Bicycle Mechanics - What kind of cassette/freewheel can I stick on my hub?

I have a 1986 suntour sprint hub that has a 6 speed freewheel. The whole thing just shifts and runs like crap. I want to stick a shimano 7 speed cassette on it if possible. Can I do it?

No cassettes, freewheels only. 6 or 7 speed w/o respacing the axle. Find a Shimano style (twist-tooth) one.

No cassettes, freewheels only. 6 or 7 speed. Find a Shimano style (twist-tooth) one.

Any shimano 7 speed freewheel should work?

yes

Thanks for the quick reply. I don't suppose you'd know any good places to buy one would you? Also do you know if the 6 speed chain will work?

Nashbar carries a couple. And our favorite eBay. Maybe someone else has some other ideas.

Alright this is good news. I have a SIS 7sp shifter from a 1992 bridgestone so that should be a gigantic improvement from what I'm using.

Any Shimano freewheel will fit your wheel but not all of them will work with your rear derailler. Some Shimano freewheels come with a 34 tooth big cog and unless you have a MTB style rear derailler, your derailler won't clear that big of a cog. From what I've seen, 28 teeth is about as large as you'd want to use with a standard road rear derailler.

Best selection I've found of multi-speed freewheels is here: http://www.niagaracycle.com/index.php?cPath=242&sort=2a&page=1

If your current 6-speed chain is the older "wide" chain it won't work well. You need an 8-speed chain which are the same width as 7-speed chains.

Since you are getting a new freewheel, a new chain is almost a necessity even if the width of the old one was correct.

Yeah, I ordered a 14-28 and a new sram chain. Should be much better than what I have :)

great prices at niagra-- thanks joejack

great prices at niagra-- thanks joejack

You're welcome. I just found the website a few weeks ago. They seem to have a great selection and their prices are some of the lowest around. My first order should be arriving soon.

Yeah, I ordered a 14-28 and a new sram chain. Should be much better than what I have :)




Good for you. I just swapped out my old 6-speed freewheel on my '85 Centurian for a 14-28 7-speed freewheel and it worked perfectly. Easiest conversion I ever made, and my factory Shimano 600 friction shifters worked just fine too.

Now I have a 7-speed bike and it cost me 20 bucks. :D

Regards chains - depending on where you buy from, a chain may say 6, 7, 8 speed chain. Or 5 -8 spd. chain. It's all the same article and will work with 5's to 8's. Once you install a 9spd freewheel - then you need a specific chain.

As for many derailleurs, such as Shimano, saying Largest Cog - 27, this means in their group of components with the same name as the derailleur you just got. Example: Ultegra derailleur says 27 max. cog. The Ultegra freewheel is 27 tooth. But the Ultegra derailleur will easily handle a 28. No problems there - so don't believe the Max. Cog routine from the manufacturer.