Bicycle Mechanics - friction front derailer for index usage?

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broomhandle
11-18-05, 10:34 AM
i have some index shifters... i can either use a crappy index front derailer or a older better/lighter friction derailer. can the friction be used as a index derailer? im asuming yes... but just wanted some feedback.

sydney
11-18-05, 10:40 AM
Assuming you are talking shimano SIT, My experience is 'maybe' with a double crankset. Triple is alot more picky. I have shimano pre index double FD that just don't work well even with doubles. It's the arm length. If you got it, it cost nothing but some time to try.
broomhandle
11-18-05, 11:15 AM
i have a suntour thats fricktion. and a crap shimano off a cheapo Pacific. but it works! haha but its crap, and pot metal, and heavy... and its a triple. and yes shimano SIT.

i dont want to put any money into this bike... its my brother in laws.... haha!

sydney
11-18-05, 11:22 AM
Get a proper Shimano FD or stick with the crap.
broomhandle
11-18-05, 11:37 AM
haha, ok so the suntor wont work? is there any way you can tell if its indexed or not? ill stick with the crap untill i can find somehting eles.... haha
genericbikedude
11-18-05, 11:58 AM
I've gotten suntour derailers to work with indexed shimano thumb shifters on mountain bikes. But I like the idea of STI shifters (DA?) with a derailler off of a pacific. :D
broomhandle
11-18-05, 12:01 PM
i think its SIS, whats STI and DA? the pacific is pretty crappy. but it works. i just wont tell him what it is. ill spray paint it black or somehting... haha
genericbikedude
11-18-05, 12:05 PM
nemmind. I thought that you were using fancy stuff
sydney
11-18-05, 12:23 PM
i think its SIS, whats STI and DA? the pacific is pretty crappy. but it works. i just wont tell him what it is. ill spray paint it black or somehting... hahasis and sti are Shimano trademarks. DA= Dura Ace. Like I said, you got it so it cost nothing to try.I wouldn't waste my time.
sydney
11-18-05, 12:25 PM
haha, ok so the suntor wont work? is there any way you can tell if its indexed or not? ill stick with the crap untill i can find somehting eles.... hahaDoesn't matter if it's index or not(not sure suntour ever made a index FD like shimano did/does)The shimano and suntour index stuff was generally incompatible.
broomhandle
11-18-05, 01:15 PM
cool. so for future reference. whats the Diff with SIS and STI? is one better than the other?
GreyGoat
11-18-05, 02:42 PM
i think SIS is just the term for indexed shifting (shimano index shifting maybe...)STI is when its combined in the break levers as opposed to the downtube shifters..