Uniglide to Hyperglide Sorted, its easy

This little problem has been on the back burner for months. I have one bike with a nice set of wheels running Shimano 600EX hubs but with a close ratio Uniglide cassette, the largest sprocket is 19T and not a lot of use up the Shroppy hills. The largest I could run with the RD is 28T which would be perfect.

The problem is Uniglides are now like hens teeth, I've seen that SJS have the 13-32 but are out of stock at the moment so I'm wondering about adapting a Hyperglide. I've read an 8 speed HG41 can be adapted by filing the large tab but has anyone tried this?

Or does anyone have a good Uniglide cassette or sprockets they want to sell or swap for the close ratio?

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

Robbie,

This was posted about a while ago and i think there may be help on Sheldon about it too. From memory, careful use of a file will work but i would take someone else's advice about it - someone who has actually done it.

Sorry i cannot be of more use (the usual!)

Richard

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

6 or 7 speed?

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

Cheers Richard, I have found a link someone wrote about the same problem and it seems to be fairly straight forward, but I might have another plan

6 or 7 speed is a good question. Currently it is 6 but there is one much fatter spacer before the low sprocket, I'm thinking there might be enough room for an extra sprocket and make it a 7 speed. Its friction shifted so has the potential to work

It looks like SJS might have some 7 speed uniglides back in stock today but with a 32T large sprocket. Possibly I can loose the 32T use the next one down which is 28T and use the smallest sprocket from my low ratio to lock it?

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

The other thing to consider is to swap the freehub body to a later 7 speed, they all fit. Also, a 7 speed HG cassette will fit provided you don't go smaller than 12T.

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

hamster":87h3jgyb said:

The other thing to consider is to swap the freehub body to a later 7 speed, they all fit. Also, a 7 speed HG cassette will fit provided you don't go smaller than 12T.

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Cheers Hamster

I've just been reading Sheldon's page and didn't realise the freehub's were interchangable, (I'm more used to freewheels) that seems a much easier solution. I've also just found out that SJS are not getting anymore Uniglide cassette's in stock. So Hyperglide its going to be, just got to see if I have a 7 speed hyperglide freehub kicking around!

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

Try the HG 7 cassette on the UG freehub, it should fit provided it's got a top gear with 12 or more teeth. The 6 and 7 freehub bodies are the same size, the lockring screws into the end of the freehub body with HG, not with the threaded top cog like UG.

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

Funnily enough I have just had to do this on a Shimano 600 rear hub on a Italian 1980s race bike. It would have been ok to use but, like you, had a straight through block which is too steep for me.
Uniglide is effectively obsolete (another Shimano dead end !) and the advice is to upgrade the freehub to Hyperglide and take advantage of a much wider range of cassettes. My LBS provided a 7 speed Hyperglide freehub but I am fortunate in that they have a wide stock, including some old stuff, and a good bloke who understands these things. He tried a couple of different models as you need a good fit and to retain your OLD. Also the bearings on the drive side are contained in the freehub so you may have to check your existing cone fits ok and sealing washers may need leaving out.
Your next problem, if it is important to you, is getting a 7 speed cassette in silver. All the current ones on offer seem to be black/grey presumably for MTB use, not right at all on a light road bike. I managed to get a silver HG50 13 -23T on Amazon for about £18 but it may have been the last one !

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

i think i have a 7sp body at work if you are desperate ..(my work is in Australia)

Re: Increasing the ratio on a Uniglide cassette help

Apple Tree":10rw7ucd said:

I managed to get a silver HG50 13 -23T on Amazon for about £18 but it may have been the last one !

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Like Robbie, I live in a hilly part of Shropshire; 13-23t may be enough for him, but I need something like 13-28.