I want to put STI levers* on a frame which was originally designed to have band on downtube shifters. As such there are no upper lugs for the outer gear cable to sit in and keep the inner in tension. Is there any solution to this problem? Ideally I would be able to obtain band on lugs but I have NO ideas where I might be able to do this. Alternatively I was thinking I could run outer cable housing from shifter to mech and then hold it in place with cable ties, and drill out the lower lugs so the cable (in housing) can run straight through.
Any thoughts/ comments/ suggestions?
cheers
dave
*(or bar end shifters, not yet decided but the problem is still the same)
David Waters [email hidden] opined the following...
Quoted message said:
I want to put STI levers* on a frame which was originally designed to have band on downtube shifters. As such there are no upper lugs for the outer gear cable to sit in and keep the inner in tension. Is there any solution to this problem? Ideally I would be able to obtain band on lugs but I have NO ideas where I might be able to do this. Alternatively I was thinking I could run outer cable housing from shifter to mech and then hold it in place with cable ties, and drill out the lower lugs so the cable (in housing) can run straight through.
When I first upgraded to STIs, the set came with adjustable tension cable ends to fasten onto the bosses. The band on levers on my bike were band on bosses, so I just unscrewed the old levers, and put the cable ends on instead. Do you still have the original band on downtube shifters? Mine went back to the original owner a long time ago, who may be planning on reusing them, but I'll check my random bits pile to see if the ones I have there are suitable for your purposes.
David Waters [email hidden] opined the following...
Quoted message said:
I want to put STI levers* on a frame which was originally designed to have band on downtube shifters. As such there are no upper lugs for the outer gear cable to sit in and keep the inner in tension. Is there any solution to this problem? Ideally I would be able to obtain band on lugs but I have NO ideas where I might be able to do this. Alternatively I was thinking I could run outer cable housing from shifter to mech and then hold it in place with cable ties, and drill out the lower lugs so the cable (in housing) can run straight through.
When I first upgraded to STIs, the set came with adjustable tension cable ends to fasten onto the bosses. The band on levers on my bike were band on bosses, so I just unscrewed the old levers, and put the cable ends on instead. Do you still have the original band on downtube shifters? Mine went back to the original owner a long time ago, who may be planning on reusing them, but I'll check my random bits pile to see if the ones I have there are suitable for your purposes.
Jon
I don't unfortunately, but I might be able to aquire a pair cheaply from ebay or some such. thanks for your offer, it is appreciated.
I want to put STI levers* on a frame which was originally designed to have band on downtube shifters. As such there are no upper lugs for the outer gear cable to sit in and keep the inner in tension. Is there any solution to this problem? Ideally I would be able to obtain band on lugs but I have NO ideas where I might be able to do this.
There are such things as clip-on stops. I can only find on the net ones without adjusters now: sjscycles.comvIndex.htmOpen ↗
Some old Shimano down tube levers include adapters (allow normal stops to be fitted) if you can track any down. Shimano 105 6-speed index levers were one example (I use the band bit from a pair of these on my old bike).
Quoted message said:
Alternatively I was thinking I could run outer cable housing from shifter to mech and then hold it in place with cable ties, and drill out the lower lugs so the cable (in housing) can run straight through.
That'd probably work but it would be a shame not to have the extra adjusters. It's particularly useful to have a cable adjuster for the front mech with STIs/Ergos as they misbehave if tension is not just right.
In message <[email hidden]>, Pete Biggs <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
David Waters said:
I want to put STI levers* on a frame which was originally designed to have band on downtube shifters. As such there are no upper lugs for the outer gear cable to sit in and keep the inner in tension. Is there any solution to this problem? Ideally I would be able to obtain band on lugs but I have NO ideas where I might be able to do this.
There are such things as clip-on stops. I can only find on the net ones without adjusters now: sjscycles.comvIndex.htmOpen ↗
Some old Shimano down tube levers include adapters (allow normal stops to be fitted) if you can track any down. Shimano 105 6-speed index levers were one example (I use the band bit from a pair of these on my old bike).
