LeftFieldBrewer

I have an old Trek 950ST that had the original shifters swapped for v-brake triggers when a lever broke and couldn't be individually purchased. So now I have an 8 speed shifter with a 7spd cassette.

I am looking for recs for new cassette. I was going to get Shimano, as that was stock, but are there better ones to look to? Thanks.

Ben

Panthers007

Miche makes 8spd. cassettes that are compatible with Shimano. And Campy. I have a Campy one on my bike. Works perfectly.

LesterOfPuppets

I like the sram 850. The price is right and they get the job done.

kycycler

+1 on LesterofPuppets.

operator

You realize campy doens't make flat bar shifters right, it's unlikely he's running a campy 8 speed. Keep groups together if possible. Shimano cassette with shimano chain/chainrings etc.

**** sram. Oh and **** fsa.

neil0502

The filter's getting a wee bit too sensitive when operator can't even say which groups he LOVEs.

Al1943

If you're converting from 7-speed to 8-speed you'll need more than just the cassette. An 8-speed cassette won't go on a 7-speed freehub.

Panthers007

I do realize - but Miche also makes Shimano compatibles. So you can run them off the bar-shifters from Shimano - and the Attack-shifters made by SRAM. Maybe more. Miche, though many hate Miche, makes good stuff.

LeftFieldBrewer

.

K. So help me out. Beginner here. What will I need to do? Would it be easier/cheaper to just swap out the v-brake shifters/brake levers with 7 speeds?

I'm all about keeping it simple. I don't really need an 8spd cassette, I just wanted the trigger shifters to work right with the cassette, so it shifts properly. Thanks.

Ben

LesterOfPuppets

So what kinda shifter you got now? shifter/brake all one piece? Do you happen to have any independent brake levers?

If yes to Q3...

Seems a shame to put something as low as Alivio on a Trek 950, but this is probably the simplest:

https://loosescrews.com/index.cgi?d=s...d=908216021075

Just as simple, I'd probably try to pick up a pair of these, cuz I'm old and like thumbshifters:

https://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Deore-Th...d=p3286.c0.m14

operator

Ok. Here's the deal.

If you're rear wheel is a freehub AND it has a 4.5mm spacer then you can just slap on a 8 speed cassette and thread over. IF you have a freehub with no spacer with your 7 speed cassette then you'll either do a 7 speed shifter or a new wheel that's 8/9/10 shimano compatible.

If it's a freewheel, you can try slapping on a 8 speed freewheel.

Panthers007

An 8-spd. freewheel?? Don't you mean 'cassette?' 8spd. freewheels, which are quite rare, were great for busting axles. When cassettes came into use, they pushed freewheels larger than 7spds into the ashcan of history. Or so I was led to believe.

Garthr

Believe it or not, SunRace makes 8 speed and 9 speed Freewheels to this day. Use a Phil Wood 8sp hub, which are also still made . . . and you won't be breaking axles.

While I happen to like the freewheel benefits of independent hub and freewheel mechanism.. ... . when you get above 7 speeds you may as well go to cassettes as the choice of the new 8 and 9 speed FW's is limited to 13-32 or 13-34 . . though there are many 8 speed Sachs on ebay. In Asia there is likely more 8 speed FW's.... but that's another story. Shimano even made some 8 speed FW's that show up on ebay.

Every time I clean my Sachs FW's I'm amazed how little those cogs wear. I bought a bunch of spares back in 2000, but I wonder if/when I'll need one. I don't think cassette cogs wear that well. All the shaving of teeth to assist shifting is silly . . . heck . . so is indexed shifting when I think about it . . . . are we human or robot?

LeftFieldBrewer

They are Shimano bar combo shifter/brake lever compatible with v-brakes. Not sure on model right now.

How much difference in the cassettes is there?I was looking at Shimano HG40, HG50 and HG70 8-speeds. Pretty big price jump to the last.

Is that performance gain in pricier models less weight or durability?

Are there any other variables other than being for mountain or road and number of speed when selecting one to purchase(compatibility)?

Does cassette need to be removed to see spacer, and will I need a specific tool to remove?

Just for reference the bike is a 1990 Trek 950ST. Thanks.

Ben

Bluelightning

Do not buy SunRace. They are bad from the start. I know from experience. I replaced it with a Shimano HG 30 8 spd 11-34 cassette that I use on my touring bike. Works great! The other models are lighter and you will pay dearly for that. Just remember, every ounce of torque you place on those pedals ends up on that cassette.

LeftFieldBrewer

...Understand, but what are you getting at?

So the higher price series HGs are only lighter, not more durable?They aren't less durable, though, right?

Does cassette need to be removed to see spacer, and will I need a specific tool to remove? Thanks.

Ben

operator

No that's not a typo. I'm not ruling out the possibility it's an 8 sp freewheel.

operator

YOu don't nee dto remove the cassette to see the spacer. It'll be a giant silver thing at the back end before every cog slides on closest to the hub. The more expensive cassettes ARE more durable. That's WHY they're more expensive (up to a point).

operator

Still pushing inferior technology value wise eh? You do realize 9 speed is on it's way out right?

LesterOfPuppets

1, 2. Some lowend cogsets are steel which you can expect to outlast aluminum cogs by a wide margin as long as you keep them from rusting. They are quite heavy. Going from midrange to high end aluminum, virtually no durability factor, 'til you get to very high end Titanium cogs, which should outlast aluminum.

3. I don't have any "spacered" cassettes, but not on the freewheels I have with spacers behind 'em.

4. Yes, special tool is required.

Trek's 1990 catalog mentions freewheels in the specs, I'm not sure if that's accurate or not. Folks continued to call rear gears freewheels for quite some time, whether or not they were actually freewheels.

LeftFieldBrewer

So it may possibly have a freewheel and not a freehub as I previously thought? I'll have the LBS look at it when I go to pick up replacement cables/housing.

Don't get it. Are you saying the spacer not on the cassette, but on the freehub or freewheel?

Lowend meaning?...I was looking at the Shimano HG40,50 and 70 series. The stock components are Deore LX, so I was looking for something of the same quality.

Ben

LesterOfPuppets

Most current cassettes are all steel or partially titanium. Back in the 7 and 8 speed glory days, aluminum was used to some extent for fancier groups. Avoid the HG 40, all the ones I've seen in a cursory search were megarange.

And, yes, a spacer behind the cassette/freewheel is what I'm talking about.

Got any way to take good pics of your rear cogset and hub, with the wheel off of the bike?

norwood

Not quite true. These are 10spd not 8spd.https://www.amazon.com/Campagnolo-Cho.../dp/B000JI4RPC