index shifting mix and match
 

I'm trying to adapt an old bike with index shifting. I have tons of Shimano parts and am trying to mix and match parts that will work together. I want to keep my wheel which is currently set up with a 5-speed freewheel (worn sprockets though). I think I have a 6-speed freewheel that is the same overall width. If I use a 6 speed grip shifter will it work with any shimano derailluer? I mostly want to know how compatible are all the pieces: shifter, derailleur, freewheel. Does anyone have any insight into the compatibility as Shimano went from 5 to 6 to 7 to 8 index speed? Robert

Friction shifting system as a bridging covers the variation
between various mix and match parts.

dropout spacing frames had to get wider as the gear count went up,
from 5,to 6 and then again to 8.
7 was a crowding in a cog on a 6 speed 126, spacing, 8 is adding a n+1 cog
at the 7 speed inter-cog spacing.

120>126>130.. MTB .. 135

Have 5 want 8?, shop for a new bike, it will be cheaper.

Do you mean any Shimano DR or any CURRENT Shimano DR?

I have 6-speed Shimano uniglide FW working flawlessly with Shimano Exage Country RD, and SRAM MRX (Shimano Compatible) grip shifters. The left shifter (3x) is micro-click friction so it adjusts to any triple pretty much. I've had 7spd SRAM MRX shifters working with various older RD6207 (600EX), RD6400(600 Ultegra tri-colour) and old 105 and any shimano/sunrace/sram 7spd HG freewheel/cassette. But if you have an older Suntour FW, you can get 5 out 7 speeds working on the setup and have 7 out 7 usable gears, only 2 are slightly noisy. You need to get the "MRX" grip shifts that are compatible.

In general the shifter and freewheel/cassette have to match. ie shimano 6 speed freewheel (FW) you need shimano 6spd index shifters. if you have a 7spd suntour FW you will need 7spd suntour shifter ect.

again generally provided it is a model designed for index shifting (post '87) most any shinamo RD will work any shimano index shifter (except dura ace)

the same goes with suntour stuff.

if your gripshifter is designed to work with a shimano 6spd FW/cassette then it should work for you provided the RD is a indexing model


I do agree with Bob going from 5 spd to 8 and adding indexing can be pricy and troubling. you may need to have your frame coldset to accept a wider wheel, then you need wheels of course, shifters, cassette, and RD. then your likely to run into issues with your front set up.

what kind of bike do you have? pics?

The first issue is hub spacing; normal hub spacing for a 5 speed is 120mm and for a 6 speed is 126. However all is not lost. Suntour introduced a 6 speed freewheel named Ultra 6 that was designed to work with 120mm 5 speed hubs. So, similar to gyozadude, if you use a Shimano 7 speed shifter (they use the Suntour 5mm Ultra 6 standard) with a Suntour Ultra 6 freewheel, you can actually get 6 speeds and the extra click is usually eliminated by the derailleur limit adjustment. Since your talking legacy parts than you need to be careful as Shimano introduced reliable index shifting with six speeds in 1984 and later manufactured 5 speed indexing for cheaper bikes. What you need to look for is SIS printed somewhere on the rear derailleur or it may not be index compatible.

check this out! the mix and match possibilities are endless. even more so if you run it friction....

http://retroshift.com/

Good luck, you WILL need it

I'm doing all this on the cheap. I have an old Kent folder with a 5-speed SIS that is missing the shifters. The small cog is worn anyway. I have some cannabilized 6 and 7 speed freewheels and shifters and Derailluers, and access to a good used parts store. I have a 6 that is the same width as the 5, and a newer 6 that is much wider.

The wheel also has a band brake which is in need of a new band - I have no idea where to get that.

Robert

You say you are in Seattle, Bob, how many of their bike shops have you visited
with this question and the project with you?

blind guess , buy a new 5 speed freewheel and a new chain
and forget index shifting.

friction /ratchet thumb-shifters, a new pair, china made, are cheap.

aka Ultra 6, suntour narrow cog spacing, regular 6 is 5+1 at standard space
Suntour is gone for decades now.

only if your hoard is new-old-stock, will a chain mesh well on them
as the wear will mess up the interface of chain and cog tooth.

hence the sugg to buy new.

the solution?
 

I think I have the solution. I have a 7 spd Shimano Altus shifter and derailluer and a 6 spd freewheel with the same gear spacing as the 7 spd freewheel that went with the Altus. The 6 spd freewheel is just a tad wider than the 5 spd freewheel that I am replacing so I think it will fit.