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How To change a Suntour Cassette to a Shimano
#1
Hello All,

I have a 1992 Trek 6000 with the original Suntour AP II 12-30 7 Speed Cassette.

It's now time to upgrade the cassette to something newer. Is it possible to change the hub as well as the cassette with another Manufacturer?
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#2
You would have to replace the entire hub with freehub, add a cassette, and then get Shimano derailleur and shifters.
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#3
(09-02-2014, 10:52 AM)DieselLegs Wrote:  It's now time to upgrade the cassette to something newer. Is it possible to change the hub as well as the cassette with another Manufacturer?
That's odd, 1992 Trek catalog shows the 6000 with an all Shimano drive train.
Your SunTour OEM indexed shifters aren't a good match to a shimano cassette as the spacing is different on some of the gears.
1) You need to purchase a new hub, spokes, nipples and have the rear wheel re-laced, or simply purchase a new rear wheel.
2) Purchase new shifters but be aware that most new rear wheels will allow an 8 speed cassette, so you'll need an 8 speed cassette & shifters, or give up one gear lol, or go to 7 speed cassette & shifters with a cassette spacer (one of my MTB bikes is like this).
3) My policy is to get a new chain in this situation. A new rear shift cable should be purchased too,
Most of these parts are cheap. Heck, for that matter, you could change the rear derailleur for under $25 too.
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#4
Please allow me to barge in here as an owner of a 1994 Trek T50, originally equipped with a Suntour 12-30 7 speed cassette and Shimano derailleurs and indexed shifters.

The Suntour cassettes mounting is not compatible with Shimano or Campy. The Suntour cassette 7 speed spacing is the same as Shimano.

On our T50; the rear rim cracked, and I used that as an opportunity to build up new wheels with Velocity Dyad rims, Wheelmaster 40H hubs and Wheelsmith spokes.

As Jef notes; you need a new chain with your new cassette, and possibly new shifters if you choose to go to 8 or 9 speed.

As noted, you need a new hub. A new rim is probably called for due brake track wear. A new wheel is probably the best solution.
Nigel
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#5
(09-04-2014, 09:31 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  Please allow me to barge in here as an owner of a 1994 Trek T50, originally equipped with a Suntour 12-30 7 speed cassette and Shimano derailleurs and indexed shifters.

The Suntour cassettes mounting is not compatible with Shimano or Campy. The Suntour cassette 7 speed spacing is the same as Shimano.
My Bianchi road bike has 7 in the rear with SunTour indexed down tube shifters, not shimano like yours, & the spacing is slightly different on a couple of gears, crazy, huh?
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#6
(09-04-2014, 03:27 PM)1FJEF Wrote:  My Bianchi road bike has 7 in the rear with SunTour indexed down tube shifters, not shimano like yours, & the spacing is slightly different on a couple of gears, crazy, huh?

Have to be careful not to generalize with Suntour 6 and 7 speed stuff - they both come in more than one spacing flavor. Very crazy. Smile
Nigel
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#7
(09-04-2014, 09:31 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  Please allow me to barge in here as an owner of a 1994 Trek T50, originally equipped with a Suntour 12-30 7 speed cassette and Shimano derailleurs and indexed shifters.

The Suntour cassettes mounting is not compatible with Shimano or Campy. The Suntour cassette 7 speed spacing is the same as Shimano.

On our T50; the rear rim cracked, and I used that as an opportunity to build up new wheels with Velocity Dyad rims, Wheelmaster 40H hubs and Wheelsmith spokes.

As Jef notes; you need a new chain with your new cassette, and possibly new shifters if you choose to go to 8 or 9 speed.

As noted, you need a new hub. A new rim is probably called for due brake track wear. A new wheel is probably the best solution.

Thank you!!!

Next to find all the right parts and get her done ;-)
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