THEJAPINO

Hey fellas, I've been researching around a bike I picked up that was put together with various Dura Ace parts. It has:

8-spd RD-7402 rear derailleur
7-spd Sachs cassette on a DA hub (126 spacing?)
7-spd 105 downtube shifters set to friction

Reading through sheldonbrown's DA compatibility page, I learned that pre-97 DA stuff is picky. I want to try index shifting but according to the link, my pre-97 105 shifter wont work with the pre-97 rear cassette and derailleur set to index. Ok, I also learned I don't like downtube shifters very much so I want to try out index'd bar end shifters.

I read somewhere else that I could use any Shimano 9-spd shifter with the 740x series rear derailleur as long as I have an 8-spd rear hub/cassette to shift index'd. That's where I'm confused. I don't know what rear wheel/hub/cassette will work! Would I have to look for pre-97 8-spd Dura Ace hub/cassette? Would post-97 8-spd work? I know I will definitely have a rear spacing issue but 126-130 isn't that much right?

So the question is this: Do I need pre-97 Dura Ace 8-spd hub/cassette or post-97 shimano 8-spd to work with RD-7402 and 9-spd shifter to shift index? THanks guys!!

BTW, I can't find 7-spd Dura Ace downtube shifters period. I'm thinking they would cost alot due to being "vintage DA". Plus, I really wouldn't mind going 8-spd with a possibility of upgrading to STI later down the line. Thanks again everyone

EjustE

Let's assume that you keep your RD.

you need: a different freewheel (I suspect that the Sachs is a freewheel). Any 7 speed Sante 54xx or 600 Ultegra 64xx or 105 105x will do. Also need Dura Ace 7 sp DT shifters (74xx) and maybe a different chain. That Sachs will not index well with that era Shimano 7 sp...

THEJAPINO

Thanks EjustE. The problem I'm having is actually finding a 7 sp Dura Ace DT shifter set. If I can find some that wont make me broke, I may just learn to love downtube shifting. Going 8 sp may mean buying more parts but if it will give me more indexed shifting options (bar-end, STI), I'm willing to try it out.

EjustE

If you think that you will get broke by buying 7sp DA DT shifters, you got to reconsider the 8sp DA STI idea Market price for the DA 7sp DT 740x shifters is $50-75. There was actually (still might be) a pair for sale here in the for sale forum. The STIs are a good 4-6 times that (if you can find them). If I were you, I would change the RD to a Tricolor 600/Ultegra (works fine with the 105 shifters.) and get a Shimano freewheel. There really is not much advantage to having a 7400 DA shifting system over a 6400 600/Ultegra... And, frankly, if you are thinking about going 8sp with STI, I would strongly suggest reconsidering and looking into a Chorus/Record Campy system. They are worlds apart from the 8sp Shimano stuff.

THEJAPINO

EjustE, thanks again. I'm still weighing out my options on this build. I like friction shifting but I really don't feel to comfortable with DT shifters. I may try friction bar-end shifters to see if I like that. Thanks for the feedback!

link to DA 7sp dt shifters please???