Question about my downtube shifters
09-08-11, 07:44 AM
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Question about my downtube shifters
Just purely out of curiousity and nothing else. With my downtube shifters, if I were to ever decide to bump up my speeds from 6 to something higher...can those same downtube shifters be used to be recalibrated for the increase in shifting? Or do they make downtube shifters specifically for different speeds? IE 7, 8, 9 , 10 ETC?
09-08-11, 07:51 AM
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IIRC, the whole "number of gears" thing is just how much cable pull your shifter can create compared to the size of the cassette. If you get a cassette that’s the same width as your current one (i think 5,6,7 are the same size, and 8,9,10 are a different, but don't quote me) then your RD and shifters won't mind.
Edit: Just to note that this all is assuming you haven't got indexed shifters, or they can be used in friction mode.
Edit: Just to note that this all is assuming you haven't got indexed shifters, or they can be used in friction mode.
Last edited by mikezs; 09-08-11 at 07:55 AM.
09-08-11, 08:08 AM
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If you want indexed shifting, you'll need shifters that match the # of cogs in back. If you don't mind friction shifting, and your current shifters offer a friction setting, then you're probably fine. FWIW, replacing your current shifters is a modest expense when you consider that your current rear wheel won't be compatible, and you might pay to have the rear triangle spread for the wider hub if you go with 8-sp & up.
09-08-11, 08:24 AM
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Good quality downtube shifters indexed for 7 and 8-speeds are out of production and getting a bit hard to find. Downtube shifters for 9 and 10-speeds are relatively plentiful.
09-08-11, 11:23 AM
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Old hat anyway.
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09-08-11, 02:46 PM
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09-08-11, 07:45 PM
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All Shimano DT levers have a friction setting, AFAIK.
I'm not sure I've even seen friction-only Shimano DTs aside from an old 5spd Dura Ace bike I used to have... other brands were a lot more popular before indexing.
I'm not sure I've even seen friction-only Shimano DTs aside from an old 5spd Dura Ace bike I used to have... other brands were a lot more popular before indexing.
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Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
Sheldon Brown's bike info ~~~ Park Tools repair help
Half-step triple, using double gear ~~~ 6400 STI rebuild walkthrough ~~~ Want 8/9/10s @126mm OLD? OCR. ~~~ Shimano cassette body overhaul ~~~ Ergopower Escape wear repair ~~~ PSA: drivetrain wear
List of US/Canada bike co-ops ~~~ Global list
09-08-11, 10:21 PM
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Last year I upgraded my 6 speed cog to an 8 speed. My Shimano 600 DT shifters (friction only) had absolutely no issue with the upgrade. I actually like friction shifters.
09-08-11, 10:44 PM
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I run Shimano 7-speed shifters in friction mode on a bike with a 9-speed cassette and it works great. I found a set of SunRace indexed 9-speed shifters did not work as well!
09-08-11, 11:10 PM
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https://www.sheldonbrown.com/shimano1982/pages/14.html
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09-09-11, 03:02 AM
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Rivendell sell a Silver DT shifter which is a copy of the old Suntour microshifting lever. I picked up an old Suntour one and they are really good. They sort of index with everything. I mainly use it as a spare when touring with my STI integrated levers.
I changed my old DT friction bike from 5 to 6 to7 and its all works well.
I changed my old DT friction bike from 5 to 6 to7 and its all works well.
09-09-11, 09:17 AM
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Rivendell sell a Silver DT shifter which is a copy of the old Suntour microshifting lever. I picked up an old Suntour one and they are really good. They sort of index with everything. I mainly use it as a spare when touring with my STI integrated levers.
I changed my old DT friction bike from 5 to 6 to7 and its all works well.
I changed my old DT friction bike from 5 to 6 to7 and its all works well.
However, you can also purchase a $30 plug-in for them and use them as bar end shifters.
09-09-11, 09:55 AM
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Actually they "index" with nothing but as friction shifters they work with nearly everything. The ratchets in the Sun Tour "Power Ratchet" shifters were very fine tooth and worked only in one direction. They ratched as you pulled in cable against the derailleur's springs and used friction to hold them in place and to let out cable. That balanced the force needed to move the levers both ways. Strictly friction levers are noticably harder to move against the spring tension than while releasing it.
09-09-11, 11:19 AM
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09-09-11, 11:27 AM
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Just purely out of curiousity and nothing else. With my downtube shifters, if I were to ever decide to bump up my speeds from 6 to something higher...can those same downtube shifters be used to be recalibrated for the increase in shifting? Or do they make downtube shifters specifically for different speeds? IE 7, 8, 9 , 10 ETC?
I did this to my old Cannondale SR500 you can see photos here https://www.jtgraphics.net/cannondale_sr500.htm
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09-09-11, 01:07 PM
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