confused

[Corduroyboy]

Re: y

my right hand shifter is XT M739 RAPID FIRE is it 8 or 9 spd? and does it matter?

my current hub only has a 7spd cassette but looks to be lost of room for at least 2 more cogs! i doubt that it is 9 spd compatable as it is a ringle bubba hub circa 1994 - (screw on)

so to sum up what do i need to get my bike running?

cassette 8spd what type?
chain what type?

and is everything else going to be ok or do i need to replace shifters?

M739 is 8-speed
If you want to use your Ringle hub, you can stick with 7 speed, since 8-speed cassettes have exactly the same spacing as 7-speed.
You can fit an 8-speed screw on freewheel (not cassette) onto your hub but you will need to mess about with the axle spacing, since it will be wider than your 7-speed. You will also have to 'redish' the wheel (because the rim will now be too close to the non-drive chainstay).
9 speed rear mechs work fine on 7 or 8-speed systems.

In short:
If you want to stick with 7-speed, you can with the shifters and rear mech you have mentioned.
If you want to go to 8-speed, you can if you buy the 8-speed block and are able to respace the axle and redish the wheel

 

[Corduroyboy]

Is there an echo in here?

Yes, with a 3 minute delay for slow typing!

 

[konamad]

y

i thought you could still get them!? doh - i hope so anyway :?

 

[Pickle]

I wouldn't mind getting KI25TEN or KI75TEN for my wife, but I've never found them anywhere

 

[Corduroyboy]

Re: y

i thought you could still get them!? doh - i hope so anyway :?

They do exist, it's just that there aren't many still around.

 

[cherrybomb]

Is there an echo in here?

Yes, with a 3 minute delay for slow typing!

Great minds an all that.

Are you saying you can still get 8 speed srcew on blocks?

 

[Corduroyboy]

I haven't seen a new one for ages! But I haven't been looking....

 

[konamad]

out

my chain line seems out tho with this hub and cassette mounted on the frame?? the gap between the last cog on the cassette and the drop out looks big -??

i think this is a dura ace cassette? road??

 

[Corduroyboy]

Then it's already spaced for an 8-speed cassette - i.e. no respacing or redishing required!

 

[Corduroyboy]

Re: out

my chain line seems out tho with this hub and cassette mounted on the frame?? the gap between the last cog on the cassette and the drop out looks big -??

i think this is a dura ace cassette? road??

It's not a cassette - it's a freewheel. I don't think Dura-Ace was ever freewheel (unless very early on!) - certainly not circa '93.
But the block looks like it might be a road one.
If you're looking for an 8-speed freewheel, look for a Sachs.