dmil1489 Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 Hey all, I'm considering changing to a fixed rear hub and running a freewheel on the front. I have been looking at the echo hub and it looks like it would suit my needs well. But, as i am running a rear freewheel at the moment which i have no troubles with i would like to know if there are any advantages of changing this before going ahead and paying out for the hub and a new set of cranks? Thanks Alot Spud :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sikamon Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 im guessing ur 26 inch? well best idea is get a dmr revolver hub and put a free wheel on that, freewheels up front are shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_Tupman Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 To be honest I don't think there is an advantage :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyJames Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 I would say don't bother. Front freewheels are more prone to breaking than rear ones and are more hassle I think with keeping them tight and shit. Only unless you have a real crap rear one would I recommend changing and even then, why not just get a better rear set-up? In answer to your question though the Echo rear hub will do fine, as will any sealed hub. No cones to muck about with and as it is sealed will run smooth as a babies bottom. As for the front freehwheel, the trials riders choice would be the ACS Claw, cheap, reliable and good engagement however if you have the money get an ENO - 72 engagements, double the amount of the Claw and sealed bearings so they won't fall out when you go to clean it! Guy :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James_Porter Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 how do vincent hermance, coust brothers and others like kenny bealey(sp) get away with running a front free wheel then if they are as bad as they have been made out in this thread? i have never personally used a front free wheel and i am a bit skeptical about the idea. but then i think, people like vincent hermance use them, they must be good enough for people like him (super human :) ) and give them confidence so why would it not be any good for me. i know people that use a front free wheel, adrian from bath for one. he has had his for quite a while and when i last saw him (a couple of months back now) last he loved it and wasnt having any problems. also fletch uses one and seems to get on with it well enough. i personally wouldnt get one, there is nout wrong with my king and there is no reason why i should change. but the people that have slagged front free wheels off in this convo, have you actually tried them or are you just going on what other people have told you? i think your best bet would be to get this and this and you will have a nice and reliable working front free wheel. thanks james Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobnobs Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 (edited) Well me and guy both have ENO's. Mine skips about twice a week, nothing big mind. My mate has a profile, skipped once in the time he has had it. The only thing thats better about front freewheel is that its lighter. Edited May 23, 2005 by Hobnobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spunkey_monkey_boy Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 how do vincent hermance, coust brothers and others like kenny bealey(sp) get away with running a front free wheel then if they are as bad as they have been made out in this thread? i have never personally used a front free wheel and i am a bit skeptical about the idea. but then i think, people like vincent hermance use them, they must be good enough for people like him (super human :) ) and give them confidence so why would it not be any good for me. i know people that use a front free wheel, adrian from bath for one. he has had his for quite a while and when i last saw him (a couple of months back now) last he loved it and wasnt having any problems. also fletch uses one and seems to get on with it well enough. i personally wouldnt get one, there is nout wrong with my king and there is no reason why i should change. but the people that have slagged front free wheels off in this convo, have you actually tried them or are you just going on what other people have told you? i think your best bet would be to get this and this and you will have a nice and reliable working front free wheel. thanks james ← huraaah someone who see's sense... yes if its on the front you do reduce the engagements per rotation at the crank because you don't have the gear ratio working in your favour but otherwise i really can't understand the problem with it... the merseytrial nutbars use FF on eno's and the only problem they have is killing ENO's but in fairness i think adam and lee could kill a challenger 2 tank... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janson Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 i like my ffw. deore hub - about £15 fixed acs freewheel - about £15 i already had the threaded crank. it's cheap as chips, and works. as long as you're not retarded and don't service* your freewheel, it's going to kill you. just like those fancy hubs with heavier price tags than hubshells. *service = tighten the lockring every other month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 Well me and guy both have ENO's. Mine skips about twice a week, nothing big mind. My mate has a profile, skipped once in the time he has had it. The only thing thats better about front freewheel is that its lighter. ← Have you stripped your's and cleaned out the excess grease that oozes out from the bearings onto the pawls when they bed in? I found my skipped a coupla times from that. It last skipped about 4 hours ago, when I was doing a drop, but I only noticed 'cos of the sound 'cos of the next engagement coming in so quickly. That was the first time it'd skipped in about a month at least. Sikamon's Profile skipped about the same amount as mine... Anyway, yeah, front freewheel's fine. The only downside is the trouser tearing issue, but there are ways to prevent that (and fixed front drive does it too anyway, just not with the "tearing it round" malice of a freewheel). Anyway, I don't think I'd like to run anything other than an Eno (same as Hermance et al in that sense, they've all upgraded from ACS Claws). Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobnobs Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 Stripped it down good and proper, it somehow comes loose now, and skips. Its turned into a sort of acs/eno cross. I still like it, but i would rather have a profile/ck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Drewery Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 The professionals do have problems with their front freewheels, but they dont make them public for sponsors sake... I would personally just switch from rear freewheel setup to a normal rear hub setup ie hope or king, these seem to be more reliable for the majority of riders anywhere. I know that if i run a front freewheel setup (i have before on mods) that i could not trust it due to it skipping all the time, and also when you are freewheeling along the chain carries on moving so your trousers are prone to being caught (Y) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinJI Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 If you're gunna buy new cranks anyway then go for a front freewheel and lock up your existing hub because it works out allot cheaper. Other than that theres not allot of point, I'm probably gunna go back to a rear freewheel as soon as I buy a new hub, but there isn't really any major disadvantage to front freewheels like people have said on hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmil1489 Posted May 24, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 Thanks alot people cheers for all the help and advice must appreciated! I think ill stick with the rear freewheel for the moment then Thanks again (Y) Spud :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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