11-32 7 speed freewheel

[sjpt]

Does anyone have experience with 11-32 7 speed screw on freewheels? Or any 11/12 little, 32/34 big?
We are considering one for our new second hand electric Ecosmo tandem.
The high gear is very low, and it would be helpful to have an emergency low gear. Examples are:
DRIFT MANIAC (apparently DNP) https://www.amazon.co.uk/DRIFT-MANIAC-Freewheel-11-28T-11-34T/dp/B09QXBWKLT/ref=sr_1_3
Meghna https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meghna-Bike-Freewheel-Multiple-7S-11-32T/dp/B0D83L2WW3/ref=sr_1_7
DNP https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005001282504503.html

I understand the engineering is somewhat compromised to make an 11 cog high on a 7 speed freewheel. We won't be stressing it much in the high gears, but it would be good to be able to give some pedal power at speed up to 15 mph without spinning like mad.

I saw a thread on here from more than 10 years ago and can't find it now.
... found it: https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/dnp-epoch-freewheels-and-gearing-question.13139/

 

[Sparksandbangs]

Does anyone have experience with 11-32 7 speed screw on freewheels? Or any 11/12 little, 32/34 big?
We are considering one for our new second hand electric Ecosmo tandem.
The high gear is very low, and it would be helpful to have an emergency low gear. Examples are:
DRIFT MANIAC (apparently DNP) https://www.amazon.co.uk/DRIFT-MANIAC-Freewheel-11-28T-11-34T/dp/B09QXBWKLT/ref=sr_1_3
Meghna https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meghna-Bike-Freewheel-Multiple-7S-11-32T/dp/B0D83L2WW3/ref=sr_1_7
DNP https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005001282504503.html

I understand the engineering is somewhat compromised to make an 11 cog high on a 7 speed freewheel. We won't be stressing it much in the high gears, but it would be good to be able to give some pedal power at speed up to 15 mph without spinning like mad.

I saw a thread on here from more than 10 years ago and can't find it now.

I've just put one on my commuter. Swapped out the front crank for a fixed 48t as that was the only one I ever used anyway.

Freewheel at the back was a 14/28t 6 speed.
It had a few spacers in so the 7s fitted straight in when they were removed.
32t is now perfect for setting off. The 28t always felt a bit of a struggle. The other gears aligned fairly well with the old 6 speed as 2, 3 and 4 are identical. 5 is 15t instead of 16t and 6 is 13 instead of 14. Needs a bit more effort. The 11t extra gear allows me to fly downhill.

Thought I might have to change the derailleur but a bit of adjustment and it has been fine. Poured a load of 3 in 1 in it as Saneagle advises on here for DNP freewheels. Very happy so far

Bought from AliExpress. Delivered within a week.

 

[jokskot]

My experience with the DNP freewheel is all good and it's very easy to replace worn cogs - typically the 13T and 15T - for around £1 per cog from Aliexpress.
I was not aware of the Meghna item which is very well priced and looks as if it's not a rebadged DNP. How about taking one for the team?
It's also worth noting that Aliexpress seems to have really upped its game recently and delivery is often less than 7 days from order. Also Aliexpress now has prices for UK customers including VAT which simplifies the costing and, psychologically at any rate, avoids it being levied on the transport cost.

 

[saneagle]

Does anyone have experience with 11-32 7 speed screw on freewheels? Or any 11/12 little, 32/34 big?
We are considering one for our new second hand electric Ecosmo tandem.
The high gear is very low, and it would be helpful to have an emergency low gear. Examples are:
DRIFT MANIAC (apparently DNP) https://www.amazon.co.uk/DRIFT-MANIAC-Freewheel-11-28T-11-34T/dp/B09QXBWKLT/ref=sr_1_3
Meghna https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meghna-Bike-Freewheel-Multiple-7S-11-32T/dp/B0D83L2WW3/ref=sr_1_7
DNP https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005001282504503.html

I understand the engineering is somewhat compromised to make an 11 cog high on a 7 speed freewheel. We won't be stressing it much in the high gears, but it would be good to be able to give some pedal power at speed up to 15 mph without spinning like mad.

I saw a thread on here from more than 10 years ago and can't find it now.
... found it: https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/dnp-epoch-freewheels-and-gearing-question.13139/

They're absolutely fine. We all used to use them before cassette motors became mainstream.

