I have these gears and I think It’s a 2 notch Suntour locking mechanism? Does anyone know more about this? I found a tool for it but no info at all. I’m wondering what the hub would look like.
Also, It’s connected to a 7 speed system but all the writings on the cogs themselves say just the number 8. I have a hard time indexing so could it be the previous owner took one of the gears out to create a 7 speed?
Thanks in advance!
by Origin87
5 Comments
Freewheels didn’t come in 8 speed. And this pre-indexing. The cogs look like Regina.
Back then there wasn’t a ‘system’ per se. Shimano came up with that whole concept.
Shimano invented the whole computer-designed cassette cogs with ‘ramps’ that allow you to shift under load. And they perfected indexing, which was a grail the component manufacturers were chasing for years.
Shimano didn’t invent the freehub concept but they definitely perfected it. No more broken or bent rear axles.
I think the free wheel is stock its just a cheap part, the indexing issue is probably due to the wear and tear combined with the old “wide teeth”. I removed a sachs cassette without the correct tool, using washers and a bolt held is a vice then turning with a chain whip.
If you have to have indexing you would want to go with an appropriate Shimano HG freewheel, chain, and rear derailleur. Your current rear derailleur is an excellent one for friction shifting so if I were you I would just find some nice Dura ace 7300 friction shifters on eBay and forget about indexing. The 7300 shifters can be bought very inexpensively but a new HG chain, freewheel and rear derailleur will be pretty expensive.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/275731143182?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=Jvyj-oqMSAy&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=nmiqdx63s_2&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Just friction shift. Don’t index shift, this equipment doesn’t support that. Once you realize that it’s not meant to be used for indexed shifting, the whole system makes sense. Also you may have a Regina freewheel, which looks like it takes a Suntour tool to remove. It doesn’t, it takes a Regina tool.