Freewheel or cassette?

[blimpnoddle]

A friend has an 8 speed Canondale mountain bike which is at least 20 years old. Without taking things apart is it possible to determine whether it has a freewheel or cassette? Is it the case that freewheels only went up to 7 gears and were largely superseded by the late 80s by the cassette/freehub? If that's so then I have my answer but confirmation would be appreciated.

 

[mjr]

Look at the inside of the cluster as it freewheels. If the splines stay put, it's a freewheel. HT http://sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

 

[Poacher]

Without thinking about it, I would have said that anything over 7 was a cassette, but a quick look at Spa cycles site shows Sunrace and Zenith 8 speed blocks.
Who'd a thunk it?

 

[Dogtrousers]

How wide are the dropouts? If its 130mm it will be a cassette, less than that it will probably, but not certainly, be a freewheel. Have a look at what Sheldon said about dropout spacing.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html

 

[si_c]

I'd say it's unlikely to be a freewheel, you can get some 8 speed freewheels, but they are not common. I'd say it's a cassette.

If you want to be sure, Sheldon has a handy page with hints:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/free-k7.html

If you are still unsure, take a photo of it or two, post it here, and someone will be able to tell you.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Look at the inside of the hub between the two flanges. It if is slender and has no bulge for internal bearings, it is a freewheel. If it has a bulge, freehub.

 

[youngoldbloke]

There are 7 speed cassettes too.

 

[TheDoctor]

8 speed freewheels aren't common, so it's most likely a cassette. Stick a photo on and someone will know for sure.

 

[gbb]

As Yellow saddle says, thats the classic way to tell.
My 90s maybe early 2000s Raleigh Chimera had an 8 speed freewheel.

 

[blimpnoddle]

Thanks for all the replies. Apologies for not getting back sooner. Here are some photos of the cassette/hub. I see it's a Shimano hub so if it's a cassette then I guess this means it's not the Campag system so the Sram PG850 cassette would be suitable.

 

[mjr]

The hub code looks like FH-MC38 which means freehub which means it uses a cassette (rather than a freewheel) as far as I know.

 

[blimpnoddle]

Thanks a lot for the info. The owner's just confirmed that's the hub so defo a cassette.