New to bike maintenance and I need a new axle (its bent) for my rear wheel.
I don't have the tools to take any of the axle or cassette off so thought a new wheel (with cassette on it) would be cheaper.
Currently have a 7 speed free wheel and looking at a wheel on Facebook marketplace, would it be able to work on this bike?
by EmbarrassedDesign314
4 Comments
In order to swap in a wheel fitted with a 9 speed cassette you would need to replace, at the very minimum, the rear derailleur and the right shifter. Most likely you’d also need to replace the chain, chainring and front derailleur in order to get everything running and shifting nicely. Your rear dropout spacing is probably not wide enough for a modernish 135mm QR, and if not you’ll have to coldset it, which you can only do on a steel frame…if it’s aluminium, forget about it.
TL;DR – It can be done, I have done it, but it’s not as simple as just dropping in a new wheel.
Measure the frame where the axle goes. If it’s 130 you can stretch it, 135 should be the same as the wheel on marketplace, 126mm is too small. You will need a new chain.
It has to be the same size btw, you need 26″ that might be 27.5
Ok look, few different tinks to unpick.
You can’t just change over from a 7 to 9 speed. Basically the shifters will pull the rear derailleur the wrong amount.
Also your chain is specific to 7speed.
To change the “gears cogs” across is basic but requires a few specific tools ONLY if they are compatible.
This is a minefield. Avoid.
The gear cogs either attach to the rear hub (wheel) directly (freewheel) or via a removable intermediate piece (freehub body ) there are questions of sizes, attaching method etc. Avoid.
You can get replacement axles. Look on your rear wheel hub (where the apples attach for any makers marks.
Changing axles can be done but you need specific wrenches and involves loose ball bearings. Probably avoid.
Find out what rear gears you have and look for an exact match on a new wheel. Again risk, looks out for worn gear teeth or if the wheel is buckled or other issues.
Let us know more about the wheel and axle, make etc.
Edit are you sure your wheel is sitting evenly in those dropouts? (Horizontal slots). Axles are pretty tough, can we rule out the setting in the dropouts which you can adjust using spanner’s on the outermost nuts easily?