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Regina CX, Basket Case? Or Is Nothing Hopeless?

4/6/2011

5 Comments

 
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 A few weeks ago, a member of Classic & Vintage sub-forum on www.bikeforums.net started a thread about a set of wheels he had recently picked up.  Mounted to the rear hub was this severely rusted Regina CX 7 speed freewheel.  Yes, that is rust, not caked on road grime, oil, and dirt.  He also noted the FW made a loud clunking sound.

I sent him my Regina tool in order to remove the FW and send it in for the Full Spa Treatment.  It arrived about two weeks ago, and I could not believe how bad this FW had been neglected!  Every cog had about a .5mm layer of rust.  Obviously it had lived near the ocean.  It was sad, but I was not deterred. 

A liberal dose of penetrating oil was applied to the cogs and retaining ring.  I repeated this about 4-5 times.  Eventually, the cogs started to loosen in their threads.

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Nothing pretty about this Regina CX! Rust, not road grime, was the culprit behind the discoloration of the silver cogs!
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Even the body was rusted. Even more worrisome, there was significant 'slop' between the core and the body. I feared the races were shot.
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Also, the retaining ring would not budge. This FW might be toast. But I would not give up and eventually a hammer and punch persuaded the ring to yield to the Spa Master.
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A bath in Oxalic Acid took care of the rust. Some of the original silver finish would be forever gone. Also most of the original bearings were discolored and not salvageable.
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Cleaned, greased, pawls oiled, and new bearings ready for reassembly. Would the new bearings and grease take care of the slop?
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Yes! All back together, and it purrs like a kitten! Even an apparent basket case, still has many years and tens of 1000s of miles of life left!
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5 Comments

    The Spa Meister

    In my normal life I'm a pastor, really, a husband, and a dad.  In my spare time I ride and wrench bikes.  Freewheel Spa might be a good way to contribute to Soc Sec!

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