Regina America Freewheel compatible with Shimano Shifters???

[customcreation]

Hello to all,

I would likte to combine Precision Billet Shifters (8-speed) with a Regina America 92 Superleggera Freewheel (8-speed). Does anyone knows if this combination works? Is that Freewheel compatible with shifters working like Shimano shifters?

Thanks

 

[hamster]

If I remember rightly the Regina is not compatible with any indexed system as its teeth are too long. Try sjscycles as they usually carry this kind of stuff.

It may be just that it has Campag 8 spacing (so 5mm pitch not Shimano's 4. leading to the popular belief that it's incompatible.

 

[garethrl]

In the early-mid 90s I used to race with Campag Mirage STIs, Athena rear mech and 12-21 7-speed Regina America screw on block. Can't remember which chain I used, a reasonable Sedis/Sachs model of the time, but I had no problems at all with indexing ...

... which leads me to believe that it probably would not work in a Shimano setup.

Incidentally, I'd used the Regina block for years beforehand in friction setups. My first attempt at indexing using 7-speed Synchro levers and my existing Victory mech was not really successful, but I got by. When I replaced the DT shifters with the STIs it didn't work at all, but that was more or less inevitable given the desing of the Victory mech. This was solved by changing to the newer Athena.

So, whilst the America block was designed pre-indexing, it will work in certain indexed setups, but IMO probably not Shimano.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

I can't speak from experience, but the BikePro article (which you may have seen already) seems to suggest that:

a) the '92 SuperLeggera is just a lightweight version of the '92 America

and

b) the '92 America "is compatible, with all present indexing systems, including Aris, Mavic, Suntour Accushift Plus, and Shimano SIS-HyperGlide"

http://www.bikepro.com/arch_products/fr ... egina.html

BikePro is a trustworthy source, in my experience.

 

[garethrl]

Interesting post, o-e-j.

I should note that my America freewheel was far older, about 1987 I'd say. Although Shimano's indexing systems were in full swing by then, IIRC there was no explicit mention of indexing anywhere on the packaging.

As for the packaging, that was the really cool part - it came in a shoe polish-type tin with the little winged lever that you'd twist to open the can and remove the frewheel. I kept it for ages, then lost it during one house move.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

In the early-mid 90s I used to race with Campag Mirage STIs, Athena rear mech and 12-21 7-speed Regina America screw on block. Can't remember which chain I used, a reasonable Sedis/Sachs model of the time, but I had no problems at all with indexing ...

... which leads me to believe that it probably would not work in a Shimano setup.

But Shimano and Campag both used 5mm sprocket spacing for their 7-speed indexed systems, so if it works with one, it should work with the other.

What's not clear from the BikePro site is whether the 8-speed America 92 uses 5mm or 4.8mm spacing, but the difference is normally small enough to work (e.g. XT 732 thumbies on an 8-speed cassette) if set up carefully.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

I should note that my America freewheel was far older, about 1987 I'd say. Although Shimano's indexing systems were in full swing by then, IIRC there was no explicit mention of indexing anywhere on the packaging.

The BikePro page seems to suggest that the Synchro models were intended for indexing, but then says thay the 92 America is index compatible. Perhaps all the post-92 models were indexable.

As for the packaging, that was the really cool part - it came in a shoe polish-type tin with the little winged lever that you'd twist to open the can and remove the frewheel. I kept it for ages, then lost it during one house move.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steel-is-real/3046121919/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steel-is-real/2640874510/