echo

I've recently been given an '87 Cannondale touring road bike that I'm turning into my winter project. It has all Suntour components including barcon power ratchet 6 speed indexed or friction shifters. I'm not much into that setup and am used to downtube friction only shifting, which I like. My question is: what will I need to convert to downtube shifting?
Thank you-

HillRider

Basically all you need is downtube shifters assuming the frame has the necessary standard mounting bosses on the downtube. If it only has "braze-on" cable housing stops, not the standard bosses, you are out of luck as no one ever made band-on shifters with a clamp big enough to fit a C-dale downtube.

FastJake

+1

Your frame needs to have things that look like this: (not the best picture because I think that boss is actually broken. But you get the idea.)

LarDasse74

As above, I think you need to find a set of downtube shifters... if you were hoping to find some way to convert bar cons to downtube shifters I think you are going to be disappointed.

Have you ridden much with the bart end shifters? Many people prefer them. I suppose on a winter bike the extra run of cable housing might add one more small maintenance headache, but I've never had a problem with it.

bicycleflyer

I'd love to have those barcons when your done with them I even have a set of shimano 7 speed downtube shifters I would be willing to trade.

FastJake

Yeah, those are the bosses you need. You can run downtube shifters on those.

But I must also ask: why? I greatly prefer bar-ends to DTs. The cable routing is always a little awkward, but it's worth it not to have to take your hands off the bars to shift.

echo

I suppose I'm a bit old school and downtube shifters are cleaner looking from an aesthetic factor. (in my opinion) My Fuji has downtube shifters and I'm used to those for a road bike, my Univega Alpina has grip shifters and I like those for what I use that bike for.

HillRider

As mentioned, those bosses are the right ones. You can use any downtube lever you can find. The ne plus ultra downtube shifters were the old Sun Tour Power Ratchets but they are very hard to find. Any Shimano downtube shifter will also work as they all have a friction option except, IIRC, the latest 10-speed version.

echo

Thanks everyone! I'll be looking locally here for some shifters, the LBS's around here seem to be into the newest of stuff only though, I ask about older parts and they look at me like I'm from another planet or something, so it's tough to just come across parts like this, sometimes CL has a posting for bike parts so I'll have to keep my eyes peeled there to, as I always do (hoping to see that one in a million rare bike for sale that never happens). I think I'll keep the barcons for now, I may want to change it up a bit later on when I get bored.

bicycleflyer, I'll keep you in mind if I decide to let these go, thanks for the offer!

gerv 

echo2011, you could check the shifter bin at your local bike co-op. They usually have lots of DT shfiters.

Unfortunately mine did not. Only clamp-ons. So I researched a good DT shifter and, as HillRider say, the Suntour Power Ratchets are the best.

There is an outfit in New Jersey called bikeshack.com or somesuch that has NOS versions at $28. You can search the forums here for the correct URL.

I never ordered from these guys, so I bought a pair of the Rivendell Silvers, which are a knock off and cost $42 (at Velo Orange).

I just installed them on my Fuji and they are nice. Feels like you are indexed actually. Clicky.

echo

Thanks gerv, so these suntours will work with my bolt through boss I have? Saw these on ebay for like $25 and free shipping.

**I do like the ones at Velo Orange you mentioned better, these will bolt right up to my existing frame boss?
https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...-shifters.html

gerv 

I can't see your attachment on my browser for some reason. But any boss with a square protrusion should work. Like you, I have a Fuji frame (87 Palisade) and it worked fine.

HillRider

I'm not sure. A lot of band-on downtube shifters had unique fittings that only worked with their band clamp, not frame bosses. The ones you show came OEM on my '85 Bridgestone and while they worked well, they were HEAVY. When I had the frame repainted, i had the builder add braze-on bosses and replaced them with much lighter Sun Tour Cyclone shifters.

The Velo Orange shifters will work directly on your frame bosses.

gerv 

Just to clarify something I said earlier.

There's an outfit in New Jersey called BikeStash who sell NOS vintage parts. They seem to have the (non-clamp-on) power racheting Suntours. https://www.bikestash.com/product_inf...roducts_id=104..


Price is $27.50. I would have ordered these, but... having never dealt with them before, I decided to play it safe with VO at $42 for the Silvers. There are a couple of C & V members who seem to use them though.

Bianchigirll 

I agree with Gerv get the VO micro ratchet shifters.

If your plan is to run friction you can run almost any shifter friction or index set in friction. with shimano you do need the correct flat backing plate.

OH carefully put the shifter boss back on the frame before it gets lost.

these are not real sexxy but they work great! https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sach...item336b9376ea



these are the classic Retro friction DT shifter but can be pricey https://www.ebay.com/itm/Simplex-1983...item1c1f0045f9

wrk101

If you go with more modern Shimano shifters, just realize that you will need flat mounting plates. 99% of the old Shimano shifters meant to mount onto braze ons had curved (concave) bases. Cannondale requires a flat base. I picked up several at one of the nearby LBS. If you want to scrounge parts (like I do), you need to figure out what shops keep the old takeoffs. A lot of them toss that stuff. There's a Coop in this area, it keeps the craziest hours so I never seem to get there at the right time.

FWIW: I am in the process of doing a similar conversion from barcons to DT shifters on one bike, then I will put the barcons on a touring bike I picked up that strangely came with DT shifters. Those shifters you pictured above are meant for a bike without mounting bosses. Won't work on your Cannondale.

echo

Not to worry, when I dis-assembled this bike I used individual Tupperware type containers with lids for all the different groups of parts.

Thanks again everyone, I've decided to get the Velo Orange set...these will work with my stock bosses so I'm all good in that department, now to find some of those darn plastic rear brake cable guides I broke when removing before I did my paint prep. I emailed Cannondale and they informed me those are no longer available and my local bike shops don't have any either, hate to use zip ties as it will no doubt look cheesy with all the work I'm putting into this.

HillRider

About 5 minutes with a piece of fairly coarse sandpaper on a flat surface will make curved bases into flat ones.

Michael Angelo 

I'll trade you Shimano 105 SIS front and rear derailleurs, with clamp on SIS downtube shifters, for those suntour barcons....

Bianchigirll 

the clampons won't work on the Cannondale frame. the shifters may with the correct backing plate. are they 7spd?

KDC1956

If you want friction shifters only then go to Velo-Orange.com they have them.I have 2 sets of down tube shifters and 3 sets of there barend friction shifters they have.Both are great shifters I think.

echo

Resurrecting this thread for a quickie question: There's a member here selling these:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...inmann-Shimano. (Shimano 600 DT Shifters)
These will work with my bosses, correct?

Sixty Fiver

I must have all the Suntour power shifters stashed here... hence the shortage.

echo

TY for posting that from HillRider, I completely spaced that out.

Sixty Fiver

Those Sachs shifters work beautifully... have an indexed variant (Aris) on my wife's townie and a set of the open lever Simplex retrofrictions on my Garlatti and they are indescribably nice.

Also have a set of the closed Retrofrictions and have to make sure I have all the bits as they came disassembled.