77 Carlton Corsa restore and freewheel probs

[FR7]

hi everyone i am trying to restore my carlton corsa,how do i go about up grading from a 5 speed freewheel to a 6 or 7 speed, my bike is only a 5speed modle, i would like to still use the original huret rear mech,can it be done,
i do have a back up if all else fails i can use the atom 5 speed freewheel from a 76 carlton continental i have lying about.

 

[PpPete]

A lot is going to depend on the rear drop out width. You may need to cold-set it to take the wider freewheel. Are the gears indexed? If so than you'll likely lose that and have to stick with friction.

 

[Ian H]

Measure between the dropouts. If it's 120mm you'd need a narrow 6-speed (if you can still find such a thing); if it's 126mm then a standard 6 or a 7 will fit. As PpPete says, you can respace the rear end. More info here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

 

[biggs682]

+1 on above 2 comments

 

[Spokesmann]

A 6-speed block will fit, Ive done this on my Continental. 7-speed may be pushing it. Indexing won't work unless you can get the appropriate levers, but then this is a retro ride so Id forget it anyway. As you say use the old Atom form the 76 Continental if all else fails. look forward to seeing some images.

 

[Ian H]

As mentioned above, there are two varieties of 6-speed block: narrow and standard. Standard is the same width as 7; narrow fits where a 5-speed would. I have no idea of the current availability of these, but Ebay might be worth a punt.

 

[brockers]

Bit late to this, but I'm putting gears back on my old fixie frame and using components from an old Raleigh 501 that I found 'lying around'. Mine's spaced at 126mm and the wheel from the Raleigh (Maillard hubs and Weinmann alloy rims - quite decent all in all) has a Maillard 5 speed block which I'm going to replace with a new 7 speed. Hilary Stone is the place to look. And nice to know that freewheels aren't expensive either.

 

[Spokesmann]

How this refurbishment progressing then?

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

"This post is useless without photos."

 

[EYE-TYE-MAD]

hi everyone i am trying to restore my carlton corsa,how do i go about up grading from a 5 speed freewheel to a 6 or 7 speed, my bike is only a 5speed modle, i would like to still use the original huret rear mech,can it be done,
i do have a back up if all else fails i can use the atom 5 speed freewheel from a 76 carlton continental i have lying about.

Carlton did actually put out some models mid 60s, with 6 speed blocks, so a six shouldn't be a problem. Anything over that needs frame mods i.e. seat & chain stay bridge replacements. To be honest, I'd leave well alone, any messing, however well intentioned is bound to deminish the frames originality. Take it for what it is & as a marker for how far bikes have come.