govambam

I wonder how on earth i can get some sti shifters on my bike without spending a fortune. I have a seven speed freewheel so i think that means i need a seven speed shifter right? but those are impossible to find nowadays. I was wondering if i could put an eight nine or ten speed shifter on there if i just adjust the stops right? or maybe i could replace the freewheel but would i be able to put a 9 speed freewheel on that hub? Or am i going to have to go ahead and replace the rear wheel? any suggestions?
Thanks!

thirdgenbird

i think an 8spd campagnolo will operate well on a 7spd shimano cassette. you will jsut have a dead click.

edit:

i think they both have .5mm spacing.


i know i have seen a bike with 7spd dura ace hubs, dura ace 7spd freewheel, and early record 8

govambam

Did i mention its a suntour edge hub and freewheel? Dont know if that changes anything

thirdgenbird

eh, i think suntour edge is about as old as i am


i know a lot more about Campagnolo 8/9/10/11spd...

Torchy McFlux

Shimano made RSX and Sora brifters in 7-speed versions. Keep an eye open for them on eBay.
7-speed Shimano freewheels are widely available, and since their cog spacing is slightly different from Suntour I'd recommend switching to one if you're using Shimano shifters. They're not expensive.
If your rear derailleur is a Suntour, you might want to consider just using Suntour's answer to STI - Command shifters. They mount on the drop bar right beside the brake levers. Here's a set:
https://cgi.ebay.com/Suntour-Command-...06172007r24320

operator

How about defining fortune in $'s? The easiest solution would be sora STI shifters + 7 speed shimano freewheel (readily available)

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=45708

The set should be anywhere from $1-$200 online.

8/9/10 speed shifters will not work. It's 7 speed specific.

Kimmo

If you can find an old set of Ergo shifters and RD for cheap, I reckon that's the go. That stuff was made to last.

Combine with a Hyperglide freewheel for the win. Same 5mm spacing as Campy 8spd.

desconhecido 

Right you are, Campagnolo 8 speed shifts the same as Shimano 7 speed -- all 7 speed, I think. So, if you have a Campy derailleur from before 2000 and Campy 8 speed shifters, it will shift perfectly over a 7 speed freewheel/cassette. You'll only have seven cogs, but that's ok cause you set the limits on the rear derailleur. About 2000 to 2001, Campagnolo went to 10 speed and changed their 9 speed stuff so that the rear derailleurs, as I understand it, move at a slightly different rate with respect to cable movement. So, Campy 10 speed and later 9 speed won't work properly with the earlier shifters. That's my understanding, never tried it. Also, most Campagnolo derailleurs are limited to about 26 teeth for largest rear cog. Long cage derailleurs, Racing Triple, for example, coud handle 28 to 30 teeth. This may be a concern, or not.

Unfortunately, the older Campy 8 speed stuff doesn't seem to go real cheap. I bought some Racing Triple derailleurs back in '97 and have recently seen similar stuff go on Ebay for mre than I paid then. Go figure.

govambam

what if i put on a new wheel with a 10 speed casstte? will my seven speed down tube shifting work for the time being with just three blank shifts if i adjust my deraileur stops correctly? then i can replace with sti shifters later if that would work

Edit:
here is a link for the hub i am thinking about getting. The 32 hole is compatible with my wheels.
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0_10000_201726

Metzinger

No.
10sp spacing is much narrower. It will work if your DT shifter has a friction mode, however. But the narrower chain may not work with your chainrings.
The 8/9/10 speed hub is wider than your 7sp. You'll need to flex the frame out to get the wheel into the dropouts.
Here's an article about frame spacing.

govambam

it does have friction mode. so if i put that in and got a new chain maybe i could get it to work? are there any repercussions if i force that hub onto my dropouts?

Metzinger

..

govambam

oh sorry i ddnt realize that was a link i guess. thanks though that helped a lot. while i was searching around sheldon brown i found this hub. https://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?ID=2517 . i believe its 130mm which is the sized of my dropouts so i think that would be compatible. if i got a shimano cassette would it work with my shifters and chain?

wrk101

The easiest way to do it on a budget is to find a donor bike, and swap the entire drivetrain, wheels, everything. That way, you know everything will match up. Trying to mix and match brands, speeds, etc., is a good way to have all kinds of shifting issues.