Advice on converting vintage French frame to SS

[lugless]

I have an vintage French frame Meral with BB intact and rear Maillard wheel with cyclo 72 freewheel (5 speed cogs).

I would like to convert this to a single speed and have a few questions.
Can I keep the Cyclo 72 freewheel and adjust with spacers or is there an easier/better alternative ? What information do I need to be careful of before buying a crankset ? Are all square taper crank fits the same ?

Before rushing out an buying some bits, a little knowledge might be a good idea.

 

[gaijintendo]

Your bottom brackets come in a variety of widths to suit the cranks on them. I was just looking this week and noticed the options 103mm 107mm 110.5mm 113mm... I suspect these don't change the chainline, just position the cranks correctly. As for the back end... Not sure.

As an aside... I'd love to see the frame.

 

[raleighnut]

I have an vintage French frame Meral with BB intact and rear Maillard wheel with cyclo 72 freewheel (5 speed cogs).

I would like to convert this to a single speed and have a few questions.
Can I keep the Cyclo 72 freewheel and adjust with spacers or is there an easier/better alternative ? What information do I need to be careful of before buying a crankset ? Are all square taper crank fits the same ?

Before rushing out an buying some bits, a little knowledge might be a good idea.

It's a freewheel (not a 'freehub') so just unscrew it and screw on a single speed freewheel, you may need to adjust the chainline at the crank.

 

[lugless]

Thanks for the responses. The first step will be to order a removal tool - just looked at prices ... ouch !!

I will upload some pictures soon. Other than the makers decals it has no tubing identifiers.

 

[midlife]

Thanks for the responses. The first step will be to order a removal tool - just looked at prices ... ouch !!

I will upload some pictures soon. Other than the makers decals it has no tubing identifiers.

If you don't want to keep the freewheel there are ways of removing it without a tool....have you got access to a vice?

 

[raleighnut]

Thanks for the responses. The first step will be to order a removal tool - just looked at prices ... ouch !!

I will upload some pictures soon. Other than the makers decals it has no tubing identifiers.

If you work out what size single sprocket freewheel you need and buy it from a shop chances are they'll swap em over for you, my LBS would.

 

[lugless]

Here are some pictures of the frame and a link to what it should look like ;0) (if I have uploaded the links correctly)


http://velosvintage.over-blog.com/article-velo-meral-1971-51844294.html

 

[si_c]

Would a suntour two pronged freewheel tool fit the freewheel?

Also, why not get a new wheel with flip flop hub and keep the existing wheelset as spare in case you want to go geared again later?

 

[lugless]

I think the replacement wheel with Flip flop hub is a good idea. I decided to convert an old Raleigh to singlespeed as a warm-up project. I can then try the wheel from that on the French frame and see what compatibility problems I hit as I try components at hand.