7-speed cassette hubs

glueman · Post by **glueman** » 3 Apr 2009, 1:34pm

Anyone know a source? Blocks and indexed levers are still available, wondering whether anyone knows if reasonable quality hubs are so I can leave the rest of the kit and build light and heavier wheels?

hamster · Post by **hamster** » 3 Apr 2009, 2:12pm

I think Shimano have given up on them entirely. There is nothing to stop you retrofitting a 7s freehub body onto an 8/9/10s hub and then readjusting the spacing. You won't get the advantage of the slightly wider flanges on old 7s though.

There are plenty of old 7s hubs around, and as the right hand race is inside the freehub body, only the LHS one has to be in good condition. The Shiman oMTB humbs from 1992 or so onwards had excellent seals and there are probably a fair few around with pristine bearing races.

Post by Si » 3 Apr 2009, 2:31pm

Dunno if I've misunderstood what you are asking, but couldn't you just use a 8/9 spd hub with a spacer on the end of the cassette?

Or have you found that the original 7spd hubs are of a better quality?

glueman · Post by **glueman** » 3 Apr 2009, 2:33pm

Ta. Next question: are 7-speed freehub bodies available?

edit: crosspost with Si - no I haven't worked out fixes, spacers, etc, just seeing if the obvious answer is still around - 7-speed hubs. thought maybe there's a shop or eBay seller who specialises in new old stock.

hamster · Post by **hamster** » 3 Apr 2009, 5:22pm

New freehub bodies are still available in lowlier groupsets (STX if I remember right). Quite what was extra on a Deore XT one I have no idea as they were all steel. XT probably had extra marketing. :wink:

The easiest solution is to fit a spacer (£3 or so) behind a 7s cassette onto an 8/9 hub, OR just any old spacer from a worn out 8 speed cassette has worked for me.

Domestique · Post by **Domestique** » 3 Apr 2009, 8:55pm

Just make sure you adjust the rear mech if you use a spacer, it leaves just the right size gap for a chain to fit in :evil:

rogerzilla · Post by **rogerzilla** » 3 Apr 2009, 10:07pm

7 speed Shimano cassette hubs are a tenner new from eBay. 135mm OLD though, and made in China to so-so standards.

patricktaylor · Post by **patricktaylor** » 3 Apr 2009, 11:03pm

Domestique wrote:Just make sure you adjust the rear mech if you use a spacer, it leaves just the right size gap for a chain to fit in

True. The chain does fit the gap nicely. It happened to me today, and it was easier to pull out than if it was jammed against the spokes.

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7-speed cassette hubs

7-speed cassette hubs

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