Mostly a Campy guy, but I picked up a Merckx Century with primarily 7402 Dura-Ace on it with an 8-speed rear. I've done a little research and I have these questions.....
Downtube shifters are SL-7402 and I was wondering about the procedure for going back and forth between indexed and friction. Is there a proper way to do that? For example should you be in a certain gear or on a certain crank ring so that it happens smoothly? It is in indexed mode presently, but I would want to go back and forth on this from time to time. Indexed is cool, but I generally like friction better. Any info much appreciated.
I can't seem to tell what version the rear hub is. It is either 7402 or 7403 because it is an 8 speed. Is the version number (7402, 7403) stamped somewhere on the hubs like it is on other parts. I saw a bunch of stamps on the end of the hub (Dura-Ace, Shimano, Japan, Open, Close) but the number version didn't seem to be there. I believe the freewheel/cassette is a UniGlide because it does not appear to have a locknut. Smallest cog seems to be threaded on the hub body. If it is UniGlide, that means the hub could be either 7402 or 7403. I want to replace the existing freewheel/cassette, because the range is not what I want and I would prefer HyperGlide, but if my hub is a 7402, that won't work. The late, great Sheldon Brown states that Shimano's free hub bearings are further out on the axle thereby providing better support to the freewheel than many other axle types. Is having HyperGlide vs UniGlide much of a performance benefit or not really that big a deal? I ride a lot but my intense racing days are long since gone. I would think my breaking an axle would be highly unlikely and I am near the east coast, no mountains here to climb. Biking for me is a health and enjoyment activity at this point in my life. Any thoughts on the best way to determine the version of the hub without taking this apart so that I can proceed to find a compatible replacement freewheel/cassette?
Thanks very much for any info.