Dura-Ace down tube shifters help..

surlysoul
surlysoul Posts: 17
edited August 2010 in Workshop
Hi,

I've recently built a new road bike from a new Bob Jackson frame. I have decided to go with the down-tube shifters route and installed some Dura-Ace 7700 9sp shifters, with an Ultegra 9sp cassette and rear mech.

Firstly can anybody tell me what adjusting the small metal ring on the shifter does?

Secondly, I can't seem to tune the shifter with the rear mech.. Each shift from the shifter seems to send the rear mech too far and I can't seem to tune this setup..

Please help, as i'm keen to get out on it asap!!

Comments

  • moonshine
    moonshine Posts: 1,021
    D-ring twist changes from indexted to friction mode?
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Last time I had downtube shifters was before indexing was invented, and the D ring was just to adjust the friction. No idea about the indexed version!
  • Snudge
    Snudge Posts: 40
    I have the same set-up and confirm the D-ring on the starboard shifter changes it to/from friction mode. This is not mentioned in the instructions. I am no mechanic but have no problems with my set-up but, presumably like every system, it needs tweaking from time to time. Follow the instructions carefully (cable tension and routing are quite important I believe). You also have the prerequisite modern thinner cable I presume?
  • White Line
    White Line Posts: 887
    Maybe you have the cable routed wrongly on the mech? :?
    Emiliana the CAAD9
  • surlysoul
    surlysoul Posts: 17
    Thanks for the advice, I turned the D-ring to friction mode which will take some getting used to.. Although I would prefer to use the indexed setting!

    I now have another problem.. The rear shifter won't hold the gears, mostly when pushing the mech to the largest ring on the cassette.. Sigh!

    I tested the indexed setting again and likewise, when the rear mech is pushed up to the largest ring on the cassette, it pops back down to the next ring!

    I'll check the tension in the cable to see if it's too tight, however it seemed fine.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Maybe the limit screw is stopping it? Adjust carefully though; you don't want the mech going into the wheel!
  • surlysoul
    surlysoul Posts: 17
    I don't think it's the limit screw, When briefly on the largest ring, it runs great for about 10 seconds, then when in friction mode, it slowly drops down and in indexed mode takes about 10 seconds to pop back down!
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Are you quite sure everything you have is 9 speed ? I cant understand why you'd have those problems. Down tube shifters worked well for me back in the day. I'd not swap STI for them though !
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Is the cable clamp done up tightly? Sounds like it's creeping a bit.
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}
  • surlysoul
    surlysoul Posts: 17
    I'm pretty sure the rear mech is a 9 speed, however I will check!
  • Snudge
    Snudge Posts: 40
    Mine used to slip in friction mode too (surely it must be the lever) but when I decided to try it on Thursday for a change following this thread, it was OK but thinking about it, I never encountered any hills so suspect the larger rear cogs are still a problem viz a viz derailleur spring force versus lever friction. Am back to indexed mode now. No idea why yours seems to slip in indexed mode but persevere and either online or in one of the bike handbooks lies the answer (if it's a set-up issue).

Categories