Screw on vs Slide on Cassettes - Help

[Barneyballbags]

Hi,

I'm after a set of wheels for my build, and I've been offered a set which sound really good, apart from the fact that the rear hub takes a screw on rather than slide on (I don't know the technical term) cassette..

It's a Hope hub btw in case that makes any difference.

Now, I was really after a Ti Glide rear hub, but as the rims are exactly what I was after, and as the wheels are supplied with an 8spd screw on cassette, do you think I should take them, or wait for a Ti-Glide to come along..?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a screw on cassette?

Cheers
Mark

 

[one-eyed_jim]

What you're calling a "screw on cassette" is usually referred to as a freewheel (because it includes the freewheel ratchet mechanism). A "slide on cassette" is just a cassette: the ratchet is in the freehub body.

http://sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

8-speed freewheels in off-road suitable ratios tend to be quite hard to find. The design of a threaded 8-speed hub puts a lot of stress on the axle, so axle breakage is more common. That's one reason why freewheels rapidly became obsolete when cassette hubs became affordable. One other advantage of cassette hubs is that the cassette is easy to remove. Freewheels tighten under pedalling loads, so it can be a major job to remove a freewheel that's been in place for a while.

Having said that, they're legitimately retro, and can work well. But if you're looking for a bike to ride hard long term, get a cassette hub.

 

[merckx]

screw on freewheels are much harder to find basically. especially shimamo variants, they stopped producing them ages ago!

cassette cluster would be my only choice personally!

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... el-removal

 

[drystonepaul]

The main advantages of the freehub and cassette design, is that it allows the bearings to be placed further apart which gives more support to the hub axle.

With screw on freewheels the main bearings are all inside the hub shell, which leaves a long section of the axle unsupported on the drive side as it passes through the screw on freewheel.

Older style freewheel hubs had a higher likelihood of bending or breaking the axle due to this, especially when more gears and wider freewheels were introduced.

 

[Barneyballbags]

OK, thanks for the info

The wheels have been offered with an 8spd 13-32T block, so would be pretty useful for most things.

I won't be subjecting the bike to much abuse.. Maybe I'll go for it. I can easily keep the 8spd cassette which I currently have and keep my eyes open for a cassette rear hub which I can then get swapped over.

Cheers

 

[hamster]

You can also rebuild the Hope screw-on with the axle and dish reversed as a cool singlespeed hub.

So no loss anywhere if you change your mind!

 

[FluffyChicken]

and move the spacer around on the axle and fit a 7spd. they are deigned for both.

8 speed can be had on ebay and some are apparently quite good. though as you have one, nothing to worry around.
They pass through retrobike quite often.
Bearing change is easy and well they are still working today.
Tech info here, though the picture I think shows the S/S version, not the multispeed.
http://www.hopetech.com/page.aspx?itemID=SPG172

 

[juice]

I have used and abused my 7-speed freewheel since 1992 with no problems at all.
Maybe freewheels are not as available as all the cassettes around but there are some companies like Sunrace who still produce new freewheels today.
If you after some real quality freewheel for MTB use you have mainly two choices. Old Dura Ace MF-7400 and Suntour Winner WT-7000 will work.
Of course there are also all the italian brand freewheels like Regina and Campa but most of the time they are 5 or 6 speed and the big ring has something like 19 teeth. These are all made with some road bikes in mind.
Here is some random Dura Ace Youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9aUuCpfhx0

 

[legrandefromage]

The quality of current Shimano freewheels is simply kack (the black ones with the white writing). I've gone through two on the green 'Thing' and am getting almost annoyed...

 

[hot chilli]

i used a sachs 8 speed screw on for some time.. went through quite a few bent axles.
if i remember right they are suzue sealed bearing hubs built into mavic 117 sup rims.
still up in th loft... must get them out.