mongol777

Couple of days ago I picked up very nice 1988 Bianchi Premio with SunTour Alpha 4050 RD. I used Suntour group as one of the leverage points for the lower price as I read many threads where very few people made SR Accushift stuff work with non-accushift freewheels. Anyway - freewheel appeared to be dead (cogs are fine, just need to take it apart as it seems to be stuck) and being impatient person I went and picked up sunrace 6 speed freewheel (same 14-28 spread) - https://www.mec.ca/product/5020-159/s...ce%2Bfreewheel.
I figured if I decide to keep the bike I will use friction mode anyway and I decide to sell - I will fix original freewheel by that time or source another one.
Cleaned up the bike, took another wheelset from my parts bin (same spacing - 126 but had originally 5 speed freewheel), put new sunrace freewheel on, used this chain (shortened by 2 links) - https://www.mec.ca/product/5006-382/k...?q=kmc%2Bchain and voila - indexed shifting works. It was skipping at first on two smallest cogs but it was matter of not enough tension in the cable. Once adjusted - works like a charm.

Would be curious to see if someone can test it with same (or other) accushift rd with known low mileage or NOS one. May be mine is just worn (although jockeys appear to be in good shape) and alone with tension this allows to index shift

frantik

i have heard reports of hyperglide cassettes working with accushift shifters and derailleurs, just being a lil more finicky

mongol777

Yep, HG cassette was the only one I read about which somewhat worked. Sunrace freewheel I got - it index shifts through every gear, no problem.

WNG

I have the very same Bianchi and yes, Shimano 6 speed works with the @4050.

The Golden Boy 

Accushift 6sp is spaced the same as Shimano 6sp.

I've been using Accushift shifters with Accushift derailleurs and Shimano FWs. It works magically.

The Sunrace should be spaced the same as Shimano, which is spaced the same as Accushift.

The @4050 "should" be compatible with other Accushift shifers/derailleurs. The @3000 is NOT.

The Yellow Jersey site has Suntour's Accushift technical manual for download.

So, theoretically, you could replace your derailleur with a fancy pants Superbe Pro or Sprint and be in business.

FWIW, I'm using Command Shifters, XC Pro and XC Comp derailleurs and the Shimano FW that you get for $15 everywhere.