Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Shift Cable Adjuster Sensitivity

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Shift Cable Adjuster Sensitivity

Old 11-04-15, 01:59 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Ronno6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Deep South
Posts: 1,348

Bikes: Cannondale SR's and ST's from the '80's

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 46 Times in 20 Posts
Shift Cable Adjuster Sensitivity

Is there a difference in the sensitivity of adjustment between the barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur
vs. a downtube cable stop adjuster with the adjustment wing??

I would have to believe that the downtube adjuster is a bit more coarse than the barrel adjuster,
but I am not sure.
Ronno6 is offline  
Old 11-04-15, 02:56 PM
  #2  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
not really .. thing is the one on the rear is where you can watch its effect as you turn it , on the repair stand, turning the pedals..
fietsbob is offline  
Old 11-04-15, 03:11 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
andr0id's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,522
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts
They are almost 6x1mm or other close x1mm threads so 1 turn = 1mm of cable length adjustment.

You can get metric bolts in other thread counts (depending on the diameter) like .25, .50 and .75, but they are rare on bicycles.

See this article for the effect of a 1mm cable length change.

https://blog.artscyclery.com/science-...compatibility/

Last edited by andr0id; 11-04-15 at 03:18 PM.
andr0id is offline  
Old 11-05-15, 07:52 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Ronno6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Deep South
Posts: 1,348

Bikes: Cannondale SR's and ST's from the '80's

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 46 Times in 20 Posts
You can adjust the barrel adjusters in less than 1 turn increments,tho.
There is sometimes an external star wheel on the adjuster in order to make it easier to
turn the barrel, and those are usually detented in half-turns (?).
Are nit the downtube adjusters, which have stepped ramps, a bit more coarse?
Ronno6 is offline  
Old 11-05-15, 08:45 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Andrew R Stewart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,003

Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4172 Post(s)
Liked 3,791 Times in 2,270 Posts
Originally Posted by andr0id
They are almost 6x1mm or other close x1mm threads so 1 turn = 1mm of cable length adjustment.

You can get metric bolts in other thread counts (depending on the diameter) like .25, .50 and .75, but they are rare on bicycles.

See this article for the effect of a 1mm cable length change.

Art's Cyclery Blog » Science Behind the Magic | Drivetrain Compatibility
Actually Shimano and Campy adjuster threads are M5. 5mm diameter by 8 mm per thread. So one turn produces .8mm cable length change, whether done at either end of the cable. Some in line adjusters do use a M6 thread. Andy.
Andrew R Stewart is offline  
Old 11-05-15, 08:47 AM
  #6  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
the M6 are less likely to break off.
fietsbob is offline  
Old 11-05-15, 09:10 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Andrew R Stewart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,003

Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4172 Post(s)
Liked 3,791 Times in 2,270 Posts
Originally Posted by fietsbob
the M6 are less likely to break off.
But M6 don't come on most ders, shifters or frame stops which are found on most bikes. Andy.
Andrew R Stewart is offline  
Old 11-05-15, 09:36 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Ronno6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Deep South
Posts: 1,348

Bikes: Cannondale SR's and ST's from the '80's

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 46 Times in 20 Posts
The downtube cable stop adjuster for the rear is not threaded; rather, it has a stepped ramp that has 6 or 8 positions available.
Anyone know the incremental change for each of these ramp stops?
Ronno6 is offline  
Old 11-05-15, 10:56 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: City of Brotherly Love
Posts: 1,562

Bikes: Raleigh Companion, Nashbar Touring, Novara DiVano, Trek FX 7.1, Giant Upland

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Just leave it centered and do your fine adjustment at the RD. These are for quick adjustment when swapping wheels during a race. IIRC on some of them the ramp assembly can be removed and replaced with a traditional adjuster.
Bezalel is offline  
Old 11-05-15, 11:26 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
SJX426's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,580

Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8

Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1601 Post(s)
Liked 2,187 Times in 1,092 Posts
Originally Posted by Ronno6
The downtube cable stop adjuster for the rear is not threaded; rather, it has a stepped ramp that has 6 or 8 positions available.
Anyone know the incremental change for each of these ramp stops?
Use calipers to measure.
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
SJX426 is offline  
Old 11-05-15, 03:12 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Ronno6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Deep South
Posts: 1,348

Bikes: Cannondale SR's and ST's from the '80's

Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 46 Times in 20 Posts
Originally Posted by SJX426
Use calipers to measure.
(Headslap) DOH !
Ronno6 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
zeeway
Bicycle Mechanics
31
09-08-16 09:29 AM
rcd
Bicycle Mechanics
6
08-29-15 10:10 AM
timmhaan
Bicycle Mechanics
18
08-01-13 03:06 AM
cvcman
Bicycle Mechanics
6
03-30-12 11:54 PM
halfspeed
Bicycle Mechanics
6
09-19-11 06:24 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.