Cycling UK Forum

I'm in the process of cannibalising a 1980s bike which includes wheels having a Campag 8 speed cassette on a chorus hub. The ratios at 14-23 are a little on the high side for me and I suspect that 8 speed ergo levers (if I can find them) have a shifting performance that is inferior to more modern 9 speed stuff.

What's the availablility of other 8 speed cassettes?

What are my gear shifter options if I retain the 8 speed system? (other than just using friction levers)

As I understand it 8 speed Campag is not as available as the 8 speed Shimano kit.

Any suggestions gratefully received


Thanks

David

Hi David
I recently upgraded from 8 speed Campagnolo Athena (1994), but I had no problems or complaints about the shifters. When they were about 9 years old I got the return springs inside the shifters replaced, cheaply & easily. The entire groupset, except the large chainring, is still on good condition and I'm going to install it all on a windtrainer frame. Seems to be very well made stuff. Also they don't change their design every day so small parts from newer groupsets often fit older groupsets.
Hunt around on the internet, you may find what you're after.
You don't say what kind of bike you are buillding, but I have a friend who wanted to lower the gears on his Shimano equipped road bike, and fitted a Shimano LX MOUNTAINBIKE cassette, I think 14-30, with the applicable length LX deraileur. I can get more details on this if you want.
But it works perfectly, he's had it going like that a couple of years now.
Good luck, Phil.

Phil

Thanks for this.

Re. the lowered gearing - I'm assuming that there isn't any Shimano shifter that would cope with a campag cassette - assuming I could get one with a bigger range?

I'm in the fortunate position of already having quite a few bikes including 9 speed ergos and Shiamano 9 speed bar end changers, so I've no firm plans for the kit/wheels under dicussion. Fitting up a bike for a turbo trainer might be a good use for these wheels.

Regards

David

Not sure that I can answer your compatibility question properly-- but I bought a set of Ksyrium race wheels in about 2000; they came with Shimano freewheel, therefore needed Shimano cassette, so I had to fit Compagnolo spacers to suit the Campag shifters. Shimano & Campag use slightly different travel between each sprocket.(Hope you know what I mean there?)
So, can you use campagnolo cassette but with Shimano spacers maybe?-and so use your Shimano shifters.
The later cassettes have some of the sprockets made in groups of 3 so you won't always be able to do this.
However the 8 speed ones were made in singles so you should be lucky. Lots of this kind of thing can be done you just need to play round and be lucky enough to have the bits to try. Also found bike shops won't do weird stuff like this so often can't help.
Have fun, let's know how you get on.
Phil

Once you start altering the bike to use a Shimano cassette here or a different shifter there, you'll be on a slipperly slope to a whole new transmission - plus rear hub. If cost is a consideration, all you need to do is fettle the shifters (they may well need new springs as PhilC noted, but seldom need anything else, sticky shifting is usually due to old gummed-up cable casings) and get a new cassette.

You're right that choice of 8-speed Campag cassettes in regular bike shops is now very limited. The answer to your prayers is provided by Chris Bell at http://www.highpath.co.uk. He can build up a Campag-compatible 8-speed cassette using Marchisio sprockets with up to 30 teeth. And if that's not low enough he'll kick off the cluster with something bigger, cnc-milled from high-strength alloy.

These individually made cassettes are not cheap, but cheaper than replacing most everything else and if you change the chain often enough you'll seldom need a new one.

lb1dej,

Try ebay; there's a wealth of stuff there for those of us who don't want to spend 80 quid on a cassette. If you pm me I can tell you of the 8 speed Campag cassettes I have gathering dust and a set of 8 speed Campag down tube levers, all looking for a good home. Not sure the sizes (probably 23 max, unfortunately) involved, but worth a thought.

Pjl

Thanks very much everyone for the feedback, which confirms what I suspected.

One complicating factor is that the hubs in question are currently laced to 27 inch rims. I might use these on an older bike though they are grey Mavics rather than the preferred silver, or might sell them as good quality 27 inch rims seem to be scarce.

Tyre choices are limited for 27 inch so I feel reluctant to invest too much in the wheels as they are

There is a related thread on the C plus list at present which says that Shimano 7 speed levers will work with a Campag 8 spd cassette. (Must recheck CJs helpful Shimergo table.This makes the valid point that Shimano are much better than Campag at supporting older systems.

Pliptrot - thanks for the offer of levers will contact you though there is a pair on Ebay at present. (Current shifters are early 80s Campag).

David

ps seems not to be possible to use the apostrophe on this list?