When I put on bar end changers, I fitted adjustable stops to my bike (that had band on lever originally)
I used Shimano adjustable stops that are designed to fit on brazed on lever bosses. (these may have come with the levers , I can't remember) and bought a band one lever boss fitting from somewhere that they fitted on, with a little it of fettling. -- Chris French, Leeds
I want to put STI levers* on a frame which was originally designed to have band on downtube shifters. As such there are no upper lugs for the outer gear cable to sit in and keep the inner in tension. Is there any solution to this problem? Ideally I would be able to obtain band on lugs but I have NO ideas where I might be able to do this.
Bob managed to find me some for mine when it was upgraded. I have non-adjustable ones, but there is plenty of adjustment in the mechs themselves. The one posted from SJSC should do you fine.
That'd probably work but it would be a shame not to have the extra adjusters. It's particularly useful to have a cable adjuster for the front mech with STIs/Ergos as they misbehave if tension is not just right.
You can use inline barrels if you don't have any adjusters on your downtube bosses. I use one for the front mech and it works a treat. I picked up a pair at my LBS.
Bob managed to find me some for mine when it was upgraded. I have non-adjustable ones, but there is plenty of adjustment in the mechs themselves. The one posted from SJSC should do you fine.
Do any Shimano *front* mechs have cable adjusters? I didn't think so.
In any case, it's nice to have a rear cable adjuster within reach so indexing can be fine tuned while on the move. Saves some messing about in the workshop and deals with cable stretch.
Bob managed to find me some for mine when it was upgraded. I have non-adjustable ones, but there is plenty of adjustment in the mechs themselves. The one posted from SJSC should do you fine.
Quoted message said:
Do any Shimano *front* mechs have cable adjusters? I didn't think so.
Not that I know of, but it's never been a problem for me. I use bar-ends, the front mech is on friction.
Quoted message said:
In any case, it's nice to have a rear cable adjuster within reach so indexing can be fine tuned while on the move. Saves some messing about in the workshop and deals with cable stretch.
I can honestly say I've never felt the need for that, even with the extreme faff caused by a low-end Deore 10- speed rear.
But whatever. I refer the hon. gentleman to my original reply: it works for me :-)
Do any Shimano *front* mechs have cable adjusters? I didn't think so.
Not that I know of, but it's never been a problem for me. I use bar-ends, the front mech is on friction.
But we're talking about possibly using STIs with an indexed front mech. They are more fussy.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
In any case, it's nice to have a rear cable adjuster within reach so indexing can be fine tuned while on the move. Saves some messing about in the workshop and deals with cable stretch.
I can honestly say I've never felt the need for that, even with the extreme faff caused by a low-end Deore 10- speed rear.
As I say, it's just "nice" to have rather than being essential.
Quoted message said:
But whatever. I refer the hon. gentleman to my original reply: it works for me :-)
I think the hon. gent may want to do something different.
Do any Shimano *front* mechs have cable adjusters? I didn't think so.
My STI shifters (on drops) have cable adjusters on both the front and rear mechs (going to tiagra bits and bobs). They're located just where the cable+outer is attached to the frame (on the downtube?), where it then turns into just cable as it runs down toward the BB.
> Do any Shimano *front* mechs have cable adjusters? I > didn't think so.
My STI shifters (on drops) have cable adjusters on both the front and rear mechs (going to tiagra bits and bobs). They're located just where the cable+outer is attached to the frame (on the downtube?), where it then turns into just cable as it runs down toward the BB.
Thanks but I meant on the actual derailleurs. All modern rear mechs have built in cable adjusters but I haven't seen any on front mechs.
>>Do any Shimano *front* mechs have cable adjusters? I >>didn't think so.
