Possible to convert shimano front freewheel to fixed gear?
08-23-08, 11:15 AM
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Possible to convert shimano front freewheel to fixed gear?
I just bough an old Panasonic Villager with a Shimano Integer front freewheel system. Is there any possible way to convert the bottom bracket so that it can be used as a fixed gear instead of a single speed with a freewheel. I have been looking around for a while for a smaller frame than my current fixed frame and picked up this bike for $15 so its not going to kill me if I just have to leave it as a single speed. Any help would be much appreciated!! Thanks in advance.
08-23-08, 11:32 AM
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This bike does not have a freewheel on the rear it has one connected to the bottom bracket. This system allowed you to originally shift the bike while coasting as the chain is always turning. Here is some info on it:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/shimano1982/pages/35.html
If anyone knows if I can take off this bottom bracket and throw on a regular 68mm English bottom bracket that would be great. Although I'm not too sure what the threading of the bottom bracket actually is. If I can't do that do I have any other options to convert the bottom bracket so I can ride it fixed?
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/shimano1982/pages/35.html
If anyone knows if I can take off this bottom bracket and throw on a regular 68mm English bottom bracket that would be great. Although I'm not too sure what the threading of the bottom bracket actually is. If I can't do that do I have any other options to convert the bottom bracket so I can ride it fixed?
08-23-08, 11:42 AM
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I just want to make sure before I tear the bottom bracket apart. I tried to find some info about the thread size online and couldn't. I would rather leave it as is than tear it apart if I can't replace the bottom bracket anyway. Anyone else know about this?
08-23-08, 12:14 PM
#8
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offtopic:
what's this bike like to ride? sounds like it was a good idea... i wonder why they chucked it. i bet it's awesome on big fast descents.
what's this bike like to ride? sounds like it was a good idea... i wonder why they chucked it. i bet it's awesome on big fast descents.
08-23-08, 12:25 PM
#9
sounds dangerous--- back in the ten speed days, kids wore jeans when they rode. It also sounds like a lot of extra resistance in the drivetrain.
08-23-08, 01:33 PM
#12
blah
It says so right on the advert at the link that you posted. Two lines below the bold text reading MODEL BB-FF30. That thing is so goofy it seems a shame to tear it apart.
08-23-08, 01:40 PM
#14
blah
"BTW, on the cassette, the cogs are not fixed as you might expect. Instead, in addition to the freewheeling at the BB, each cog freewheels independently of all other cogs."
I dont think you can convert that short of tossing the rear wheel and replacing it with a fixed one as well.
https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-295906.html
I dont think you can convert that short of tossing the rear wheel and replacing it with a fixed one as well.
https://www.bikeforums.net/archive/in.../t-295906.html
08-23-08, 01:50 PM
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I asked my bike shop about em. I got one a few years ago. They said to not crack it open, you can't find replacement parts. Also the wasn't some roadie carbon fiber joint, Broadway Bikes specializes in commuting and utility cycling. Enjoy the novelty of no pedal shifting then move on. Its fun but kinda dumb.
08-23-08, 03:23 PM
#16
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Not only should you not crack it open, it'll explode into a million pieces when you do. Damn, that was a ***** to reassemble. And it's kinda like riding with a chainsaw running at all times on your bike. I don't really see the point.
Somebody needs to make an automatic shifting front freewheel bike. Dumb technology in the front, dumb technology in the back. It'd be a blast to watch though.
Somebody needs to make an automatic shifting front freewheel bike. Dumb technology in the front, dumb technology in the back. It'd be a blast to watch though.
08-23-08, 03:42 PM
#17
blah
heh. front freewheel + nuvinci hub + shimano coasting = 
08-23-08, 04:34 PM
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If you replace the rear wheel as well as the BB assuming that it's normally threaded you could probablly convert it to fixed, but it might be quite a lot of work, so you might just be better off getting something else with horizontal dropouts to convert
08-23-08, 05:26 PM
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its not a lot of work, i already have the wheels from another fixed gear.
08-23-08, 08:17 PM
#21
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There was a time when 3-speeds rules the world. On a three speed you need to stop pedaling for a second to shift properly. This is a problem when you try to do this on a "10 speed". Not with this system however. I guess it made it easier for people to transition away from what was starting to be thought of as an "old fart" kinda bike.
Also, I have put a standard BB in one of these bikes before.
Also, I have put a standard BB in one of these bikes before.
