jjames1452 

Any quality, lots of life left, Shimano 8 speed groups out there? I have several frames to build, and a sweet Dura Ace 8 speed wheel set.

TimmyT 

8 speed Dura Ace 7400-series is spaced at what becomes 9 speed for the rest of the Shimano groups.

mountaindave 

And 10 speed...

PatTheSlat 

No, I believe the cassette spacing is the same, but the cable pull is different for the derailleur.

jjames1452 

My hope is someone has a nice group that will work.......................................................
It doesn't hurt to ask.

TimmyT 

Thanks for correcting me. Shimano 8 is 4.8 mm spacing while 9 is 4.34 mm (Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Frame and Cassette Spacing Crib Sheet). A Dura Ace 7400 RD can be used with a 9 speed shifter and an alternate cable routing (Shimano Dura-Ace Compatibility).

One will come around. It's out there. I like 8 speed. It's easier to deal with from a mechanical point of view (beefier chains) but has enough gearing to find a sweet spot.

icepick_trotsky 

Does it matter from a wheelset standpoint? Will DA wheels only work with DA cassette, or could the OP use Ultegra/105/etc 8 speed as long as he had a properly spaced cassette?

TimmyT 

PatTheSlat's comment was meant that a Shimano 8 speed HG hub is the same regardless of the model. "Properly spaced cassette" has 4.8mm spacing.

mountaindave 

If you use a 7403 hub (the introduction of 8 speed in the DA line IIRC), it doesn't matter - they are the transition from Uniglide to Hyperglide and have both the standard Uniglide threading (can use 105 or 600 threaded cogs) and the Hyperglide lockring threading and can accept either UG or HG cogs. The only thing you can't use is the old DA threaded cog as it is a smaller diameter.

I don't know if that was the last hub in the 7400 series before DA went strictly HG, but I would assume that all subsequent 8/9/10-speed hubs could use any HG cogs (as long as you used 10s cogs for a 10s setup, I think they are narrower than the 8/9s cogs). But you know what happens when you assume...

jjames1452 

Thanks all. In a weak moment I overpaid ($350 shipped) for an 8 Speed Group - I will sell the saddle, wheels, handlebars, and seat post. At least they use my type of pedals, and this will get another bike on the road!

Impatience sucks!

mountaindave 

I wouldn't necessarily call that overpaying. Figure $125 for a wheelset with skewers, those brifters still easily go for over $100 in good shape, $50 minimum for a scratch-free set of derailleurs, another $35+ for a set of dual pivots, at least $35 for the crankset. Even without the bars, stem, cassette, seatpost, saddle, and pedals, you have a very fair purchase price with shipping already included.

jjames1452 

Thanks - I feel better. I kind of thought at the time I was paying $50 too much, but was worth it for a complete 8 speed group - now.
I guess I have had bad luck buying wheel sets - so I don't value them as much. (I am 200 lbs) I have always prefered to build wheels. It seems that when I buy wheel sets, I end up rebuilding them within a year anyway. Thanks much.

mountaindave 

I know hat you mean about impatience. The Internet is a gift for finding what you need, but a curse for making it so easy to buy things you want.

icepick_trotsky 

I think you got a good price, too. Condition looks very good.