12 Comments

  1. Not sure but maybe it takes both?
    If you’re not having STI levers but downtube shifters (even without indexes?) it should not really matter, no?

    Sorry, a lot of question marks here, I’m a noob, too 😀

  2. OriginalStockingfan on

    I think it’s 6 speed indicated by the 600 in the name. Your problem comes there’s a straight 600 (6100) which does 14-28 teeth and a 600 EX GS Arabesque (6210) which does 14-34 teeth.

    Any other markings on it?

  3. That 600 and Dura-Ace from the same catalog had an early 6-speed freehub as well as the more usual 5-speed frewheel. So yes, it handles a 6-speed. Source: I have both. But: 34 teeth might be pushing it.

  4. This is a Shimano 600 ex arabesque from 1978. It used a six speed uniglide cassette. It will likely work on a 5, 6 or 7 speed freewheel or cassette. 8 might be possible but very likely pushing it too much. They offered 15-28 as the easiest and many other harder cassette options. Max cog designed 28 with a max 13 tooth difference at the front. You might be able to push to 30 or 32 but I highly doubt 34. That said I’ve never tried it.

  5. semperubisububi1112 on

    That is a 5 speed rear mech, originally used with friction shifters. The Ultegra rear mech that came out with indexed downtube shifters looks different. Will work with 5 or 6 speed shifter

  6. RenaissancemanTX on

    I would imagine this rear derailleur is pre-STI and is friction only. If friction, you can run 5 6, & 7 speeds.

  7. It will work with 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1… 13 if you can lay hands. These were introduced with friction shifters. They do not work with indexed shifters except for Gripshift which are specifically cam for this derailleur. All friction shifters seem to work pretty well. Smaller chains are likely to have some issues since they might get caught between the pulley and the cage. I’ve had pretty good luck though using an 11 speed chain.

  8. delicate10drills on

    Its function isn’t dependent on the number of cogs, it’ll do 3-12 without protest, but probably limited to 32t as a largest cog.

  9. flimflam_machine on

    Worth having a look here to understand the spacing of freewheels and cassettes. https://sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-spacing.html

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