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converting friction to index shifting
I've got an '89 Raleigh with Shimano components I added - Tiagra compact crank with Tiagra front derailleur and Deore rear derailleur and 9-speed cassette - but the shifters are friction. I'd like to keep them downtube but make them index so I can make cleaner shifts (particularly in the lower gears).
Any idea what I need to add to make these index instead of friction? Cheers, |
Shimano has "power ratchet" shifters that you can buy that aren't exactly indexed, but aren't friction. They're easier to get in the right gear like an indexed, but the shift can be adjusted like a friction shifter...
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Hello I have been out of the game for a few years but I am not aware that anyone made 9 spd downtube shifters. 'power ratchet'? are they like Campi record retro friction? these were cool shifter indeed.
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well, a place that I can immediately think of getting them is Rivendell, but I'm sure you can find them elsewhere as well...
VO has some that are similar, but are Dia Compes. |
I could swear I have Shimano 9 speed downtube shifters on a bike. I'll have to check. Does that mean I have too many bikes?
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Shimano indexed 9 speed shifters are out there, and all you need to finish your conversion.
Top |
Originally Posted by mickey85
(Post 8755294)
well, a place that I can immediately think of getting them is Rivendell, but I'm sure you can find them elsewhere as well...
VO has some that are similar, but are Dia Compes. |
Originally Posted by Bianchigirll
(Post 8755270)
Hello I have been out of the game for a few years but I am not aware that anyone made 9 spd downtube shifters. 'power ratchet'? are they like Campi record retro friction? these were cool shifter indeed.
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You can use 8-speed levers and overshift them for the 9th gear.
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there are lots of 9 speed dura ace DT shifters floating around, I don't thing they will work with your Deore RD, though.
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Originally Posted by rotharpunc
(Post 8757159)
there are lots of 9 speed dura ace DT shifters floating around, I don't thing they will work with your Deore RD, though.
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Originally Posted by Kommisar89
(Post 8757853)
Any particular reason? I thought all Shimano indexed deraileurs since like 1984 had the same pull ratio and as long as you had the correct derailleur for the max cog/max tooth difference then all that mattered was that you matched the number of cogs to the shifters. Or is this something Dura Ace specific? I haven't tried it but I would think that his combination would work fine with 9-speed DT Dura Ace shifters. They are plentiful on eBay.
So the OP should be good with Dura Ace 9 speed downtube shifters and his Deore rear derailer. |
Said Sheldon:
"The major difference between pre-1997 Dura-Ace and the rest of the Shimano lines is the cable travel of the rear derailer. Old Dura-Ace used a shorter amount of cable travel per shift. This has to do with the geometry of the cable attachment. Since the cable moved a shorter distance per shift, effects of cable friction or inaccurate cable adjustment were magnified." Not to worry, though; any 9-speed Shimano shifter will work with any 9-speed Shimano cassette. See compatibility chart: http://sheldonbrown.com/dura-ace.html |
Hey, thank you all for this wealth of information. This is most helpful.
Cheers, |
My Surly LHT uses 9-speed Dura Ace shifters with a Deore XT RD and 11-34 cassette. Shifts fine in both friction and index.
-Gene- |
Hello dirtdrop. I remember the simplex ones they were very well done. Sachs had some too but they were bulky. the Campi ones were real nice and could be mistaken for regular friction.
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What is "retro" about retrofriction shifters? Is something directionally reversed from the typical shifter?
EDIT: Found this in a listserv archive -- I'm sure the next few hours will bring an onslaught of answers for you. Retrofriction shifters have a very fine (it varies) ratcheting action that only works on loosening cable tension (i.e., downshifting). So they are smooth pulling but offer a bit of resistance the other way. My take is that they allow less friction overall so that they offer lighter, more precise gear selection. With old style pure friction shifters, if you set them too light, they had a tendency to slip out of adjustment, and set tight enough to avoid this, they aren't as smooth and precise as retrofriction levers. Examples are Simplex, aka Mavic, including some really nice bar end controls, and Suntour (including their bar ends). If your only experience with friction shifting is with index levers set to friction mode, you must think friction really sucks; ditto for old old pure friction setups with braided cable. But using good levers with modern cable and housing, and index-type cogs can make friction shifting so smooth and easy you soon forget about indexing. Schenker >Simple question: when downtube shifters are described as >'retrofriction' how does that differ from standard friction or power >ratchet shifters? I've seen both Mavic and Campagnolo shifters >designated as retrofriction. > >TIA >Michael |
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