Shimano 600 (1980s) v MF-TZ500-6 (2025)

[Mr Weirdo]

Sun race do a decent freewheel

As a screw-on weirdo I like a good freewheel

I have a 5spd 600 freewheel with the wackiest combination of sprocket sizes but it works and I guess that's all that matters

I do get some odd comments from my LBS like Dinosaur and older than the Ark

 

[pigman]

Cheap freewheels aren't "square" on the hub, so waver from side to side as they turn.

Some of the 80s Maillard ones did this after a bit of wear

 

[Mr Weirdo]

Some of the 80s Maillard ones did this after a bit of wear

This sounds like something I should experience for myself? Lol All new to me

 

[bikeworkshop]

This sounds like something I should experience for myself? Lol All new to me

Even better, when your maillard freewheel is wearing and loose, you could dismantle it and swap shims around to tighten it up again.
There was a drawer of freewheel shims when I started in the shop 95, but they had already fallen out of use, like the sturmey drawer cabinet.

I've used a few, but if you need to charge 50£ hr to cover costs, dismantling a freewheel with rows of tiny bearings, cleaning everything up, experimenting with shims, replacing the Pawls and springs, regreasing and reassembling needs to be done in 20 minutes to be cheaper than a new freewheel

 

[Mr Weirdo]

Even better, when your maillard freewheel is wearing and loose, you could dismantle it and swap shims around to tighten it up again.
There was a drawer of freewheel shims when I started in the shop 95, but they had already fallen out of use, like the sturmey drawer cabinet.

I've used a few, but if you need to charge 50£ hr to cover costs, dismantling a freewheel with rows of tiny bearings, cleaning everything up, experimenting with shims, replacing the Pawls and springs, regreasing and reassembling needs to be done in 20 minutes to be cheaper than a new freewheel

Maillard? French aren't they? Bet they were made purely for the British market lol

 

[bikeworkshop]

Probably got a funny bearing size.

One of the last places that Imperial still lives.
1/8" ball bearing?
Non! Trois millimetres.

 

[LondonClassic]

I've used a few, but if you need to charge 50£ hr to cover costs, dismantling a freewheel with rows of tiny bearings, cleaning everything up, experimenting with shims, replacing the Pawls and springs, regreasing and reassembling needs to be done in 20 minutes to be cheaper than a new freewheel

Have you seen this fella? Seems to do full services on old nags - including full freewheel refurbs where I suspect most people would just junk them.

I'm guessing the only way to make that kind of activity pay is through grabbing YT subs.