 

[Peter.Bridge]

I got the driftmaniac 7 speed for a 6 speed folding bike conversion that was undergeared with the motor assist (Just use 6 cogs -I don't use the biggest cog). Has been fine so far, although there are definitely reports of them failing after a few thousand miles (I would just replace it) @saneagle suggested lubricating them regularly

 

[sjpt]

Thank you everyone for the helpful replies.
I'll take a closer look at the bike to double check that a 7 speed freewheel is indeed what I need and go ahead with ordering one.

 

[esuark]

My DNP`s on 11,000 + miles so far. I changed the most used small cogs when a new chain started skipping on them. Oiled it as per saneagle.

 

[Sparksandbangs]

My DNP`s on 11,000 + miles so far. I changed the most used small cogs when a new chain started skipping on them. Oiled it as per saneagle.

Fascinated by this. How do you change the most used cogs on a dnp freewheel? I would launch in the bin and change the lot.

 

[esuark]

ZTTO MTB Road Bike Cassette Cog 8/9/10/11/12 Speed 11/12/13T Gear Bicycle Freewheel Sprocket Accessories 8v 9v 10v 11v 12v k7 - AliExpress 18

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

vi.aliexpress.com

Take the small ring holding the cogs on off and swap old for new. I used the 8 speed ones for my 7 speed DNP I think they are the same size. Might be on Ebay as well.

 

[Sparksandbangs]

ZTTO MTB Road Bike Cassette Cog 8/9/10/11/12 Speed 11/12/13T Gear Bicycle Freewheel Sprocket Accessories 8v 9v 10v 11v 12v k7 - AliExpress 18

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

vi.aliexpress.com

Take the small ring holding the cogs on off and swap old for new. I used the 8 speed ones for my 7 speed DNP I think they are the same size. Might be on Ebay as well.

I now have the strange urge to buy a few more just to take them apart to see if I can mix and match.

 

[sjpt]

Finally got round to checking, buying, and (eventually) fitting DriftManiac 11-32.
The Ecosmo is much nicer to ride; I think we'll probably mostly use gear 6 (a little higher than previous top gear 7) and be pleased to have gear 7 sometimes.

Not sure if we'll use the 32 large sprocket much; it will give a 22" gear. By the time we are using it we'll probably be down to 4 to 6 mph and the motor will be labouring. I think it will be get off and push time; or maybe on some hills make my wife walk while the motor is strong enough to help me get up solo.

I'd hoped the old freewheel would come of fairly easily after not much over 200 miles, and with hub motor taking the strain off the freewheel tightening tendency. No such luck, but managed in the end.
The new one screwed on immediately; slight hiccup when I mounted the rear wheel upside-down so the cable exit from the axle was wrong.
The indexing didn't change, the chain length was fine so no adjustments needed.

 

[saneagle]

Does anyone have experience with 11-32 7 speed screw on freewheels? Or any 11/12 little, 32/34 big?
We are considering one for our new second hand electric Ecosmo tandem.
The high gear is very low, and it would be helpful to have an emergency low gear. Examples are:
DRIFT MANIAC (apparently DNP) https://www.amazon.co.uk/DRIFT-MANIAC-Freewheel-11-28T-11-34T/dp/B09QXBWKLT/ref=sr_1_3
Meghna https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meghna-Bike-Freewheel-Multiple-7S-11-32T/dp/B0D83L2WW3/ref=sr_1_7
DNP https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005001282504503.html

I understand the engineering is somewhat compromised to make an 11 cog high on a 7 speed freewheel. We won't be stressing it much in the high gears, but it would be good to be able to give some pedal power at speed up to 15 mph without spinning like mad.

I saw a thread on here from more than 10 years ago and can't find it now.
... found it: https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/dnp-epoch-freewheels-and-gearing-question.13139/

I used to buy them direct from DNP. You can do that too, but you have to buy a box of 25. They work out at about £10 each after taxes and everything else, then you can sell the remainder at a profit to help other people get them like I did, except I didn't make a profit. I just covered my costs. I've still got some 8-speeds left, but no 7-speeds.

I occasionally see 11/34, but 11/28 are the most common.