Noob Mechanic: Re 7 spd FWheel and Derailleur Compatibility

xkred27

Howdy.

I've decided to use my ~1992 Bianchi Boardwalk as a science project/med
school cadaver for learning bike mechanics, focusing on expanding the
current gear range (27 - 93, give or take). Current setup:
- Suntour Powering chainring, 48-38-28
- Shimano MF-HG37 freewheel cluster, 14-16-18-20-22-24-28
- Derailleurs unknown. All identifying markings wiped out.

Questions:

1) Are the Shimano line of MegaRange 7-speed freewheel clusters shown at
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#7 compatible with my
current setup? I'm particularly interested in the 11-34, as I have some fair
hills where I live.
2) Can anyone give me a clue as to what derailleurs would be compatible with
either my current or propsed setup? Obviously, I know they have to be
7-speed compatible. I note that Shimano makes a Megarange line of
7-speed Deore rear derailleurs, so I assume (correctly?) these would work.
What other compat. issues should I be looking at?
3) Am I going to need a special puller to work on the freewheel?

Sorry if bozoid questions. Thanks.


--
Peter

Sheldon Brown

xkred27 wrote:

> I've decided to use my ~1992 Bianchi Boardwalk as a science project/med
> school cadaver for learning bike mechanics, focusing on expanding the
> current gear range (27 - 93, give or take). Current setup:
> - Suntour Powering chainring, 48-38-28
> - Shimano MF-HG37 freewheel cluster, 14-16-18-20-22-24-28
> - Derailleurs unknown. All identifying markings wiped out.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1) Are the Shimano line of MegaRange 7-speed freewheel clusters shown at
> http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#7 compatible with my
> current setup? I'm particularly interested in the 11-34, as I have some fair
> hills where I live.

Yes.

> 2) Can anyone give me a clue as to what derailleurs would be compatible with
> either my current or propsed setup? Obviously, I know they have to be
> 7-speed compatible.

All derailers made in the last couple of decades are 7-speed compatible.

To handle the 34 tooth sprocket, you need a model with a long ("SGS")
cage. There's a good chance that your present one will work, I'd advise
trying it before spending money on a new derailer.

> I note that Shimano makes a Megarange line of
> 7-speed Deore rear derailleurs, so I assume (correctly?) these would work.
> What other compat. issues should I be looking at?

That's it.

> 3) Am I going to need a special puller to work on the freewheel?

Yes. Not all that special, actually, it's the most common type.

The Park FR-1 shown at
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tools.html#freewheel would be the correct
unit.

Sheldon "Megarange" Brown
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xkred27

Sheldon Brown wrote:
> >Sheldon "Megarange" Brown



Thanks very much!

Peter



--

dvt

xkred27 wrote:
> Howdy.
>
> I've decided to use my ~1992 Bianchi Boardwalk as a science project/med
> school cadaver for learning bike mechanics, focusing on expanding the
> current gear range (27 - 93, give or take). Current setup:
> - Suntour Powering chainring, 48-38-28
> - Shimano MF-HG37 freewheel cluster, 14-16-18-20-22-24-28
> - Derailleurs unknown. All identifying markings wiped out.

Are the shifters made by Shimano? If so, then you're set with all of
Sheldon's answers.

If the shifters are non-Shimano, you might encounter compatibility
issues if you want to retain indexed shifting. Non-indexed shifting will
work fine with "unmatched" components.

--
Dave, who has Suntour 7-spd shifters from that era
dvt at psu dot edu

xkred27

"dvt" <dvt_spam@psu.edu> wrote in message
news:c65ppv$q22$1@f04n12.cac.psu.edu...