My STI shifters (on drops) have cable adjusters on both the front and rear mechs (going to tiagra bits and bobs). They're located just where the cable+outer is attached to the frame (on the downtube?), where it then turns into just cable as it runs down toward the BB.
Thanks but I meant on the actual derailleurs. All modern rear mechs have built in cable adjusters but I haven't seen any on front mechs.
~PB
Hmm, ok, what do you class as a cable adjuster (I'm not all that up on what these bits are yet!), and I'll go look at the actual mech then?
>>Do any Shimano *front* mechs have cable adjusters? I >>didn't think so.
My STI shifters (on drops) have cable adjusters on both the front and rear mechs (going to tiagra bits and bobs). They're located just where the cable+outer is attached to the frame (on the downtube?), where it then turns into just cable as it runs down toward the BB.
Thanks but I meant on the actual derailleurs. All modern rear mechs have built in cable adjusters but I haven't seen any on front mechs.
~PB
Ah, answered my own question by another look. Yes, the rear has a cable adjuster but not on the front mech. I suspect this is because the front has no outer near to the mech, whereas the rear does have an outer. I'm presuming it's because the rear moves around a lot with gear changes whereas the front has a lesser range of movement that the extra bit of outer is required?
I can't see how you could run sheathed cable down to the front mech anyway given the path it goes via on my bike, there's a fairly sharp angle at the BB part of things which I'm presuming can't be done if an outer is on the cable at that point.
Thanks but I meant on the actual derailleurs. All modern rear mechs have built in cable adjusters but I haven't seen any on front mechs.
Quoted message said:
Ah, answered my own question by another look. Yes, the rear has a cable adjuster but not on the front mech. I suspect this is because the front has no outer near to the mech, whereas the rear does have an outer.
You're dead right, and I forgot that myself, although I think some MTBs might have outers that run all the way to the mech.
Quoted message said:
I'm presuming it's because the rear moves around a lot with gear changes whereas the front has a lesser range of movement that the extra bit of outer is required?
Yes and also the angle, direction and position of cable attachment point would make a rear mech impossible to control without an outer.
On Wed, 5 May 2004 15:18:19 +0100, "Pete Biggs" <[email hidden]> wrote in message <[email hidden]>:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Not that I know of, but it's never been a problem for me. I use bar-ends, the front mech is on friction.
Quoted message said:
But we're talking about possibly using STIs with an indexed front mech. They are more fussy.
As I recall, the OP was talking about a bodge job and STI or bar-ends, not decided which yet. To me, that says the band- on jobs and if it works well a repaint and new braze-ons.
As I recall, the OP was talking about a bodge job and STI or bar-ends, not decided which yet. To me, that says the band-on jobs and if it works well a repaint and new braze-ons.
Yep that's right. The frame was resprayed about 2 years ago (professionally done so baked on) and has just sat in my loft since, so I am reluctant to get braze on fitted. An option though I guess.......
I like the look of the band on thingy. Could work well with the in-line barrel adjuster.
presuming it's because the rear moves around a lot with gear changes whereas the front has a lesser range of movement that the extra bit of outer is required?
I thought it was mainly to route the cable into the mech, which the front mech doesn't need because it is routed round the bottom bracket.
Quoted message said:
I can't see how you could run sheathed cable down to the front mech anyway given the path it goes via on my bike, there's a fairly sharp angle at the BB part of things which I'm presuming can't be done if an outer is on the cable at that point.
My bike has a piece of outer running under the BB between two brazed-on cable stops (seems to be an old-fashioned thing - all modern bikes I've seen appear to have screw-on plastic mouldings for routing the cable under the BB instead) and it occurs to me that this could theoretically be replaced with a strip of outer that runs all the way from the cable stop on the down tube to the rear mech, bypassing the second cable stop on the back of the seat tube (or you could file it off, I suppose).
Not that I could see any particular advantage to doing this - front mechs don't seem to need adjusting often enough for it to be a useful feature.
