Bicycle Mechanics - Suntour Bar Con Power Shifter

I have this on my front dérailleur for friction shifting. Sometimes the ratchet mechanism works, sometimes it doesn't. I've unscrewed the d-ring that holds the main body onto the part that mounts into the bar. There appears to be a set of bumps and some matching holes. Does the indexing of these parts control the ratchet mechanism resistance or does something else?

If memory serves me correctly, the tension on friction shifters is set by the screw which holds the whole assembly together. The bumps and matching holes are part of the power ratchet feature on some suntour friction shifters. You probably just need to put a little more tension on the shifter or slip a shimming washer behind it where it mounts to provide a little more friction.

Actually managed to take the bar con fully apart. There is a wheel with teeth that mesh with a wedge piece on a spring. The wheel is cracked across it and the teeth look worn. Any ideas short of replacing the whole bar con?

i think these use the same parts as the power ratchet downtube shifters, which you'll probably find for cheaper. not totally sure, this is based on visual inspection, not an actual swap.

I'd second that thought. But since they're out of production the "new" one might be worn already. Good luck.

There seems to be an unlimited supply of new Suntour Barcons on eBay. I got mine from fausto57 in Mexico City.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Suntour-bar-con-shifters-NOS-Touring-Retrofriction_W0QQitemZ290154881924QQihZ019QQcategoryZ36140QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There seems to be an unlimited supply of new Suntour Barcons on eBay. I got mine from fausto57 in Mexico City.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Suntour-bar-con-shifters-NOS-Touring-Retrofriction_W0QQitemZ290154881924QQihZ019QQcategoryZ36140QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

+1, I got mine from fausto57, too. They were truly NOS condition.

+1, I got mine from fausto57, too. They were truly NOS condition.


shhh!

shhh!

Hah! now the secret's out. I'm going to buy all that are left.

Hah! now the secret's out. I'm going to buy all that are left.

Good luck. :D The guy's been selling them for a LONG time; as Dirtdrop says, it seems to be an endless supply. I was determined not to pay the BIN price ($44.99 I believe), I got mine for $38 about a year ago and felt pretty good about it-

Got a used set today on E-bay closer to home so I can get them faster. Scored the set for $31 including freight.

Dirtdrop says, it seems to be an endless supply.

Come on! there's only a limited amount of matter in the universe. it can't be endless?

Come on! there's only a limited amount of matter in the universe. it can't be endless?

Put it this way: for whatever reason, there's a helluva lot of NOS Suntour barcons in Mexico City.:p