> Are the shifters made by Shimano? If so, then you're set with all of
> Sheldon's answers.
>
> If the shifters are non-Shimano, you might encounter compatibility
> issues if you want to retain indexed shifting. Non-indexed shifting will
> work fine with "unmatched" components.
>
> --
> Dave, who has Suntour 7-spd shifters from that era
> dvt at psu dot edu
>
Dave,

Thanks for the heads-up. I actually ordered a pair of Shimano STX/Alivio
SL-MC40 RapidFire pods from Sheldon's site, as a nice-to-have upgrade, so I
hope these match up OK. And indeed the current shifters are Suntour X-press
Accushift(rear, indexed, 7-speed), Suntour X-press PowerControl (front), so
maybe swapping shifters is more necessity than nice-to-have.

Peter

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xkred27

"Sheldon Brown" <captbike@sheldonbrown.com> wrote in message
news:40843E1D.1040004@sheldonbrown.com...
>
> To handle the 34 tooth sprocket, you need a model with a long ("SGS")
> cage. There's a good chance that your present one will work, I'd advise
> trying it before spending money on a new derailer.
>
I'm wondering if there's any way, via eyeball, ruler, caliper, or tea
leaves, to determine whether or not my derailleur is SGS?

Thanks.
--
Peter
Anti-spam:
a) Remove NS_
b) Replace 108 with cds1

A Muzi

> "Sheldon Brown" <captbike@sheldonbrown.com> wrote in message
> news:40843E1D.1040004@sheldonbrown.com...
>>To handle the 34 tooth sprocket, you need a model with a long ("SGS")
>>cage. There's a good chance that your present one will work, I'd advise
>>trying it before spending money on a new derailer.

xkred27 wrote:
> I'm wondering if there's any way, via eyeball, ruler, caliper, or tea
> leaves, to determine whether or not my derailleur is SGS?

Look at the model number stamped on it. Should start RD-
something.
Or measure between pulley bolts. SGS are something like 90mm
apart.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

xkred27

A Muzi wrote:

>
>> I'm wondering if there's any way, via eyeball, ruler, caliper, or tea
>> leaves, to determine whether or not my derailleur is SGS?
>
>
> Look at the model number stamped on it. Should start RD- something.
> Or measure between pulley bolts. SGS are something like 90mm apart.
>
Well, here's what I get:

- I'm pretty sure it's a Suntour derailleur, as the stamp says "Maeda
IND VIA GL Japan" Didn't see any RD.
- My best measurement on the pulley-bolt-center to pulley-bolt-center is
86mm.

So what do you think, SGS, not-SGS, or can't tell? Thx.

Peter
Anti-spam:
a) Remove NS_
b) Change 108 to cds1

dianne_1234

On Sat, 24 Apr 2004 22:59:35 GMT, xkred27 <NS_vonyork@108.net> wrote:

>A Muzi wrote:
>
>>
>>> I'm wondering if there's any way, via eyeball, ruler, caliper, or tea
>>> leaves, to determine whether or not my derailleur is SGS?
>>
>>
>> Look at the model number stamped on it. Should start RD- something.
>> Or measure between pulley bolts. SGS are something like 90mm apart.
>>
>Well, here's what I get:
>
>- I'm pretty sure it's a Suntour derailleur, as the stamp says "Maeda
>IND VIA GL Japan" Didn't see any RD.
>- My best measurement on the pulley-bolt-center to pulley-bolt-center is
>86mm.
>
>So what do you think, SGS, not-SGS, or can't tell? Thx.
>
>Peter
>Anti-spam:
> a) Remove NS_
> b) Change 108 to cds1
>
>

Not SGS. SGS is only a Shimano designation. You have a SunTour
derailleur.

;-)

A Muzi

> A Muzi wrote:
>>> I'm wondering if there's any way, via eyeball, ruler, caliper, or tea
>>> leaves, to determine whether or not my derailleur is SGS?
>> Look at the model number stamped on it. Should start RD- something.
>> Or measure between pulley bolts. SGS are something like 90mm apart.

xkred27 wrote:
> Well, here's what I get:
> - I'm pretty sure it's a Suntour derailleur, as the stamp says "Maeda
> IND VIA GL Japan" Didn't see any RD.
> - My best measurement on the pulley-bolt-center to pulley-bolt-center is
> 86mm.
> So what do you think, SGS, not-SGS, or can't tell? Thx.


