Classic & Vintage - I figure this is the place for this question--Suntour vs Shimano freewheel question.

Is there anyway to use a shimano freewheel on a suntour shifted bike. I am overhauling a 91 Paramount Series 90 MTB and although the freewheel is in good shape, I was thinking of getting a replacement to have on hand. 7 speed suntour freewheels seem to be a little hard to find, so I was wondering if a shimano one could be a substitute hen the time comes. Of course if anybody has a suntour accushift plus 12-28 7 speed freewheel to send my way I would appreciate it.
Thanks,

Mud

Why not change to friction shifting and not worry about it?

This doesn't show 7-speed accushift, buy you could measure your own and try to figure out if a shimano freewheel might work.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-spacing.html

Edit: When in doubt, I just use friction, so I've never faced this problem. I'd be interested to know from someone knowledgeable how much tolerance there is in these specs for a misfitting derailleur to work.

This doesn't show 7-speed accushift, buy you could measure your own and try to figure out if a shimano freewheel might work.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-spacing.html

Edit: When in doubt, I just use friction, so I've never faced this problem. I'd be interested to know from someone knowledgeable how much tolerance there is in these specs for a misfitting derailleur to work.

I am pretty sure that the suntour 7-speed microdrive entry in the table is correct spacing for accushift. The suntour accushift spacing is identical 5.0mm center-to-center spacing for three higher shifts and 4.8mm for the three lower gear shifts. If might be close enough to work as-is. If not, you could dissasemble the shimano FW and sand down the three low spacers by 0.2mm each to exactly match accushift spacing.