I wasn't sure wether to post this in the mechanics forum or here,
I have a 6 spd shimano freewheel 14t to 28t-HG20,a Shimano 600 Arabesque RD and a set of Shimano
6spd index light action shifters.
My assumption was that after simple install and quick adjustment all would be groovy.
But no - it would appear that for every click of the shift lever the RD moves about 1 1/2 spaces
so i can traverse the whole freewheel in four clicks.
What simple head slapping thing am I missing here?
In friction mode all is sunshine and roses.
Thanks in advance
AL

I don't think 600 arabesque RDs were ever intended to index, does it have a barrel adjuster on it? If no you are out of luck, if yes you'd think it would work... that's about all I got right now.

Is your freewheel a compact? If so, the total distance from high to low is the same as on a 5-speed - which could explain what is happening to you.

Indeed, the Arabesque 600 is pre-SIS. Fairly certain in my reading that a number of changes occured when Shimano introduced the SIS line from their older derailleurs. Including a floating jockey wheel and some changes to the cable pull.

Zorro's mention of the ultra-6 is possible, but I couldn't find any mention of a HG20 freewheel in the ultra configuration. If your freewheel is indeed a newer Shimano HG20 model then this likely isn't the problem.

You've got two choices: run the shifters in friction mode with the current derailleur. Or get a SIS compatible derailleur that works with the light action shifters.

Thank you all for your replies,
yes it does have a barrel adjutser on the RD,
I don't think its a compact freewheel-my interpretation is HG=Hyperglide UG=Ultraglide
I have a newer RD floating around here somewhere-I'll swap it out and try that
That would suck I kinda like the Arabesque look
Would a newer 600 RD-the tricolour one be a more suitable candidate for this set up?
Thanks
AL

The barrel adjuster is to take up the cable slack on the early 600s, not to adjust indexing.

UG=Uniglide (Shimano's original twist-tooth pattern, used on freewheels and their early threaded-lockring cassettes)
IG=Interactive Glide (early version of HG with ramped cogs, cassette only)
HG=Hyperglide (Current Shimano ramped cogs used on freewheels and cassettes)
SG=Superglide (Front chainwheel ramping)

The lockring or freewheel should be marked with what it is.

You might be able to make the Arabesque 600 work with indexing - you'll have to check the travel you are getting per each shift, and see if you can find a freewheel that has the same spacing as sideways derailer travel per each cog. Take out the original pulleys and replace them with Shimanos - make sure the Centeron jockey pulley is at the front.

The tri-color 600 should do the job without any problems, provided the cage is not bent.

Take care,

-Kurt

Of course, there is always the demultiplicator (I'm not making this up).

https://cgi.ebay.com/Simplex-Demultip...QQcmdZViewItem

No, he isn't making this up. I used to have one.