Sorry. I think I came into the middle of a conversation
somehow. Or something's been snipped? What I saw was a
reference to "SGS" so I assumed a Shimano product. Their
rear changers are clearly marked with the model number
RD-M510, RD-6400, etc etc. Suntours are (were) not.

The term "SGS" is a Shimano designation for a long cage
rear changer. Yes Maeda was the parent company of Suntour.
Suntour made many lengths but did not use the (trademark?)
term "SGS".

So how far between pulley bolts?
And what are you trying to do here?

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

meb

Sheldon Brown wrote:
> xkred27 wrote: <snip>
> > 3) Am I going to need a special puller to work on the freewheel?
> Yes. Not all that special, actually, it's the most common type.
> The Park FR-1 shown at http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tools.html#freewh-
> eelhttp://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tools.html#freewheel would be the
> correct unit.
> <snip>


While the FR1 is the proper tool, I'd heard the FR-5 also can take off
Shimano freewheels. Anyone know if the FR-5 will achieve the result? If
so, is there a concern of breaking/stripping something using a nearfit
tool? I've got 3-6 mounted Shimano freewheels so if not I'll need pick
up an FR-1 sooner or later.



--

xkred27

dianne_1234 wrote:
>
>
> Not SGS. SGS is only a Shimano designation. You have a SunTour
> derailleur.
>
Even though it's a Suntour, don't I still need to determine whether it's
"wide range", "medium range", or "short range"? If so, how? Is the
~90mm distance between the pulley bolts still a valid determinant? If
so, where does the 86mm I measured between the pulley bolts on my
Suntour place it?

Thanks.

Peter

Anti-spam:
a) Remove NS_
b) Change 108 to cds1

xkred27

A Muzi wrote:
>
> So how far between pulley bolts?
About 86mm
> And what are you trying to do here?
>
Yeah, I think I've lost my thread here. I'm kind of a Usenet noob on
top of being a biketech noob. In short, I have a ~1992 Bianchi
Boardwalk I want to use to learn bike mechanics. First order of biz is
I want to swap out current Shimano HG-37 7 spd freewheel for a Shimano
Mega Range 11-34 7 spd freewheel. I have Suntour shifters and
derailleurs, and simply wanted to know if the 11-34 megarange would
work. Consensus was that it would work, so long as the RD was
"wide-range". So I was asking how I could tell if my RD was
"wide-range". Out of ignorance, I used the term "SGS" for wide-range,
thinking the terms were interchangeable. And that's where you and I
miscommunicated a bit. I *also* plan to swap out the Suntour shifters
for a pair of Shimano 7 spd Shimano STX/Alivio SL-MC40 RapidFire pods.

Bottom line: I want, at minimum, to replace the Shimano HG-37 7 spd
freewheel with the Shimano Mega Range 7 spd 11-34 freewheel. And if
possible, I'd like to add the Shimano shifters mentioned above. And
probably a chain. I don't want to change the derailleurs--mostly for
money reasons--at this point.

Do-able?

Thanks again.

Peter

Anti-spam:
a) Remove NS_
b) Replace 108 with cds1

A Muzi

> dianne_1234 wrote:
>> Not SGS. SGS is only a Shimano designation. You have a SunTour
>> derailleur.

xkred27 wrote:
> Even though it's a Suntour, don't I still need to determine whether it's
> "wide range", "medium range", or "short range"? If so, how? Is the
> ~90mm distance between the pulley bolts still a valid determinant? If
> so, where does the 86mm I measured between the pulley bolts on my
> Suntour place it?

That's pretty darn wide range.
Now, what do you want to do with it?

Your changer is rated to 34 teeth.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971