Bicycle Mechanics - First-time bar end shifter user...question.

I'm building up a TT bike, and I started installing the D/A 10 spd bar end shifters yesterday. The instruction sheet says that to use index mode for the rear, line up the SIS arrow with the red arrow on the dial thingamajob. Did that, and I get the clicks...great. Then it says, if you want to use friction mode, line up the friction arrow with the arrow on the dial. Uhhh, there is no friction arrow. Just the word "friction" and what seems to be a range of degree of friction. I lined up the dial arrow with points all along this "range", and the friction seems to be the same. So, where exactly do I turn the dial for friction mode? I want to make sure I've got it in the right place. I guess the possibility is there that if in the wrong spot, while still performing, you could be prematurely wearing some of the internals out.

Oh, and is the left shifter supposed to feel ratchety, or "indexed" as well? Mine does.

So, where exactly do I turn the dial for friction mode?Just turn it to where it stops.

Just turn it to where it stops.

I can turn it about 270 degrees before it stops...that can't be right.

I can turn it about 270 degrees before it stops...that can't be right.

Yes, the two positions (SIS, friction) are quite a ways apart. You will feel a click when you get it to the right place, both for SIS and friction. On the left shifter, it shouldn't feel "ratchety," just smooth, constant resistance as you move the shifter. There is a little click sensation when you hit the bottom position with the shifter, however.

On the left shifter, it shouldn't feel "ratchety," just smooth, constant resistance as you move the shifter. There is a little click sensation when you hit the bottom position with the shifter, however.

Any suggestions? They're brand new.

The left lever should feel rachety. Just not nearly as rachety as indexed clicking on the right lever. I've got Shimano bar-end shifters on my good road bike. The rachety feel on the right lever is not indexing, but just closely-spaced stopping points to give the Shimano lever workable friction without its feeling really tight.

The left lever should feel rachety. Just not nearly as rachety as indexed clicking on the right lever. I've got Shimano bar-end shifters on my good road bike. The rachety feel on the right lever is not indexing, but just closely-spaced stopping points to give the Shimano lever workable friction without its feeling really tight.

That is the same thing old SunTour barcons had. They were some kind of micro serrations. It was better than smooth nylon washers which you just torqued down to adjust friction. Good luck you are doing fine.

Tim

That is the same thing old SunTour barcons had. They were some kind of micro serrations. It was better than smooth nylon washers which you just torqued down to adjust friction. Good luck you are doing fine.Tim
Sun Tour actually had a fine-tooth ratchet in many of their shifters to balance out the force needed to move the lever in both directions. They were called "Power Shifters" and were the best friction shifters ever made.

The nylon friction washers were difficult to adjust and tended to loosen with time causing "ghost shifting" after a while. I had a set of Campy record DT shifters on my bike for a while and gave up on them because they wouldn't hold their adjustment.

The left lever should feel rachety. Just not nearly as rachety as indexed clicking on the right lever. I've got Shimano bar-end shifters on my good road bike. The rachety feel on the right lever is not indexing, but just closely-spaced stopping points to give the Shimano lever workable friction without its feeling really tight.

You're right, there's a feeling of the slight serrations as you move the friction shifter. When I said "smooth resistance" in my earlier thread, I wasn't thinking it through thoroughly.

Sun Tour actually had a fine-tooth ratchet in many of their shifters to balance out the force needed to move the lever in both directions. They were called "Power Shifters" and were the best friction shifters ever made.

The nylon friction washers were difficult to adjust and tended to loosen with time causing "ghost shifting" after a while. I had a set of Campy record DT shifters on my bike for a while and gave up on them because they wouldn't hold their adjustment.

Same here and it was really annoying having to constantly tighten them. Much preferred the Suntour Power shifters.

.......in other words, your left lever should feel griddy, not ratchety...