Classic & Vintage - Campy Downtube shifters with 9 Speed cluster?

Hi Campy heads, I am currently running Veloce 9 Speed Ergo levers on my Conti, I've slipped on the old Deltas and want to install the original Croce D'Aune levers also - which means retrograding to down tube shifters... I am running a 9 Speed cluster on the rear. Will downtube shifters be compatible, if so, which gruppo, index or friction etc? Your assistance is greatly appreciated! 2

Try friction shifters, it may just work.

thanks caotropheus, might there be some issues with the shifting width of the friction shifters ie: would they have the reach to extend to the highest and lowest gear? I'm thinking about some shifters of a similar era, c-record or later...

Though I haven't done it yet myself there have been several bikes shown here with 9/10 speed rear wheels and friction shifting, either barcon or downtube. The spacing on modern cassettes are pretty tight and I'd definitely think it "doable."


:beer:

i'm running an 8 speed cassette with a shimano downtube shifter on one of my schwinns and it works great, didn't even have to fiddle with the adjustments after i got it together. i'd be willing to bet your 9 spd would work just fine with a friction shifter. doesn't hurt to give it a try at least, if it doesn't work you can always switch back, won't cost you anything but a few minutes and a cable.

I have a masi, bottecchia and a raleigh pro all with campy friction shifters and all with shimano 8 speed cassetts and they work fine.

I have a masi, bottecchia and a raleigh pro all with campy friction shifters and all with shimano 8 speed cassetts and they work fine.

Interestingly, I had a little trouble with the 1st gear when I set up a 9 speed chorus RD with a simplex friction shifter. I am in the process of going back to an old 6 speed freewheel.

Interestingly, I had a little trouble with the 1st gear when I set up a 9 speed chorus RD with a simplex friction shifter. I am in the process of going back to an old 6 speed freewheel.

The simplex are a particularly small barrel shifter -- more travel per shift, that is, so they may move excessively to shift over 8 or 9 (and 10!) speeds.

The Campy Record friction, retro friction or Syncro will all work fine with a 9 speed drive train in friction mode -- I've done it.
-j

i'm using victory friction on my fiori with a 10 speed veloce cassette

The Campy friction shifters on my Bianchi shift a 9 speed cluster quite well. It takes a full 180 degree sweep to go from small cog to large cog which some riders may find awkward, and the shifting is very sensitive because of the close spacing of the cogs. Neither of these minor quirks are bothersome to me...only different. It actually purrs like a kitten.

Thank you everyone, the friction shifters will arrive this week, the delta levers are installed, matching the Cd'A calipers, The bars are retaped, everybody happy...(taps head emphatically) knock on wood. Actually, Louis, they look the same vintage as the shifters you have on your Bianchi, would you happen to know what gruppo they are? Yours campagnoly, doubleoh2.

I've ridden a 9 speed hub with Suntour Power Ratchet downtube friction. No problems at all, except that there were so damned many gears to choose from that I felt lost!

I have SunTour friction barcons shifting a Campy NR derailleur over a 9 speed on my Bianchi Trofeo and run SunTour SL down tube shifters in friction mode coupled with a 10 speed cassette on one of my Titans. No problems with either setup. In the past, I have successfully used Shimano 600 & Campy down tube friction shifters with a nine speed setup so don't be afraid to try. Don

Thank you everyone, the friction shifters will arrive this week, the delta levers are installed, matching the Cd'A calipers, The bars are retaped, everybody happy...(taps head emphatically) knock on wood. Actually, Louis, they look the same vintage as the shifters you have on your Bianchi, would you happen to know what gruppo they are? Yours campagnoly, doubleoh2.

I'm no Campy expert so I'm not sure what gruppo they are from. I got 'em on eBay, they were listed only as Campagnolo. The only identifying marks that I see is the Campy shield on the levers and "Brev. int Campagnolo" and "Patent Campagnolo" near the D rings. They sure shift smoothly.

*Edit* I forgot to mention these shifters have a ratcheting mechanism inside, not just a series of washers. Possibly they are the retrofriction model that Campy came out with (late 80's?), based on information I've gathered.