Rear Mech suitability

[curzons246]

I'm changing my frames at the end of the year my current being a 70's Carlton and the replacement a 90's Mercian. My rear mech is a Shimano 600 Arabesque which works with a 5 speed freewheel on the Carlton. The Mercian has a 130mm wider rear space and the wheels I intend to use have a 7 speed cassette will my current mech cope? and while I think about it the down tube shifters on the Carlton are mounted on a band at the moment but the Mercian has braze ons they look like they should transfer by removing them from the band? thanks for your help Bill

 

[rusty bearing]

Having consulted the oracle in the workshop the odds are against it working with the seven speed.Particularly if its a short cage mech, there are several variables here like chain width and range of the 600 to start with. Best advice try it, if it doesn't work you've lost nothing. Same with the shifters, worst case you've got to buy replacements.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

The 600 Arabesque was designed for 6 speed and 34T max so should be relatively versatile considering it is a 70s mech. Since 6 speed hubs are 126mm wide same as 7 speed, the chance it works is good, although some older mechs do have difficulty centering on the smallest rear cog on a modern 130mm cassette hub. If that happens while not ideal a thin washer between the mech and mech hanger can help.

 

[curzons246]

Thanks Gents, I will post a result but it wont be until October when we get back into the marina. Cheers Bill

 

[curzons246]

Bit of an update - ebay Item number: 320968110172 refers to an 80's sean kelly vitus which has my Shimano 600ex arabesque rear derailieur married up to an 8 speed cassette - I guess it works very well then :-)

 

[rusty bearing]

Result!