Maddox

Getting close to finishing the '69 Superbe for my girl, and I'm currently buying the last of the pieces I need to install the shift cable (which was absent when I picked it up).

On all four of the Raleighs I've worked on up until this point, I've used what was the stock shifter cable routing on the bikes - trigger shifter to DT fulcrum clip, to ST pulley assembly, to indicator spindle. Basically...







But, I've seen many models and photos of Superbes/Sports in which the fulcrum sleeve was on the chainstay, ommitting the need for the very fragile (and prone to breakage) round plastic pulley. Photos like this (which is also of a '69 Superbe, with Chainstay-mounted fulcrum sleeve/cable stop) -



The benefit of this setup seems that it would do 2 things: First being omitting the need for a heat shrink/sleeved rubber cover over the shift cable to protect it from rust, due to the cable being housed all the way to the chainstay. Second, as I said before, it seems that it would be less prone to damage or failure than using the plastic pulley assembly. Am I right on that second part? Anyone able to speak to that from personal experience with the plastic pulley versus the chainstay fulcrum clip?

Going through my parts bin to find spares for the Superbe, I located a spare DT fulcrum clip (which will need a new plastic sleeve) but couldn't find a pulley assembly for the ST. So I'll already have to order one piece - either the pulley assembly or a chainstay fulcrum sleeve. The price difference is negligible, I'm just wondering if the performance or reliability difference would be similarly as unremarkable.

Background/disclosure: I've never experienced complete failure while riding on a plastic pulley, but I have had them disintegrate in my hands while cleaning them (old, dried out plastic doesn't take to Simple Green very well). And reading Sheldon, he says the pulley is the most common place for failure, followed second by the plastic fulcrum sleeve.

Thoughts? Move to chainstay routing, or just stick with the pulley system?

JohnDThompson 

The problem with using longer housing is increased friction in the shift cable. This is minimized if you use modern, plastic lined housing.

Re: pulleys and fulcrum clip sleeves. There are steel versions of both available. I happen to have some of each. PM if interested.

rhm

Pulley system is better. Stick with that.

Bike looks really good.

wahoonc

I have upgraded ALL of my 3 speeds to steel pulleys and fulcrums, takes all the worry out of it. FWIW those plastic ones are good for probably 20 years or so depending on how much time in the weather.

Aaron

Velognome 

I'm running both, no problems with either. '62 sports with cable across the Top tube and fulcrum on the seat tube and a 3 speed conversion, 2010 SA equipped with: a bar end, cable runs to a stop on the down tube and then under the BB and along the chainstay. Both work just dandy.

I was cautioned that the latter might have adjustment issues, particularly when removing the wheel or slippage in the dropouts. Has not been the case and I've made several roadside flat repairs and well over 3,000 miles on it to date. What I do notice is because the barrel holds the cable off the chainstay and I ride with toe clips, my heal sometimes bumps the cable, but hasn't caused and issue.