120 mm drop out question...

[docw009]

The frame is a old Raleigh 5 speed with 120 mm dropouts. Actual spacing after all the years is 123mm. Going to run it with a midmotor like the DM02 or TSDZ2.

Want to use a 6 speed freewheel, because I have one, and it's obviously too wide, as the nut/cone are just inside the cavity, A spacer between the nut and the cone bearing on the drive side gives me enough space for the gears to spin w/o hitting the frame. Installing a smaller spacer on the other side allows the wheel
to maintain a 122 mm OLD. Really don't want to spread the dropout 5mm, although it's steel..

Now the rim is off center, but I can dish it over 5 mm. Question is did I miss something obvious. The wheel will be weaker like a hub motor.

 

[E-HP]

The frame is a old Raleigh 5 speed with 120 mm dropouts. Actual spacing after all the years is 123mm. Going to run it with a midmotor like the DM02 or TSDZ2.

Want to use a 6 speed freewheel, because I have one, and it's obviously too wide, as the nut/cone are just inside the cavity, A spacer between the nut and the cone bearing on the drive side gives me enough space for the gears to spin w/o hitting the frame. Installing a smaller spacer on the other side allows the wheel
to maintain a 122 mm OLD. Really don't want to spread the dropout 5mm, although it's steel..

Now the rim is off center, but I can dish it over 5 mm. Question is did I miss something obvious. The wheel will be weaker like a hub motor.

Using the Grin spoke calculator, and assuming standard 5 speed and 6 speed freewheel widths, the offset seems to change by a little more than 3mm (6.3mm/2). It looks like the change affects spoke lengths by about 0.3mm, so shouldn't be an issue re-dishing using the same spokes.