I have an old 18 speed ATB. Can I up grade the rear to seven gears without any problems ? Or will a seven speed wheel not fit ? The reason I want to do this is so I can put a wheel in the rear that has a quick release. Problems / opinions ?
2007-09-12 08:08:22 · 3 answers · asked by Smelly Cat 5 in Sports ➔ Cycling
The bike is a Fila "Tome". I believe it was sold in bike shops in the 90's. Not your Walmart ****. Has a decent cro-moly frame. Shifter's / derailers look at least "entry-level". Something like Shimano DS-60 ? I don't have the bike near by to look at. Front wheel / seat have a quick release. A web search comes up with a blank. Maybe that explains why Fila no longer makes bikes. How hars would it be to just rebuild the rear wheel so it has a quick release?The bike is like new wear wise. My lard-*** friend bought it and discovered bike riding was too much effort.
2007-09-12 10:03:08 · update #1
Yes, you can upgrade to 7 gears, but you'll also have to upgrade your rear derailleur shifter to a 7-speed. If you retain your current shifter, you'll be able to use only 6 gears, and you'd have no improvement over your old set-up.
Most likely, your hub would be the freewheel type. Freewheel cogsets thread onto the hub body. 7-speed freewheels are still available. Shimano and Falcon still produce these.
After installing the 7-speed freewheel, tune the high and low settings on your rear derailleur to accomodate the whole range of gearing.
Lastly, you'll have to replace your chain. You'll need a narrower chain for the narrower spacing of a 7-speed. A Shimano freewheel will have a matching chain version. Ask your local bike shop.
2007-09-12 17:51:21 · answer #1 · answered by T-rex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a little out of my area but you're talking either a very old mountain bike or a low end model with 6x3 speeds.
To get a quick release on the back you are doing it the hard way. I believe 6 speeds are freewheels (maybe not all) and most 7 speed are cassettes. This will cause a problem because you can't simply put a 7 speed cog on and have it work. The shifters must match the speeds. I could go on forever about compatibility issue... But try this instead: Go to a bike shop, purchase a hollow axle and install on your current wheel, or pull it off the wheel you were thinking of using. DONE!
2007-09-12 08:27:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wheel will probably fit in the frame. The problem is with the compatibility of the chain, derailleur and shifter. This is not as easy a project as it sounds since you will likely need a lot of parts. If this is lower end bike, it is easier to buy a new one.
2007-09-12 08:32:39 · answer #3 · answered by Jay P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