jc907

Howdy folks,


Please have patience with this newbie to the forum if my question seems like a "Duh!" one. I've been out of the saddle a looong time (mountain bikes were a new novelty when I started riding) and I've found the tech's changed dramatically since those days when I virtually lived on 2 wheels.


I've taken my 1995 GT Tequesta out of mothball and had to 86 the original Shimano STX rear/right hand shifter. I tried rehabing it by completely dismantling & degreasing out the tar/sand/crude that was not letting the cam engage. I cleaned it thoroughly with trichlorethylbadstuff, but found after rebuilding the unit and applying a light silicone lubricant to the metal parts, I could only get 6 shifts out of it and not the 7 that it used to do, hence, my decision to deep 6 it altogether.


Obviously the STX line's long discontinued & 7 speed units that are Shimano derailleur compatible are not easy to find as most units are now 8, 9, 10 or higher speeds. I'd like to avoid replacing the rear derailleur and/or cassette as both are still in good working order showing minimal wear and tear.


I've been told I can use an 8 speed shifter as long as it's Shimano derailleur compatible and simply limit the derailleur travel using the derailleurs limiting screws.


Is that true and/or are there other things I need to take into consideration?


Thanks in advance for reading and I look forward to hearing from anyone out there.

KenCarlson

If it's a 7-speed shifter, it will have 6 clicks. If you don't believe me, count them on your fingers: 1 to 2 is 1, 2 to 3 is 2...

dsbrantjr

As KenCarlson stated you have the right number of shifts for a 7-speed shifter, but Amazon has many trigger, twist and brifter styles of shifters to choose from.

70sSanO

If, after heeding the advice given above, and if it turns you get 6 gears and 5 clicks, then the answer to your 8 speed shifter question is yes.

I started mountain bike riding late in life and when an LX 7 speed shifter was giving me problems, I went to look for a replacement. I found older 7 speed shifters so overpriced, and new ones were not very good, and I could get a better 8 speed shifter for less.

I took my 7 speed cassette apart. Sanded the plastic spacers from 3.15mm to 3.0mm. Put it together and ran 7 gears with 8 speed shifters and never looked back.

John

tFUnK

You can use 8 speed shifter with a 7 speed cassette. Be sure to set the limit screws correctly on the RD. Obviously you will have 1 click in your shifter that will be blocked by the limit screw (you can pick high or low).

jc907

Understood, but the indicator only goes to "6" now. I haven't reinstalled the unit and attached the cable to it so could that have something to do with it only indicating 6? going

jc907

Solid copy. Thx

FastJake

You can also you 7 cogs of an 8-speed cassette. That will get you exactly the right shifting. Or measure the thickness of the 8-speed spacers, and use them with your 7-speed cassette. The differences between 7/8 are very minor and sometimes you can get away with mismatching, but not always.

jc907

Thx. Appreciate it greatly!

jc907

Thank you all greatly for your incisive and timely responses.

Update: I've tried it one last time and it seems the gear shift gods have decided to smile upon me: The shifter now is running through all shifts except the last two on the return. I'm suspecting that it will work properly once the new cable is installed and there's tension on the return.

Thx to all again

bubish

If you do end up needing a new shifter, it looks like you can get a set of Microshift ones for pretty cheap: https://www.amazon.com/MicroShift-Th...322857&sr=8-23

I haven't tried their 7 speed stuff, but I know from experience their 11 mountain bike shifter is solid.

BobsPoprad

Wow...you da man.