Bicycle Mechanics - Using front derailleur thumbshifter for the rear der

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ebbett
11-29-05, 08:40 PM
Is it possible to take front derailleur thumbshifter and use it to shift the rear derailleur? I have an old set of suntour thumbies, but not the rear shift lever. I do have both mounts though. I'm want to run a single ring up front with a 7 speed cassette in the rear.

cuda2k
11-29-05, 08:58 PM
if it's a friction shifter and you can route the derailleur cable to the rear without issues, I don't see any reason it would not work.
king koeller
11-30-05, 02:05 AM
It will work great! but Just look bass ackward!
why not just order a complete set on e-bay. They have tons of great retro shifters! Suntour XC Sport,1986 come to my mind as being the most trouble free shifter ever invented! Please keep in mind that these are totally friction shifters and not indexing. For Indexing go with some Shimano rapid fire or whatever you like...
good luck

simplify
11-30-05, 01:26 PM
Is it possible to take front derailleur thumbshifter and use it to shift the rear derailleur? I have an old set of suntour thumbies, but not the rear shift lever. I do have both mounts though. I'm want to run a single ring up front with a 7 speed cassette in the rear.

If you're thinking of mounting that front shift lever on the base/mount for a rear shifter, I don't know if that will work because they rotate in opposite directions (at least Shimano thumbies do). So you might not be able to do it that way, but maybe you can attach it some other way. I think I'd go with the eBay solution too, 7-speed thumb shifters come up all the time--either a pair, or just the rear unit.