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Post by cusqueno on Nov 11, 2014 10:36:18 GMT
I have recently completed building up an Aerospace Sport (?) fillet brazed frame for commuting and have used a skip tooth block with a Crane GS rear derailleur for interest, coupled with old Campagnolo friction bar end shifters. I will post some pictures shortly. The bike rides well but shifting down through the cogs - i.e. moving to the larger cogs - is awful and requires really hefty wrenching on the shifter to make a change. So much so that I am worried that the shift lever might break, if the cable doesn't go first. Shifting up is easy and smooth.
I can't see anything that I have done wrong. The shifter isn't too stiff and the RD moves towards the wheel without sticking when I push it with my finger. The tension in the cable seems to be transmitted all the way to the clamping point on the RD. Does anyone have any ideas what might be wrong?
Thanks.
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Post by velocipete on Nov 11, 2014 12:08:12 GMT
Kink in the cable,or a strand separated on installation of the inner are the usual suspects.
Good luck with it,looking forward to the photos.
If all else fails,the Campag bar-end shifters would easily finance replacement down-tube
shifters and leave change for a few beers!
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by cusqueno on Nov 11, 2014 12:57:51 GMT
Kink in the cable,or a strand separated on installation of the inner are the usual suspects. Good luck with it,looking forward to the photos. If all else fails,the Campag bar-end shifters would easily finance replacement down-tube shifters and leave change for a few beers! Cheers, Pete. Thanks Pete. I'll take a closer look at the cable run (all new by the way). I've never used bar-end shifters before and wanted to try them, so when I got these, attached to another Viscount frame, it seemed a good opportunity. This is only the second day I've used them in anger so its early to say, but I am getting used to them quite quickly. However, I fear for the safety of my knees and am toying with the idea of pruning the bars back to make more room for my patellas. |
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538 
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Post by bendo on Nov 13, 2014 12:49:59 GMT
Bars with a shallower drop could also help the knee-crash scenario.
I had a similar problem recently (unable to get onto the biggest cog without a great deal of effort: stop screws were all in the right position) but it was due to not having enough tension on the cable to start with. I installed it I thought with no cable-slack when on the smallest cog, but a little faffing around showed me there was still slack in the cable higher up. But you're an old pro, so I doubt you'd make this mistake.
Yes pls, pics. b
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Post by cusqueno on Nov 13, 2014 17:27:20 GMT
On the way home from work yesterday I discovered that the gears changed perfectly when I pulled on the cable by the down tube with my hand. So it was a problem at the lever end, not the RD as I had thought. By slacking-off the lever pivot screw, judiciously lubricating and smoothing the entry to the cable outer from the lever, I have now been able to get pretty good shifting. Thanks to all for the helpful suggestions.
It feels a bit odd to pull up to go to a lower gear, whereas on a down tube shifter you are pulling back and down. I wonder why the bar end shifters are that way round?
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Post by velocipete on Nov 13, 2014 18:52:11 GMT
Perhaps they were designed for some unmentionably aweful Shimano rear mechs in mind?
Cheers,
Pete.
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Post by cusqueno on Nov 16, 2014 15:55:47 GMT
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Post by Stella on Nov 23, 2014 21:07:48 GMT
I love the Bluemels. How do you get on with the bar end shifters? I always think they look weirdly out of place and my worry is that endless fumbling is needed to operate them.
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Post by cusqueno on Mar 6, 2015 15:36:53 GMT
Just to show off the bar tape. I thought a lot about how to do it. Eventually I started at the inside and worked towards the bar ends, as I usually do. Finished off with rings cut from the end caps provided with the tape. Help! I don't seem to be able to add photos from the iPhone app. To follow. |
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Jem
Viscount
?
Posts: 3,390
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Post by Jem on Mar 7, 2015 11:37:47 GMT
Very tidy wrapping!
I'm flirting with the idea of bar end shifters (have been for a while but never see them at a price to sufficiently tempt me) - also a bit worried about catching my knees on them.
How are you finding them?
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Post by velocipete on Mar 7, 2015 12:42:23 GMT
I always start wrapping at the bar ends.This prevents the tape edges from fraying when hands
are moved around the bars. Especially if Velox cloth tape is used.
Nice job though John.
Cheers,
Pete.
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