Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,320
Likes: 5,429
From: Rochester, NY
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
'This spring means that the lever needs to be slid into the body with the lever fully "pulled back/up"' quoting myself.
" Or is that only possible when the shift lever cable is attached to a derailleur?" Yes. You install the cable and let the lever seek it's own position. Then tighten the anchor bolt after both pushing the lever all the way to what would be the high gear position and tugging on the free cable end to insure all slack is gone. Easier with 3 hands but not hard to do with two.
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AndrewRStewart