etherhuffer 

Did Shimano make a 7 speed Deore rear hub in 135 OLD? I have a bunch of seven speed stuff to use and might build a new wheel. I found some old Suntour stuff, but at stellar prices. I also really don't care about 9/10 speed stuff. If forced to I could throw in the towel and go 8 speed.

Jeff Wills

Yes. The original Deore MTB hubs (MT62 series) were available in 130mm and 135mm widths:
VeloBase.com - Component: Shimano FH-MT62, Deore II
These were marked either "Deore" (1988) or "Deore II" (1989), but I don't think there was much difference.

Also at that time, the Deore XT and Deore XT II hubs were available in 130mm and 135mm width. Other variables were drilling (32 or 36 hole) and color (black and silver). I remember trying to keep all those variations separated on the shelves at Euro-Asia Imports. It was nuts.

Euro-Asia still has NOS DX hubs (M650): DX M650 Hubset - Euro-Asia Imports . Price will be high, though.

etherhuffer 

Super! But it looks like I may be heading down the wrong path. The newer large shell hubs have better seals, and this is going on a touring bike. I may have to suck it up and go more modern, maybe use a spacer behind the cassette

Andrew R Stewart 

Unless you are running a friction set of shifters I'd avoid the Sun Tour stuff. Their indexing specs don't match the FAR more common Shimano stuff. Particularly on a touring bike where you might be miles from a well stocked LBS you need to be able to repair with the locally available parts, which are FAR more likely to be Shimano.

Wheel problems are amongst the most common seen on tours, with drivetrain ones second. So having good condition and easily serviced components in these two areas is a good idea. Andy.

bradtx

etherhuffer, The 7S hubs could be a test of patience to find. I suggest an 8S hub with a 4.5 mm spacer to mount a 7S cassette.

Presently I have a STX 7S hub on my '96 Cannondale T700 beater bike. It has a ton of miles and when I overhauled the hubs I was pleasantly surprised at their condition. The seals, bearings and races were in excellent condition so going below Deore level isn't a bad plan.

Brad

LesterOfPuppets

I think of the new Deore as having replaced STX in the Shimano MTB lineup. My memory isn't all that great but it seems like that's the way it went down.

bradtx

You may certainly be correct. The first Deore reference I remember was with the LX on my mountain bike's crank arm. It's a '98 Trek 7000ZX I bought new and has a range of parts from STX to XT.

Brad

etherhuffer 

Good point. Sometimes old is just too old.....

etherhuffer 

spacer idea sounds good. As long as it doesn't make the dork disc rattle! Ha!

Jeff Wills

I had a Deore XT 7-speed hub that I used on 2 different bikes, 3 (or more) wheels, and a couple freehub body transplants. I have no idea how many miles I put on it. The only reason I retired it was that the cassette body failed... after having an 8-speed body transplanted on it and after getting waterlogged and rusty internally. The hub bearings were still fine, it's just that it had had too much mechanical abuse heaped on it.

IMO: if you can find a set of Deore/ Deore II/ Deore DX hubs in the drilling that you want, grab 'em. If they're used, rebuild 'em. They'll be good for 20,000 miles or more.

LesterOfPuppets

I mean plain Deore, which didn't exist for most of the '90s. When they brought back plain Deore, it took the place of STX.

bradtx

Gotcha!

Brad

Wilfred Laurier

If you can get good replacement cones, those are very high quality hubs.

jsdavis

There was STX-RC also. STX was 7 speed and STX-RC was 8 speed. Deore reemerged as a 9 speed group early 2000s or late 90s and took the place of STX/STX-RC.

arex

That's what I'm doing, after trying unsuccessfully to find a 7-spd hub. Spacers are $4 on eBay.