Old cassette on new wheels

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by budget_cyclist
The wheels on my hack bike are in tatters. They are 700c alloy, the front wheel is an old campag. I do have some spare decent wheels (from my good bike), but they are shimano R540. The rear wheel has a 9 speed ultegra cassette on it. I have fitted the R540 front wheel today, as this works no problem. Is there any way I can fit my old six speed shimano SIS HG20 cassette to the rear R540 hub and use the wheel?. My frame is Reynolds 501.

The 6 speed cassette is uniglide and the first cog is threaded and works as a lockring by threading onto the outside of the freehub. Current hubs are hyperglide and the cassrtte is secured by a separate lockring that threads into the inside of the freehub. Current hubs are also wider. You might get lucky and use a spacer on the freehub to get the right width and use a HG lockring to cinch everything in place. No guarantee it will work. If you have friction shifting,you could cram the 540 wheel in the frame and use a 7 speed cassette with a 4.5mm spacer or either a 8 or 9 speed cassette without a spacer.

Thanks for you reply boudreaux. You have explained things perfectly, and you obviously have great technical knowledge. The bike has index gears, so the job looks like a lot of hassle really! If I can find someone that has actually done this, then I may consider it. Meantime, I am on the lookout for an old rear wheel!