Converting a threaded Freewheel to a Single Speed
In this post, Iâm documenting how to convert a threaded freewheel to a single speed â using what you already have â without any specialized tools or boutique products. Or maybe just one boutique part â a spacer.
Tools are essential, and if you donât have whatâs listed below, itâs best not to start this project. I also take no responsibility for any loss or damage you might cause by following the steps in this article.
People often say you need a new wheel, or that you can reuse your hub but re-dish the wheel, and that youâll also need a different freewheel. Blah, blah. I just want to prove it can be done without any of that. If youâve got an old generic 5+speed with horizontal dropoutsâor even vertical ones (just add a chain tensioner)âyou can build a simple drivetrain, here and now. 1x1.
Letâs do it. Tools out!
Tools & Bits Youâll Need
Chain whip (to hold the cogs in place)
Strap (like Surlyâs Whip LashÂź, Junk StrapÂź, or anything tough enoughÂź to lock around the cogs)
Mallet or hammer
Old screwdriver or steel rod (to use as leverage on the lockring)
Chain breaker tool (to size and fit the new chain length)
Custom spacer (you can use any pipe of the right diameter cut to length, grind down the teeth of old cogs, or get a made-to-order custom spacer on http://9chol2.etsy.com/)
Optional but recommended: anti-seize grease for the threads and a beer.
What Weâre Going to Do
Hereâs the short version of the mission:
Remove the rear wheel.
Lock the freewheel using a chain whip and strap.
Knock the lockring free with a rod and mallet. Anticlockwise.
Remove the cogs.
Install your chosen cog with spacers to line things up.
Check chainline â aim for straight!
Apply anti-seize and tighten everything back down.
Re-fit the wheel, cut the chain to length, and ride off.
If you want gear advice: go for something around 2:1 ratio or a touch lower, see the Sheldon Brown (link), for a good balance between climbing and speed.
And hereâs the long version of the mission:
Step 1: Remove the Wheel
Wheel off, done.
Step 2: Secure the Freewheel
Wrap your strap around the cogs, hook up the chain whip, and lock it all so the freewheel wonât spin.
Step 3: Free the Lockring
Take your steel rod or screwdriver, place it in the lockring slot (or the smallest cog if lockring is missing), and give it a sharp whack with the mallet. A few strikes usually does it â the ring loosens and spins free.
Source: ProjecTrebs (1)
Step 4: Strip the Cogs
Slide the cogs off the body. Save the cogs.
Source: author
Step 5: Install Spacer + Cog
Clean the cog and use it with spacers to center it on the freewheel body. In most cases, it should sit where the smallest cog was originally. See step 7 âyou donât want skips or a dropped chain.
Sources: author, Redentube (2)
Step 6: Lock It Down & Re-Install
Smear some anti-seize on the threads before locking the cog and spacers in place. Refit the wheel into the frame, making sure the axle is secure.
Source: author
Step 7: Set the Chain
Use the chain breaker to shorten the chain to the right length. You want it taut, but not too tight â a little play is normal. Connect it back up, double-check alignment, and thatâs it.
Source: mi-kanzan (3)
Step 8: Ride
Congratulations â youâve just converted a threaded freewheel bike to a simple single speed. Less to fiddle with, less to break, and heaps of fun.
Notes, References & Sources
More Single Speed articles:
Video version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BweN-47ah_s https://sheldonbrown.com/singlespeed.html https://surlybikes.com/pages/single-speed-gearing-101 http://www.63xc.com/wakem/wakedriv.htm
(1) ProjecTrebs, THREAD TYPE COGS/SPROCKET REPACK/OVERHAUL WITHOUT SPECIAL TOOLS | DIY | 7SPEED COGS | ProjecTrebs, available on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E47KM8-S80
(2) Redentube, Gawin mo to sa 7speed thread type cogs mo / Single Speed Conversion /Bike Serye, available on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT_d6GMW6ug(
3) mi-kanzan, The S4-WORKS aka the "Rockcobbler" is a crown race away from completion!, available on http://instagram.com/p/CbZC4H0OzcA/















