Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
I do not know if an older crankset that was designed for use with a 5 or 6 speed freewheel will work smoothly with an 8 speed chain, that may be another issue. Since I have never tried this combination, I am quite ignorant of potential incompatibility with the narrow chain.
SHELDON suggests, that "Shimano 5-speed and 6-speed shifters are made to index with the 5.5 mm spacing between sprockets on older 5- speed and 6-speed freewheels", and I know that Shimano 6/7 Speed shifters are compatible with 8 speed cassettes, so, hopefully the indexing should work. On top of this, he says "Up through 9-speeds, all cassettes use very nearly the same wdith of sprocket teeth, and will work with 7/8 or 9-speed chains." I'm
hoping that this means the 8 speed chain that I propose to purchase, to go with my 8 speed cassette, will be of the same with (minus the protruding rivets on the old one).
Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
My preference for the older Suntours are specific to the high normal derailleurs......From your photos, I think yours is not high normal.
You're right, it's not HN... I may have scout around E-Bay for one, but since I won't have it on my solo (which I ride much more), I expect I'd just get a bit confused...
Originally Posted by
Tourist in MSN
The bike shop I worked in carried Gitanes, but that was many many years ago. I assumed an old Gitane had Simplex equipment, I am surprised you have Suntour.
You are almost certainly correct in this. The cranks (cotterless, post 1982 since the crank-extractor threads worked) and the rear derailleur (Shimano!) are definitely not original, so I wouldn't be surprised if the front DR was not as well.