Bicycle Mechanics - Bar End Shifters won't fit inside my new handlebar

I picked up a used pair of Shimano 8/9 spd bar end shifters only to find they won't fit inside my new Ritchey aluminum handle bar. Is it plausible to enlarge the bar end opening slightly in order to allow the shifters to be inserted? I'm ready to either toss the handlebar or the shifters.......:notamused:

1) You aren't going to enlarge anything on the bar.
2) Are you SURE the bar end shifters don't fit in?

Those bar end shifters are designed for bars with I.D of 19-22mm. If your bars aren't within that range, they aren't compatible. AL road bars are cheaper and more plentiful than speed bar ends. Ditch the bars if needed.

P.S It doesn't make any sense that the bar end shifters do both 8 and 9 speed, indexed.

Unless the bars are very small, you should be able to adjust the locking piece on the barends to fit. Being used, maybe they are set for a slightly larger bar? Try to loosen the locker before doing any mods to new bars.

It's entirely plausible.

Since you're past the point of needing a warranty by buying used parts, ream that biotch out and make it work.

1) You aren't going to enlarge anything on the bar.
2) Are you SURE the bar end shifters don't fit in?

Those bar end shifters are designed for bars with I.D of 19-22mm. If your bars aren't within that range, they aren't compatible. AL road bars are cheaper and more plentiful than speed bar ends. Ditch the bars if needed.

P.S It doesn't make any sense that the bar end shifters do both 8 and 9 speed, indexed.

1. From past experience, I know that the diameter of aluminum tubing can be marginally expanded. The bars I have are 19mm but still too tight, thought I might gain a couple of mm..
2. The right shifter is marked "compatible RD7700 (9s) & RD7400 (8s)"

1) You aren't going to enlarge anything on the bar.
2) Are you SURE the bar end shifters don't fit in?

Those bar end shifters are designed for bars with I.D of 19-22mm. If your bars aren't within that range, they aren't compatible. AL road bars are cheaper and more plentiful than speed bar ends. Ditch the bars if needed.

P.S It doesn't make any sense that the bar end shifters do both 8 and 9 speed, indexed.

+1 on all points. If it's a "road" handlebar, they should fit with no issues. They should fit in some thin-wall "mountain" handlebars, too.

You did loosen the wedges before trying to install them, right?

1. From past experience, I know that the diameter of aluminum tubing can be marginally expanded. The bars I have are 19mm but still too tight, thought I might gain a couple of mm..
2. The right shifter is marked "compatible RD7700 (9s) & RD7400 (8s)"

OK- a 19mm ID handlebar is not a conventional road drop handlebar. Even thick-wall bars start with an OD of 23.8mm (15/16")... with a 1mm wall that drops it to 21.8mm.

If you like, you can try filing the inside of the wedges to make a little more room for them to fit in your handlebar. You'll have to turn down the inside end of the screw, too, since it's probably too big to fit, also. I did this a while back to fit bar-end shifters in the ends of an Easy Racer recumbent handlebar- it worked fine.

You're correct in pointing out that the new bar is not a conventional one; it is a Ritchey 'Biomax' 42cm bar. I'm a bit pissed that the seller didn't disclose the diameter, I took it for granted that the barend shifters would fit. The shifters fit in the old aluminum bar I was replacing just fine, maybe I'll just sand it, spray it black, wrap it and call it good......

Bars can be drilled out to accept bar end shifters, even thick-walled 7/8" bars.

http://bikesmithdesign.com/tips/bar-drill.html

BTW, the shifters are compatible with 8 and 9-speed Dura Ace rear derailleurs and should be compatible with any other Shimano 9-speed rear derailleur. The shifters themselves are not both 8 and 9-speed but only one of the two.

If you like, you can try filing the inside of the wedges to make a little more room for them to fit in your handlebar. You'll have to turn down the inside end of the screw, too, since it's probably too big to fit, also. I did this a while back to fit bar-end shifters in the ends of an Easy Racer recumbent handlebar- it worked fine.
I had the same problem fitting some older Shimano bar-end shifters into a new moustache bar (made by HL, I think) that was made of thick-walled aluminum. Disassembling the wedges and filing the inside of them a bit made them fit. I didn't need to grind down the bolt "head" but YMMV.

I'm installing a Shimano 105 rd w/long cage, paired w/ sram 9sp cassett & sram force fd. This has been quite a learning experience, started out just wanting to upgrade my old Raleigh 12spd., and it just took off from there.... The indexed shimano bar end gives me 9 distinct 'clicks' and my research details it as being compatible with the rear end set up. I might be pushing the envelope on the crank however, using a shimano 105 triple, 52,42,30. This project has taken on a mind of it's own. The final straw was when I decided to dump the raleigh chmoly frame for a schwinn 754 aluminum I found on line..... Hopefully all will come together soon, I'm getting antsy to get back on a road bike, as my 15/20 miles on my specialized mtb are getting tedious...

A nine speed shifter will only have eight "distinct clicks".

Ok, 8 'distinct', and a 'nudge'.....anyway, all installed, I used my dremel tool to enlarge bar inner diameter to allow the bar ends to be inserted, came out very clean.