vasilik

Hi,

I bought the followings so as to use them on my old Peugeot Lautaret (road) Bike:

Speed levers: Shimano SL-R400 (8-speed)
Rear Derailleur: Shimano 2300 8-speed
Front Derailleur: Shimano 2300 8-speed - Double

My bike has a 6-speed freewheel but I want to change it. What options I have with these components?

jimc101

An 8 speed cassette hub wheel, with cassette would be the obvious choice, this should fit your frame, but you may need to spread the dropouts, if they are 126mm, as all road cassette wheels are currently 130mm.

This would match up with the componets you have already purchased.

cycle_maven

There are 8-speed freewheels that will just screw on, but you'll need a longer axle and also need to spread the dropouts a little. Maybe re-dish the wheel so it's centered between the stays.

vasilik

Are the speed levers with the derailleurs compatible ?

So, as I understand, there are 2 options...
Option 1
*)To buy a 8-speed freewheel trying to fix it in the current wheel (What I must choose so as to be compatible with the shimano sis 8-speed (for the right lever and derailleur)?).
and
Option 2
*)To change the rear wheel with a shimano cassette compatible and to buy a 8-speed shimano cassette (what specifications must I see so as the wheel must have a small center-I think- to fix the cassette in the current frame?)

Homebrew01

Not sure what you're asking.

Either way, don't forget a narrower 8-speed chain

blamp28

dbg

I'd forget the 8 speed freewheel. Too much hassle to make it work. I have one and have never fully followed thru on several intended plans to use it on a build. (You can have this one. I know I will never use it)

vasilik

Thank you all for your help from Greece! Searching the EU-online stores, I found this pair of wheels.

and here is a photo from the frame. Can it help you somehow to find the best option? !

blamp28

That looks like 130mm to me and those wheels should fit.

gyozadude

Looks like your rear spacing is already compatible with 130mm road hubs. So you should have no problem. In fact, this opens a few other options:

1) if you have rims in good shape, you can purchase a rear freehub with similar flange diameter and same number of spokes, and rebuild the rear wheel. Then buy a new 8spd cassette in the same range, and get a new chain. This will probably be the cheapest compatible rebuild.

2) you could otherwise buy a new rear wheel with road freehub and 130mm spacing and 8 spd cassette and chain. It will save time rebuilding the rear wheel.

3) you could buy new wheelset to match front/rear and buy new cassette and chain...

Most 8/9/10 spd cassettes have compatible splines with the Shimano standard... with exception of some Shimano Dura Ace components that are in a class by themselves. So you can buy SRAM, or other vendor cassette and it should still work fine and be spaced fine and index fine.

I haven't had any issues with crankset compatibility moving to more gears. But note that as you move to closer and thinner cogs, the chain is thinner and so the chainrings up front have certain thickness and spacing requirements. And that might become an issue with 9/10/11 spd. But I have yet to see it on 8spd conversions.

vasilik

Perfect! You have read my mind! I'm very glad that I found a forum with so many experts! :-)
As I'm not very sure how I can insert a new hub in my wheel (I will search the net about it), maybe I will buy a new set of wheels and a 8-speed cassette with a 8-speed compatible chain and I will be fine (Shimano CS-HG50-8R and CN-HG50 as I see, correct?)!

blamp28

SRAM PG-850 Cassette and PC-830 chain are also fully compatible with these wheels and this system.

Homebrew01

Yes.
I think most Shimano/SRAM type wheels are 8-9-10 compatible, so you should have lot's of wheel choices.
Make sure not to get Campagnolo ("Campy") wheels. They generally don't match up with Shimano drivetrain.

vasilik

Dear friends,

I ordered all these new additions and I decided also to refresh the bike's color ! After a couple of hours and lot's of youtube videos (!), I stopped in the bottom bracket because I don't know how can I remove it so as to change it! Here are the photos!

vasilik

any thoughts? !!! :-)

blamp28

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...tool-selection

Homebrew01

Do you want to keep using the BB, or are you replacing it ?
If replacing, unscrew the lockring (on the non-drive side), then remove the adjustable cup, axle & bearings.
Then remove the fixed cup (drive side). It is normally a "left hand" thread, meaning it turn clockwise to remove. Uncommon Italian threaded frames are right hand thread. What kind of frame is it?

If you are keeping the BB, you can remove just the lock-rin and adjustable cup to regrease the bearings.

vasilik

It's a french frame (Peugeot Lautaret). I don't know if I can find a BB that is suitable for it.

Homebrew01

Get a square taper crank and use the existing bb.

vasilik

all the other components will be new! :-( Is it any easy way to find its suitable dimensions ?

blamp28

Sure but it may be fine for years with new bearings and fresh grease.