Reversing Shimano indexed shifters

steve_pushbiker
steve_pushbiker Posts: 91
edited May 2008 in Workshop
I have been giving some TLC to a Dawes Super Galaxy from 2005 (possibly 2004). The shifters are Shimano Tiagra 9-speed flight deck. The rear derailler shifter works "in reverse" i.e. big lever moves to higher gear (smaller rear cog) not lower gear (larger rear cog).

This is the first time I have seen this: I am not sure whether this is a set up problem or whether the shifters were made this way for a brief time? I'd like to change it if possible so that it works like my road bike.

My question is: is it possible to reverse the indexed shifting to make this shifter go the other way.

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    what you decribe is the normall trigger shifting operation. if you want to change it you will need to change the rear mech to a rapid rise version.

    your current mech has the the spring pulling the mech to the smallest cog. while the "new" rapid rise mechs has the spring pull the mech to the biggest cog.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • steve_pushbiker
    steve_pushbiker Posts: 91
    Thank you nicklouse... that makes so much sense... now I don't know why I thought it was the shifter not working correctly. I think I can live with the existing rear mech.
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    In actual fact that sounds like you already have a rapid rise rear mech.
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    What aracer said - is it not defaulting inwards i.e. to biggest sprocket?
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • steve_pushbiker
    steve_pushbiker Posts: 91
    No the small lever (release) sends the mech towards the smallest sprocket. What nicklouse said makes sense: the cable simply pulls the mech the other way. The shifter can't be altered as the big lever probably can't be switched to releasing the cable (and vice versa). I'd never seen one set up this way, possibly as I've only seen bikes with rapid rise mechanisms fitted. Have googled a bit and this sounds right.

    Thanks all.
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    Steve. Your original description was for a 'low normal or Rapid Rise' set-up. This is far less common than the high normal (cable slack on small cog) and is more often found on MTBs. Which is best is open to debate but as has been said it is the rear mech which dictates it, not the shifters, so a mech change would do it if you did not like things as they are.
    My Fleet.
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    steve_pushbiker wrote:
    The rear derailler shifter works "in reverse" i.e. big lever moves to higher gear (smaller rear cog) not lower gear (larger rear cog).
    steve_pushbiker wrote:
    No the small lever (release) sends the mech towards the smallest sprocket.
    :?
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    This is a rapid-rise topic... You need to read the posts from the bottom up in order for it all to make sense.

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • steve_pushbiker
    steve_pushbiker Posts: 91
    OK OK. Sorry for the confusion (and thanks for pointing it out aracer). Presently the big lever pulls the cable and shifts towards the smallest sprocket (fewest teeth), little lever releases the cable to a bigger sprocket (most teeth). i.e. my first post was correct - later post was when I was tired.

    Thanks for your help and for bearing with me. I'm going to live with the existing rapid rise mech on the Dawes. It's not so annoying, I occasionally change the wrong way.

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