Freewheels : Shimano / ACS / White industries / Sturmey Archer / Dicta etc

So I've got 42x16 fixed, and want to get a freewheel.

Shimano only do 17t, but Dicta does 16t, they're cheap, and a bike shop 5 minutes away has them in stock. Are they really dodgy? Is it better to get a Shimano, and be a bit more "spinny"?

yes get shimano, dictas used to strip on me when i was bmxing

Ok. We seem to have a consensus, if you can have a consensus with 2 opinions. I'll make the effort and get a Shimano one.

where are you based?

acs are also good, really loud clicks!!!

white do the best ones.

Leyton, East London. London Fields in Hackney have the Shimanos in, so I might get one later this afternoon.
Who sells the ACS?

www.winstanleysbmx.com
www.alansbmx.com

http://www.winstanleysbmx.com/index.html?pageTitle=Freewheels&pageDesc=&action=search&submit=go&maincatID=0&searchtype=catID&quicksearch=184

Are there any London shops that sell the ACS?
Thanks for that BMX fred. Good to see that Alans is still going. I'm old enough to remember the mid-80s, when they were one of the few UK shops to sell skateboards.

Oh, and White are a bit too expensive for me. Even Brick Lane Bikes advised me to get a Shimano (or 5) instead.

I would go ACS if you can wait!!!!!.........

edwardes in camberwell?

Shimano do make a 16t - chain reaction cycles sell em - next day delivery usually.

I've found that every Shimano cheap freewheel has its own quirks. Ive had about 6 in the last 10 years and some last ages, some only a few months, some slip a bit and some dont. Dicta are quite poor ACS are the best budget-ish freewheel if you cant stretch to a white.

I'm probably a bit late but Cyclesurgery on Strype Street have 16t Shimano freewheels. Well, they did on Saturday anyway.

I'm probably a bit late but Cyclesurgery on Strype Street have 16t Shimano freewheels. Well, they did on Saturday anyway.

Thanks. But yes, I got a Shimano 17t. It's awfully quiet.

Does anybody know how to REMOVE a dicta freewheel?

I've seen some four-pronged, Dicta LMA-8 tools floating around, but as far as I can tell, my bike came stock with a Dicta, 16T, LMA-1 (see http://www.dicta.com.tw/samp_all.htm ). Thoughts? I really can't fathom how to get this thing off without destroying it...

Bite the bullet and buy a White Industries ENO freewheel. It will cost you but it will survive the coming ice age and still be working when the aliens find it in 10,000 years time.

Looks like it requires a normal 4-prong freewheel tool.. have you tried one?

Dicta-specific £6..
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/20370/IceToolz_Freewheel_Tool_for_Dicta_LMA8_Freewheels_09E1

pretty sure that 4-prong is only for the LMA-8 (which I don't have). From the looks of it, all their other freewheels appear to need a pin spanner to take the thing apart...

As for the ENO, the last time I tried a 3/32 with 1/8 chain I wasn't all the pleased...fine, noisy blah blah, but the chain had a periodic 'click click' that, over time, would only lead to one thing I think. Thoughts?

http://bikesbmx.co.uk/bikes-bmx-news/133.html

I had the LBS put a Dicta 16T on a Vilano SS/FG Flip Flop Tec 9 hub in 2010, It's 2017 and properly lubricated & maintained it works like it did in 2010. I forget what the original SS freewheel was on it, but whoever installed it found a way to damage it on a brand new internet bike. End of the day, it was compressed and didn't work well. The Dicta went on properly and was fortunate the OEM SS freewheel didn't damage the threads. I thought about getting a Shimano or higher dollar SS freewheel, but in hindsight, the Dicta was the way to go 46x16 isn't going to be any better with a high dollar SS freewheel than it is with a Dicta. If you are after a special look and you have to have a Shimano or White Industries. then by all means bling your SS/FG out with what looks the best ?

@velocio spam?

Can't believe after all these years on here I'm building a bike that'll be mostly ss(it's for trailer pulling so it's legit). Obviously I should just hang my head in shame and crawl back under my rock.

Before I do that I need to buy a freewheel. Liz had 7 years of all weather commuting with just one or maybe two regreases on a dicta. Is the shimano or halo worth the extra pennies? No way I'd go for a WI as I'm a cheapskate but just wondering whether mid price range is worth it?

Halo yes as more engagement pawls.
Shimano DX can't say it's much better than a dicta (have both) also look at Sturmy Archer's kinda inbetween the 2 (also have one) Shimano may have better materials, but also has no real sealing and isn't rounder than the cheaper ones, all 3 have a slight wobble.

Haven't tried a Clickster as the cheapos are all right (for me).
Sure this conversation has happened before........ another time another thread

I'm sure this convo has happened many times, cheers for the genuine user feedback lol.
Will just go for whatever looks well sealed(even tho it's going on a theoretically sunny day bike) and cheap