Bicycle Mechanics - HELP! 7sp Shimano cassette on Aksium wheel

Did the search... didn't find anything right off that addresses my issue so here goes..

I have a "series" Schwinn Paramount with 700c Araya wheels w/ 7 speed Shimano cassette. I have a horrible grinding sound coming from the rear when it freewheels. I had it all apart to lube/change bearings/cups last night and discovered that the freewheel body is not serviceable. It doesn't have any type of retainer, 10mm bolt or anything to take it apart. Bottom line...wheel is finally toast. The bike is in pristine condition and well worth looking for a new wheel set. I'd like to consider a set of Aksium wheels. Question is, will the 7 speed cassette work on the Shimano hub that comes on the wheel? ( assuming spacer(s) required ) I'm going to verify the drop out spacing and can deal with that. I just want to know if the current cassette will work. I'm not ready to upgrade anything else at this time. Want to stick with current der./shifters/etc. Thanks!

Essentially shimano made the freehub body longer to accommodate an extra cog. Spacing between cogs is pretty much identical. Your Schwinn maybe 126 spacing but since its steel you can stretch it out to fit the 130 spaced wheel.

They sell specific 7speed spacers but I find that sticking an old cog and spacer behind the biggest cog works too. Also remember to keep the "mavic" spacer on the wheel.

Have you considered buying just a freehub body? I recently upgraded a set of old wheels from 7 to 10 speed by swapping the freehub body and still have the old freehub body.

Have you considered buying just a freehub body? I recently upgraded a set of old wheels from 7 to 10 speed by swapping the freehub body and still have the old freehub body.

Note that the OP said the cassette body is not serviceable- but I find that hard to believe. All of the Shimano hubs I've worked on have had removable bodies.

Have you considered buying just a freehub body? I recently upgraded a set of old wheels from 7 to 10 speed by swapping the freehub body and still have the old freehub body.

The OP specifically stated that "the freewheel body is not serviceable. It doesn't have any type of retainer, 10mm bolt or anything to take it apart."

But in a second read I'm noticing the the OP is talking about both freewheel and cassette for the same hub, which is frankly an impossibility.

So, to the OP: if you have a freewheel it can easily be replaced, and 7-spd freewheels are still readily available. And if it is a freewheel then it hasn't got a cassette that can be transferred to a modern freehub body by any normal means.

Note that the OP said the cassette body is not serviceable- but I find that hard to believe. All of the Shimano hubs I've worked on have had removable bodies.

Well, there are Shimano freewheel hubs, and then there are those early uniglide versions, at least one which isn't even listed on Sheldon Brown's site. Those bodies can still be disassembled, but apart from the ball bearings parts are really scarce.

Note that the OP said the cassette body is not serviceable- but I find that hard to believe. All of the Shimano hubs I've worked on have had removable bodies.


Thanks for all the feedback. Swap complete. I bought a set of black Aksiums and used a 4.5mm spacer and everything worked. As for the body not being serviceable, I'm pretty sure it won't come apart. I've never seen one that won't either. All of them I've disassembled either came apart with some type of retainer, a special Park tool (that I have), or a 10mm key.

http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq341/wharfrat1_photos/IMG_0049.jpg

Now the hunt is on for an upgrade crankset the is 7 speed compatible! ANY suggestions there are more than welcome.

The OP specifically stated that "the freewheel body is not serviceable. It doesn't have any type of retainer, 10mm bolt or anything to take it apart."

But in a second read I'm noticing the the OP is talking about both freewheel and cassette for the same hub, which is frankly an impossibility.

So, to the OP: if you have a freewheel it can easily be replaced, and 7-spd freewheels are still readily available. And if it is a freewheel then it hasn't got a cassette that can be transferred to a modern freehub body by any normal means.

My bad. What I was referring to was a cassette freehub/cassette and not a freewheel/threaded hub.

Note that the OP said the cassette body is not serviceable- but I find that hard to believe. All of the Shimano hubs I've worked on have had removable bodies.

Checked out your bike pics... The SS LeTour is cool! I have a geared one and love it.

http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq341/wharfrat1_photos/LeTour.jpg