken set-screw
and axle and get my bike back on the road.

So I can test and adjust evrything.
I did get to ride mine for about 6 blocks before the set-screw broke,then pushed it home disgusted for 4 blocks.

Nelson

[gbbwolf]

Well the machine shop told me it was like 4 bucks for the steel to make the part and 68 bucks for labor.
So I don't see how making them from aluminum is going to be cheaper.


Just my 2 cents.

Nelson

[dmaddalena]

Sparky,

Those welds look pretty good to me. I bet they'll hold.

The more I study the pics you posted the more I'm convinced I can do that. At the least I get some welding experience, the most I save $150 bucks a machine.

[Sparky]

im not too worried about the welds, there was mention on here that the steel is hardened. im no metallurgist, but the whole heating/cooling process might make hardened steel more brittle. or maybe less brittle, i dont know.

what im trying to say is that BB cup might explode under hard pedaling. i'm not too worried, but the fear is there.

so we shall see. off to fix my steering right now :)

[gbbwolf]

Take your torch if you have an access to a o/a unit and heat that part till its red hot.
Then it will be heat treated again and should not be so brittle.
Or next time if you don't wanna do it now.

Or at least I think that works.

I read it somewhere just don't remember where.

Nelson

[Sparky]

well, i know about annealing and tempering metal, i have to do it often at work. but i also know that i DONT know enough about HOW hot to get it, how soon to quench it, that sort of thing. im also afraid of heat distortion.

on top of all that, im friggin DONE with that piece, and if it breaks next week, i'll decide what to do then. as for now, it holds. so i'm happy.

[dmaddalena]

I received my re-quote for FreeWheel adapters in steel, $641 for 1, $84.05ea ($1,008.60) for 12. Ouch! I'll definitely be finding a way to manufacture these myself.

[TheKid]

If you're not confident enough, just buy the freewheel adapter and make the disc brake adapter and weld them together.

[locolarry]

Another time it was mentioned buying Elliot's freewheel adapter, making the brake adapter and using "golf-club" epoxy to hold them together...or did I dream that?:confused:
Larry

[gbbwolf]

Well if you dreamed it so did I cause I read it here.

I can get that part made in steel for 73 bucks only have to have 1 made.
I thought that was bad.

Depending on what axle you are using choppersus sell 5/8" adapters for 12 bucks.
But they dont have the brake flange on them.

I used the one I got from Elliot the set screw was too small and it snapped off.'

So I just drilled a hole all the way through it and the axle and put a drift pin in it.

Would have used a 1/4" 20 tpi bolt but there was not enough room.
The bolt head was rubbing on the freewheel and locking up.

Drift Pin worked really well I used a 7/32 pin.

I made my brake adapters with a 3/4" shaft collar and a 2.5 inch washer, the 2.5 inch washer is perfect size for the disc brake mounting circle.

Nelson

[TheKid]

What you guys are thinking of is screwing a disc brake adapter available at bicycle designers onto a freewheel adapter, hub, or BB cup, and holding it on with golf club epoxy.

[locolarry]

Thanks for the clarification. I'm old and have selective memory..
I'm also "old" selectively...it comes when I need a good excuse for something.:o
Larry

[TheKid]

Ditto. Getting old has its good points.

[SirJoey]

Ditto. Getting old has its good points.

Yeah, like a free small drink with my meal, at my favorite scarfin' establishment, Taco Bell! Yee-hah! :D

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[dmaddalena]

More questions about FreeWheels.
My 80s' vintage Mavic racing wheel is labeled 1.370" x 24 TPI BSC. This matches my 80's vintage SunTour (made in Japan) FreeWheels I want to use on AZ projects. I have two. However, Brad stipulates 1.375" x 24 TPI in the AZ plans for the FreeWheel adapter threads.
Question: Are the FreeWheels that come on the cheap steel bikes and older Shimano FreeWheels a different size than what I have, thus I should use them and save what I have for my racing bike?
Question: Is 1.370" interchangeable with 1.375", or is .005" large enough to make a difference?
I'm after standardization, so if my 2 SunTours are different than the 'standard' of today, I won't use them.
I've eliminated the 1/4" hole and reduced the cost of machined FreeWheel adapters to $60 ea. for a lot of 12. I need to take a FreeWheel as a thread sample, so if my SunTour is the wrong size...12 x $60 is too much money to end up with the wrong threads.
My daddy was always fond of saying "some people have more money than brains" and maybe that fits me here, but I feel more comfortable having these made than trying to make them. I keep having visions of me pounding away up a hill, with 1,000# on the trailer and BOOM, my weld lets go! Someone is going to get hurt and I bet it would be me.
Advice eagerly anticipated. Thanks guys.
Dan