Freewheels - French/British different?

Alan Paterson said:

I'm looking to replace the standard freewheel on my '70s Dawes for
one with closer ratios - the ones on ebay often seem to decribe
themselves as British or French. Is there a difference? There's a
Maillard French one I like the look of right now, eg - but will it
fit? Thanks for your help.

AASHTA: <URL: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/french.html#freewheels>

Or put another way, "perhaps"

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Alan Paterson said:

I'm looking to replace the standard freewheel on my '70s Dawes for
one with closer ratios - the ones on ebay often seem to decribe
themselves as British or French. Is there a difference? There's a
Maillard French one I like the look of right now, eg - but will it
fit? Thanks for your help.

AASHTA: <URL: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/french.html#freewheels>

Or put another way, "perhaps"

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

I certainly have used Maillard freewheels in the past, I think the critcal
thing is the the thread diameter. Given that if you get one labelled as
"british" it should be fine.
HTH
Julia

"JBB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Alan Paterson said:

I'm looking to replace the standard freewheel on my '70s Dawes for
one with closer ratios - the ones on ebay often seem to decribe
themselves as British or French. Is there a difference? There's a
Maillard French one I like the look of right now, eg - but will it
fit? Thanks for your help.

AASHTA: <URL: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/french.html#freewheels>

Or put another way, "perhaps"

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

I certainly have used Maillard freewheels in the past, I think the critcal
thing is the the thread diameter. Given that if you get one labelled as
"british" it should be fine.

The freewheel is extremely unlikely to be labeled "british".

If anything, special markings were applied to the various flavours of metric
threaded freewheels. Zeus used "M", for instance. Freewheels without
markings can usually be safely assumed to use imperial threading.

If in doubs, try it. A metric thread freewheel, of any type, will not go on
an imperial threaded hub.

Alan Paterson said:

I'm looking to replace the standard freewheel on my '70s Dawes for one with
closer ratios - the ones on ebay often seem to decribe themselves as British
or French. Is there a difference? There's a Maillard French one I like the
look of right now, eg - but will it fit? Thanks for your help.

Maillard and Shimano are interchangable. NB I have a 6 speed Shimano
14-32 SIS freewheel going spare if you want it.

MSeries said:

Maillard and Shimano are interchangable.

As others have pointed out, that's not always true, particularly for older
5-speed equipment made when French (and Italian) threading was more common.
Most Maillard freewheels sold in the UK will have had British threads, but
not all.

James Thomson

jtaylor said:

Freewheels without markings can usually be safely assumed
to use imperial threading.

I'm not so sure for French components manufactured before French threaded
parts began to die out. I own French-threaded parts with no thread
markings.

Quoted message said:

If in doubt, try it.

Good advice, but Alan's looking on eBay, and doesn't have that luxury.
That's probably a good reason not to shop for freewheels on eBay.

Quoted message said:

A metric thread freewheel, of any type, will not go on
an imperial threaded hub.

An Italian (metric/imperial hybrid - 35mm x 24tpi) thread will go onto a
British hub, but the fit will be loose.

James Thomson

"James Thomson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

A metric thread freewheel, of any type, will not go on
an imperial threaded hub.

An Italian (metric/imperial hybrid - 35mm x 24tpi) thread will go onto a
British hub, but the fit will be loose.

True, but that's not a metric thread.

Alan Paterson said:

I'm looking to replace the standard freewheel on my '70s Dawes
for one with closer ratios - the ones on ebay often seem to decribe
themselves as British or French. Is there a difference? There's a
Maillard French one I like the look of right now, eg - but will it fit?

Those that specify "French" are probably talking about the thread rather
than the country of origin. Alternative markings might be "F" or "M".
Sometimes the thread is indicated - 34.7x100 is French. Sometimes the
threading isn't identified.

You might be better off not shopping for freewheels on eBay. You don't have
the opportunity to test fit the parts, and its often the case that buyers
aren't quite sure what they're selling. If it's clearly stated that the
threading is British or ISO, you should be safe enough, but freewheels are
heavy, and return postage expensive.

James Thomson

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

An Italian (metric/imperial hybrid - 35mm x 24tpi) thread will
go onto a British hub, but the fit will be loose.

jtaylor said:

True, but that's not a metric thread.

I wasn't intending to contradict you - I thought it might be useful
additional information if Alan comes across Italian threads in his
freewheel hunt.

James Thomson

James Thomson said:

MSeries said:

Maillard and Shimano are interchangable.

As others have pointed out, that's not always true, particularly for older
5-speed equipment made when French (and Italian) threading was more common.
Most Maillard freewheels sold in the UK will have had British threads, but
not all.

James Thomson

It was true for me.

MSeries said:

It was true for me.

I don't doubt it.

James Thomson

Many thanks for all advice - I shall take it all on board. Many thanks
especially for the offer of a feewheel, MSeries, but I'm looking for
something closer ratio'd - 16,18,20,22,24, sort of thing. I'll keep my eyes
open. Thanks again.
"James Thomson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Alan Paterson said:

I'm looking to replace the standard freewheel on my '70s Dawes
for one with closer ratios - the ones on ebay often seem to decribe
themselves as British or French. Is there a difference? There's a
Maillard French one I like the look of right now, eg - but will it fit?

Those that specify "French" are probably talking about the thread rather
than the country of origin. Alternative markings might be "F" or "M".
Sometimes the thread is indicated - 34.7x100 is French. Sometimes the
threading isn't identified.

You might be better off not shopping for freewheels on eBay. You don't

have

Quoted message said:

the opportunity to test fit the parts, and its often the case that buyers
aren't quite sure what they're selling. If it's clearly stated that the
threading is British or ISO, you should be safe enough, but freewheels are
heavy, and return postage expensive.

James Thomson