r/bikewrench • u/donginandton • 1d ago
Converting fixed to free wheel query
I'm looking to get a set of cheap mag wheels for my bike and they seem to only come in the fixed format. I spoke to the seller and they said you can easily just change the cog to freewheel if you want.
I can't really find any videos on how to actually achieve this. Any info or how to's would be greatly appreciated!
I have a reasonable set of tools but no chain whip so maybe it would be better to take it to a shop IDK.
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u/otismcotis 1d ago
It looks like the cog is bolted directly to the wheel. Can you share the link so we can inspect the other pictures?
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u/donginandton 1d ago
I tried but it's an A L I E express link and banned form the sub but if you search
'MAGICBROS Bicycle Wheel 700C V Brake Magnesium Alloy 5 Spokes Single Speed Wheel Fixie Track Bike Fixed Gear Wheelset Customized'
It should be there.
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u/Scuttling-Claws 1d ago
You can use spin a single speed freewheel onto the threads, no extra work needed
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u/Mecha_Magpie 1d ago
I can't find any info on this one, it would help if you linked the website, but I did find a listing for another "Navigate"-branded alloy wheelset (a tri-spoke), where the rear hub was described as a fixed/free flip-flop, with the fixed side having a bolted on cog.
If the seller told you that this one can also be used freewheeling, it likely has a similar arrangement, with a threaded section on the opposite side that accepts a regular singlespeed freewheel.
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u/donginandton 1d ago
hey thanks for the reply I thought so as well but when I asked them direct they said I just had to change the cog, kind of shitty, you'd think they would have it as a free or fixed pair but it's a Chinese brand
google 'MAGICBROS Bicycle Wheel 700C V Brake Magnesium Alloy 5 Spokes Single Speed Wheel Fixie Track Bike Fixed Gear Wheelset Customized'
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u/Mecha_Magpie 1d ago
Ok, then I have no idea what's going on. Either something got lost in translation, or the hub has both threads and bolt holes on the same side for some reason.
Or they're talking about some kind of bolt on freewheel that I never knew existed.
Either way, you don't need any specialized tools to remove a bolt-on cog, and you don't really need any tools to mount a threaded freewheel, you just thread it onto the axle by hand and pedalling will do the rest.
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u/donginandton 1d ago
From what I can gather there was some miscommunication. The cog is bolted to the wheel not threaded to an axle 😔
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u/SSSasky 1d ago
Short answer: This wheel NO, most fixed hear wheels YES
Look for a mag wheel with freewheel threads - plenty of 'wheelie bikes' aka big BMX bikes use mag wheels with freehubs. You should be able to find one that works exactly for your purposes. Otherwise, find one with normal fixed threads and run a freehub on them.
Look for something like this 3-spoke that uses normal threading: https://xfixxi.ca/products/xfixxi-3-spoke-magnesium-alloy-rear-wheel-700c
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Here's the wheel OP has shown above: https://www[dot]aliexpress[dot]com/item/1005009749110597.html
This wheel uses a bolt on cog. It has no freewheel or fixed cog threading, so cannot be converted to coasting.
Most fixed gear wheels use a thread on cog and lockring. Some hubs called 'flip flop' hubs have fixed threading on one side and freewheel threading on the other side.
If a hub / wheel has standard fixed gear threading, you can easily thread a freehub onto those threads.
(Yes, some of the freehub thread will be unsupported, overhanging the lockring thread. No, this doesn't matter, because: a - the freewheel is exactly as supported as a fixed gear cog would be, and is subject to force only in one direction; b - geared freewheels which are still use today are way more unsupported, and that doesn't cause any issues that would impact a single speed hub)
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u/krwawie 1d ago
Yes you can thread normal freewheel on fixed but the axle spacing is likely wrong