thook

Will it work? I've got two sets of just some cheap SIS thumbies I was wondering if I could set up and index the old UG cassette. The cassette is 6spd and so are the shifters. The rear indexes, but the front doesn't..........though, it does ratchet.

Thanks!

Fidelista

I don't see any reason why it won't work. I have a UG cassette and Dura ace indexed downtube shifters and it works fine.

FastJake

Yes, it should work. 6 speed UG should have the correct spacing for your shifters. IMO, it's good that the front doesn't index because it will allow you to run whatever crankset you want (double, triple, etc.)

thook

Ah, good. So, for the last question.........and, I did search........what's the limit then? Say if I found a snazzy, newer set of shifters......like some 7spd Deore or something, would the spacing still work? Obviously the RD would limit the shift into 7th, but what about some rapid fire shifters even? Just for the back, not the front. I'm not even using a Shimano crank. It's an older SR yet kinda reminiscent of an early 600 crank.

FastJake

I bet 7 speed shifters would work with 6 speed UG spacing. It might actually be the same, but Sheldon's table on spacing doesn't mention Shimano 6 speed. What rear derailer are you using? I forgot about that. If it's not Shimano it might not have the correct cable pull. If it is, I'd expect it to work fine with 6/7/8 speed indexing. 9 or 10 might get too finicky.

thook

Well, that's another deal. I got these 600 Arab derailleurs....they're fancy'ish.....but, overall I'm not all that impressed with them. So, I'm just gonna use them on my wife's mixte and put the Exage 300EX I have on there and on the front.

I read Sheldon's page....one of them, anyway.....and it mentioned using an alternate cable routing for the RD for getting the correct pull. That is, as I recall, if you're using a modern RD with the older DA cassettes. Do you think that'll be necessary even though this isn't a DA cassette? Is there really any difference?? I'm guessing not, but figured I should ask.

dedhed

Shimano 6-7-8 speed deraillers all run the same cable pull and cog spacing (exceptions for dura ace)

thook

Okay.......guess I'm set. Thanks fellas!!!!

Jeff Wills

Same cable pull, yes. The cog spacing is different, so you need to match shifter and number of cogs. Shimano derailleurs have a little play built into the top pulley (the "Centeron" pulley) so sometimes you can get a mismatch to work. I haven't had much success with this, though.

thook

Hmmm.....oh well. Thanks for the info.

fietsbob

Front shifters are better if lever is not indexed, as you must re center the FD cage
to keep the chain from dragging on one side of it.

thook

So, what you're trying to say is it's better non-indexed so you can trim the FD?