A.Winthrop
03-08-10, 06:08 AM
Removed
Bicycle Mechanics - "Overshifting" 6-spd shifters for 7-spd FW
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Ex Pres
03-08-10, 07:20 AM
The 7s index spacing is 5.0mm, where the 6s index spacing is probably around 5.3mm (Sheldon doesn't list Shimano's index 6 on his site, just a generic spacing). So you can probably make it work, it just won't work as well as designed.
CACycling
03-08-10, 10:19 AM
...what must I do to make the RD index to all 7 cogs, aside from adjusting the limit screws and barrel adjuster slightly?
The indexing is in the shifters, not the derailers. Assuming 6 speed indexed, there will only be 6 poisitions where the shifter can be. Not sure how you get to 7 cogs with only 6 positions on the shifter.
The indexing is in the shifters, not the derailers. Assuming 6 speed indexed, there will only be 6 poisitions where the shifter can be. Not sure how you get to 7 cogs with only 6 positions on the shifter.
Sixty Fiver
03-08-10, 10:26 AM
This can work quite well as in index mode the 6 speed shifter will still pull cable after it's last downshift to put you in your lowest gear without a *click*... the cog spacing is not so great between a 6 and 7 to cause significant problems in most cases.
Friction mode is a no brainer as you can run as many gears as your rear deraileur will allow.
Friction mode is a no brainer as you can run as many gears as your rear deraileur will allow.
LarDasse74
03-08-10, 10:31 AM
The indexing is in the shifters, not the derailers. Assuming 6 speed indexed, there will only be 6 poisitions where the shifter can be. Not sure how you get to 7 cogs with only 6 positions on the shifter.
Shimano 7 speed top bar thumbshifters had an 8th position - and could be used with Shimano 8 speed drivetrains. I do not know about SHimano 6 speed DT shifters...
It is quite likely that shifters do not have a 'hard stop' (physically stopping the shifter from going past the last click), so if the bike is in the 6th cog, simply pulling the shifter past the click will move the derailleur into the 7th cog. In this case, the end-point adjuster screws on the derailluer will serve as a hard stop and a final index position.
The real problem, alluded to above, is that the spacing between the gears is different. If the spacing on the 6 speed is 0.3 mm larger than the spacing on the 7 speed, the derailleur will be 1.8mm off after the sixth shift.... this may or may not be enough to make it index badly.
Another option is to try to change the cable actuation ratio by moving the anchor point on the derailleur. If the cable is clamped between two washers a few mm away from the normal pinch bolt, it could make the derailleur move a little less for a given amount of cable pull.
Shimano 7 speed top bar thumbshifters had an 8th position - and could be used with Shimano 8 speed drivetrains. I do not know about SHimano 6 speed DT shifters...
It is quite likely that shifters do not have a 'hard stop' (physically stopping the shifter from going past the last click), so if the bike is in the 6th cog, simply pulling the shifter past the click will move the derailleur into the 7th cog. In this case, the end-point adjuster screws on the derailluer will serve as a hard stop and a final index position.
The real problem, alluded to above, is that the spacing between the gears is different. If the spacing on the 6 speed is 0.3 mm larger than the spacing on the 7 speed, the derailleur will be 1.8mm off after the sixth shift.... this may or may not be enough to make it index badly.
Another option is to try to change the cable actuation ratio by moving the anchor point on the derailleur. If the cable is clamped between two washers a few mm away from the normal pinch bolt, it could make the derailleur move a little less for a given amount of cable pull.
AndrewP
03-08-10, 10:42 AM
Use the rd limit screw for the top gear and the shifter index positions for the other 6 gears
rccardr
03-08-10, 11:09 AM
Or buy some 7 speed shifter levers- they're not particularly expensive these days.
Grand Bois
03-08-10, 11:30 AM
Just do it and find out for yourself how it works. That's not sarcasm. It's what I would do.
desconhecido
03-08-10, 11:56 AM
Standard 6 speed freewheels had the cogs 5.5mm c to c. 7 speed freewheels are 5.0 mm. So, 6 speed shifters won't work well with 7 speed spacing except in friction mode. Visa versa, too. Campy 8 speed was 5.0mm also so if you have Camp 8 speed shifters with a Campy 8 speed or early 9 speed RD, it will work fine with a 7 speed freewheel.
Sixty Fiver
03-08-10, 03:52 PM
Just do it and find out for yourself how it works. That's not sarcasm. It's what I would do.
This ^^^
Have done this myself and found it worked rather well... just set it up to index your higher 6 and use that overshift for your low gear.
This ^^^
Have done this myself and found it worked rather well... just set it up to index your higher 6 and use that overshift for your low gear.
Kimmo
03-08-10, 07:44 PM
The real problem, alluded to above, is that the spacing between the gears is different. If the spacing on the 6 speed is 0.3 mm larger than the spacing on the 7 speed, the derailleur will be 1.8mm off after the sixth shift.... this may or may not be enough to make it index badly.
Another option is to try to change the cable actuation ratio by moving the anchor point on the derailleur. If the cable is clamped between two washers a few mm away from the normal pinch bolt, it could make the derailleur move a little less for a given amount of cable pull.
I'd say if that 1.8mm is split evenly across the freewheel (freeWHEEL?), with low and high overshifted by 0.9mm, there's a good chance it'll shift rather well.
If not, moving the clamp point slightly is a great suggestion.
Another option is to try to change the cable actuation ratio by moving the anchor point on the derailleur. If the cable is clamped between two washers a few mm away from the normal pinch bolt, it could make the derailleur move a little less for a given amount of cable pull.
I'd say if that 1.8mm is split evenly across the freewheel (freeWHEEL?), with low and high overshifted by 0.9mm, there's a good chance it'll shift rather well.
If not, moving the clamp point slightly is a great suggestion.
Whit51
03-09-10, 04:35 PM
See this topic :Mixed Sun Tour/Shimano Indexing
on the Harris Cyclery freewheel page ( http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#7 ).
on the Harris Cyclery freewheel page ( http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#7 ).
Grand Bois
03-16-10, 05:00 PM
I was advised here that 8 speed shifters won't work properly for 7 speed. I tried it anyway and it works great. It hasn't missed a shift in 3 years. I'm using Ultegra bar end shifters that I coverted to thumb shifters.
http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/43862/2481043450068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2481043450068014369vypeJA)
http://inlinethumb23.webshots.com/43862/2481043450068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2481043450068014369vypeJA)