Shimano derailer compatibility?

Iceberg said:

Am I right in thinking a 7 speed megarange derailer is compatible with a 6 speed 14/34 freewheel
and the indexing would still work (up to 6)?

The short answer is "yes."

Quoted message said:

I've seen stuff on the web saying you can use a 7 speed derailer with an 8 or 9 speed freewheel,
but can't find much else.

That's 'cause there's no such thing as a "7-speed" derailer. The derailer doesn't care how many
speeds, that's an issue for the shift control and the rear cluster.

When you see a derailer referred to as a *-speed, that's just marketing spin, not a functional
description.

Sheldon "It'll Work Just Dandy" Brown +-------------------------------------------+
| If Stupidity got us into this mess, | then why can't it get us out? | -- Will Rogers |
+-------------------------------------------+ Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts Phone
617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041 harriscyclery.comharriscyclery.comOpen ↗ Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
captainbike.comcaptainbike.comOpen ↗ sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗

Iceberg said:

I've seen stuff on the web saying you can use a 7 speed derailer with an 8 or 9 speed freewheel,
but can't find much else.

I have used this combination in the past with no problems.

itsa gas!! take a look at Harris's gear cluster list, there's an 8-speed combo that'll mod to a 14
high and add a mid gear under the low for a really fine fat cluster. if you're going from an older
deray to a new deore or... a gas also as the entiore unit pivots at two points not one keeping the
chain of armadillos and gopher torti!

"Sheldon Brown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Iceberg said:

Am I right in thinking a 7 speed megarange derailer is compatible with a 6 speed 14/34 freewheel
and the indexing would still work (up to 6)?

The short answer is "yes."

Quoted message said:

I've seen stuff on the web saying you can use a 7 speed derailer with an 8

or 9

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

speed freewheel, but can't find much else.

That's 'cause there's no such thing as a "7-speed" derailer. The derailer doesn't care how many
speeds, that's an issue for the shift control and the rear cluster.

When you see a derailer referred to as a *-speed, that's just marketing spin, not a functional
description.

Sheldon "It'll Work Just Dandy" Brown

Thanks a lot Sheldon and by the way, your excellent web-site has been an enourmous help over the
past few weeks since I dug my old bike out the shed!