Quote Originally Posted by lunacycles View Post
I think it is fabulous that it works, really! I am just saying it is not common for it to work, nor will it likely work on an 8-speed cassette. The issue is the amount of spacing between the cogs, which is different for 8 or 9 speeds,and the shifters are designed to work with one kind of spacing, tho sometimes you get lucky if you play with cable tension enough.
Limit screws actually only control how far outboard or inboard the derailleur travels. They have no effect on how far the derailleur moves with each shift.
Wow, thanks for the info. I guess it wasn't the limit screws. I just know that there was a screw we fiddled with until the derailleur threw the chain just the right amount to smoothly move to the next cog. If that's not called the limit screw maybe it is something that adjusts the cable tension (sorry but I am all self-taught so I don't know what its called, I just look at the bike and try to figure out what I have to adjust to make things do what I want them to).

I guess we did get lucky, which is good since our trip would have been ruined if we couldn't make it work. It also surprised the local bike shop guys that couldn't locate a 7 speed shifter for us.