What to do with shifter bosses
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,176
Likes: 56
From: Clev Oh
Bikes: Specialized, Schwinn
What to do with shifter bosses
I have a really nice Schwinn Traveler that I want to SS for the wife. What to do with those pesky DT shifter bosses is the problem. I can cut them off or heat them but then it will make the frame look all chopped up. Anyone have a secret fix for the shifter boss blues?
#2
I didn't want to cut the bosses off my wife's frame bc its a handbuilt frame and we may want to convert it back from SS to geared one day so I used screw protectors. A pack of 3 from the hardware store goes for less than $1. They fit perfectly and come in assorted colors. I can't remember the size though...maybe 5/16"? Now your bike can have some nipples to play with.
Last edited by sluglug; 07-08-08 at 07:06 AM.
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 207
Likes: 1
From: Canada
I don't like to cut off the shifter bosses because I never know what I might use the frame for in the future. Downtube cable stops work well....but they are $10 a pair or something. Sometimes I use heat shrink tubing (comes in any colour you could want) and a short hex bolt, see the attached pics for an example.
#9
Rocket launchers
__________________
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
#12
huh?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Akron, Ohio
Bikes: 95 GT Avalanche Commuter MTB, Tunturi 500r Fixed Gear Conversion, Mongoose Surge

I was thinking of putting these on...
seriously though thanks for the ideas, I'm going to have to figure out something to do with the bosses on a frame I'm working on pretty soon and the screw protectors seems like a pretty dope and cheap solution.
#16
:)
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,391
Likes: 1
From: duluth
Bikes: '07 Pista, '09 Fantom Cross Uno, '8? Miyata, '67 Stingray, '0? Zoo mod trials, Tallbike, Chopper, '73 Schwinn Collegiate, '67 Triumph Chopper, '69 CB350, '58 BSA Spitfire, '73 CB450
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
I mount my light near the rear axle using one of the fender eyelets. Most lights made to clamp onto a handlebar or seatpost are really 2 pieces one part being the clamp, the other part holding the light. They are normally bolted or screwed together. I just take off the clamp part and find a bolt that threads into whatever hole I need. Tighten it and the friction keeps it in place. If you have a bolt that threads into the shifter boss, then you are set.
#22
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
I thought about doing this. It wouldn't make a good primary light but because a lot of the light would shine on the front wheel it would aid in identifying you as a bike rider to cars coming from the side.
Never got around to it, though. I just put some old cap head hex bolts on to keep water out and to cover the hard edge.
Never got around to it, though. I just put some old cap head hex bolts on to keep water out and to cover the hard edge.
#23
Gentlemen.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,516
Likes: 0
From: Chico, CA
Bikes: S-Works e5 Aerotech with 2009 Veloce and a Fulcrum 5s
At one local bike shop they had some cable stops for converting to STI shifters that actually screws onto the shifter bosses. Now I have a couple little chrome nubs that actually look pretty slick. They gave them to me for free since nobody ever has need of them anymore. Check around and you might come up with something. Not just at the places with a bunch of restorations and used bikes, either. The place that game me mine is known for multi-thousand dollar carbon rigs.







