Modern wheels on 120 rear spaced frame

[JonoB]

If I'm buying a new rear wheel for my 1970s Galaxy (120 rear spacing), is it better to buy a freewheel type (screw) or cassette type? Can you actually re-space a cassette type hub to be 120, if so is there a webpage or something you can direct me to.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

If I'm buying a new rear wheel for my 1970s Galaxy (120 rear spacing), is it better to buy a freewheel type (screw) or cassette type? Can you actually re-space a cassette type hub to be 120, if so is there a webpage or something you can direct me to.

No. If the frame is steel and 531 or below (which is likely here) one can (carefully) spread the frame to fit modern wheels.

 

[Ningishzidda]

Google "Cold setting a frame."

 

[Herzog]

No. If the frame is steel and 531 or below (which is likely here) one can (carefully) spread the frame to fit modern wheels.

Indeed, if it's a 70's Galaxy it'll be steel; coldsetting takes a bit of courage to do, but is relatively straightforward.

 

[Zee]

Sheldon brown's way is the not-so-subtle method of using a piece of wood to lever the rear triangle. I used a different method: a 2ft by 8mm threaded steel rod placed in the dropouts and turning hex nuts at the inside surface of the dropout to slowly widen the frame spacing.

There is some 'springback' of the steel after the tension is released. I was aiming for 130mm (from 120mm) and had to open the spacing to the region of ~150mm before I achieved that.

String is your best friend. Tie a bit to the steel rod at the midpoint between the dropouts to keep an even spread and use it to check alignment as Sheldon suggested.

 

[Ed no-more-lemons]

Is there no chance for the old wheel?
If you concider trueing the thing it is possible to get a result, where a LBS may not be prepared to spend the time on a particularly wonky item.