I think I know the answer but just looking for validation from the BF experts.

I have a Shimano 600EX rear derailleur RD-6207 going back on my Ironman after a good cleaning. The derailleur does not appear to have a rear barrel adjuster, only a spot for the rear cable ferrule to go. No threading, just a hole and a stop for the ferrule.

Do some of these 600EX rear derailleurs not have cable adjustment at the rear? I suppose this is fine since it's a friction system. I have another one that is SIS and it does have an adjuster.

Here is a picture of another one I found that looks like the same thing I'm working with.

A friction derailleur, so no need for cable adjustment. Set the Hi and Lo limit screws, make sure the shifter is all the way forward, and tighten the cable while pulling it tight.,,,,BD

I'm not familiar with any Ironman that came with friction. My '86 came with 600 EX SIS.

This is what I was assuming and thank you Bikedued for confirming it.


1985, first year of the Ironman and it is friction.

No barrel adjuster;

I had one of the 85's, the charcoal and blue. Very nice bike! Yep, friction 600EX.,,,,BD

Learned something new! Someone needs to notify sheldonbrown.com as the website has this information: "The Ironman Dave Scott model name replaced the Comp TA in 1985 and with the name change came indexed shifting with upgraded Shimano 'New' 600EX group."

I was working in a bike shop when the new Shimano 600 groupset came out. It was listed as N600 and was FRICTION only at first. The index version came out a bit later.

Cheers

to remove all the slack, i ...
1. determine where the high limit should be.
2. move the high limit screw in a few revolutions and remember the count.
3. pull the cable taut and tighten the anchor.
3a. stretch the cable by pulling the shift lever down and waiting a couple hours (done once).
4. return the high limit where it was.
5. test low cog shifting.
6. return to step 2 if not absolutely perfect, changing screw revolution count as required.

too anal? nah...

I was with you until the cable stretching part, then it seemed a little much.

However, I do like to move the chain quickly into high gear by slapping the shifter into the stop so I may have to resort to this measure to get the cable dialed in just right.

Btw, I've successfully drilled out and then screwed on a cable adjuster on similar deraillers.

Cheers