>>1951660Lets see some pics?
cassette hubs (modern wheels) are actually the easiest to Single Speed because you can move the cog around with spacers without messing with anything else.
There are cheap single speed kits for cassette hubs, but you can also just use spacers from a cassette and a regular cog.
So I would suggest you find a decent rear wheel with a cassette hub. If your frame is 126 then 126 or 130 should be fine. If it's 120 then 120 or 126 should be fine.
Helicomatic is awful. You can actually open them up without the special tools though. Pretty sure you can use waterpump pliers. Atleast last i had a chat about helicomatic that's what I heard.
Your chain snapping is a simple issue to fix. Buy a new kmc or sram 8 speed chain.
I would actually try to get gears. It depends on what type of derailer hanger you have. You may have to re-tap it and file a stop for a b-screw. Then install a basic shimano unit and use it with your friction downtube shifters. It's not complicated. Derailer systems are not unreliable, once setup well. As you can see, SS is not reliable until setup well either.
I think the biggest thing for you is just to shift your mindset, embrace all these bullshit issues, focus on modular aspects of your bike to improve, one by one, think logically, and realize you will get cleverer at working on bikes if you keep at it. Try to enjoy it as a large problem to solve. And don't rely on handholding from a bike shop because bike shop gremlins dispense as much nonsense as /n/posters.
