Shimano z401 shifting...
02-15-13, 12:31 PM
#1
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Shimano z401 shifting...
On the '85 Trek 400 I built to commute on, I have so far left the drivetrain alone (other than replacing freewheel with a 13-25 Sunrace 7 speed). The stock shimano z series frt and rr der are on, along with the banded z401 shifters.
The shifters extreme amount of cable pull bothers me however. I am used to retrofrictions shifting campy, but these things have so much cable pull that I can shift to the largest rear sprocket and the lever is only about perpendicular to the down tube. The left shifter seems to hardly move to shift onto the large sprocket. Everything is installed and adjusted correctly. Is this normal for these? I would guess the rear could shift at least 10 speed, probably more. It is hard to control which gear you hit though.
EDIT: here is a link to velobase: https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...104&AbsPos=160
The shifters extreme amount of cable pull bothers me however. I am used to retrofrictions shifting campy, but these things have so much cable pull that I can shift to the largest rear sprocket and the lever is only about perpendicular to the down tube. The left shifter seems to hardly move to shift onto the large sprocket. Everything is installed and adjusted correctly. Is this normal for these? I would guess the rear could shift at least 10 speed, probably more. It is hard to control which gear you hit though.
EDIT: here is a link to velobase: https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...104&AbsPos=160
02-15-13, 12:57 PM
#2
feros ferio
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Interesting ... the barrel diameter does not look unduly large. You could always substitute old Campag. or Simplex levers to get a longer throw.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
02-15-13, 01:28 PM
#3
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Yeah, I have a set of Nuovo Record levers I can put on for now just to see, but didn't want to leave those on this bike. I may also swap out a set of Suntour Cyclone derailleurs as well. Might hunt down some banded suntour D/T levers or something for this.
02-15-13, 01:38 PM
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Slightly over 90 degrees lever travel is typical.
02-15-13, 03:21 PM
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I guess the first question is: does it work?
I have the opposite "problem:" I'm not thrilled about bar end shifters that seem to have nearly 180 degrees of movement.
I have the opposite "problem:" I'm not thrilled about bar end shifters that seem to have nearly 180 degrees of movement.
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02-15-13, 05:53 PM
#6
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Yeah, I could see how that could be bothersome, Robbie!
I dunno, maybe I'm just so used to the retrofrictions (with their longer travel/shorter cable pull). Before those I used NR levers, and never had a problem making the switch. Maybe it is the longer levers themselves that bother me.
I dunno, maybe I'm just so used to the retrofrictions (with their longer travel/shorter cable pull). Before those I used NR levers, and never had a problem making the switch. Maybe it is the longer levers themselves that bother me.
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