Problem with friction shifters

rodgers73

I have an old bike that I have upgraded recently by replacing the old drivetrain with Sora components (front and rear mechs, BB and crank). The rear wheel has a 7 speed freewheel but I'm considering goint to an 8 or 9 speed cassette.

As it is an old fashioned bike I kept the original friction shifters on the downtube for the retro look.

I've had some problems with them though as they seem to slip into lower gears as I climb a hill, to the point when I can end up in top gear by the time I reach the summit, if I dont constantly reajust them.

Any ideas on the cause of this problem and whether changing the levers would make a difference? Can I get indexed shifters??

Uchiga

You can get indexed shifters that look like friction shifters. My guess is that with your current friction shifters the spring in the rear mech might be pulling against the friction of the shifters causing them to fall to its natural position in top gear...

Definatly changing to a set of indexed shifters will make a differance!

keef66

Son is renovating an 80's Peugeot. Came with Campag braze-on downtube shifters. I Try as I might I couldn't stop them slipping as you describe. Front mech was worst; wouldn't stay in the big ring. Stripped, cleaned and reassembled them with reference to various exploded diagrams off t'internet. Came to the conclusion that a part might be missing.

Got some retro Shimano 600 band-on downtube friction shifters from Spa Cycles for £15 or so. Work flawlessly, and suit the bike. Just have to grind off the braze-on mounts before the respray.

rodgers73

How many gears will the 600 shifters work with?

7, 8 or 9?

keef66

As many as you like since they aren't indexed! Son's are working on 7 speed, but would just as well do 8, 9 or 10, which is part of their appeal.

You don't need to keep adjusting them to keep the indexing sweet, and you can trim the front mech perfectly every time. Silence!

rodgers73

£22 on ebay right now - about to snap them up!

Cheers

Tom

FocusZing

rodgers73 wrote:

I have an old bike that I have upgraded recently by replacing the old drivetrain with Sora components (front and rear mechs, BB and crank). The rear wheel has a 7 speed freewheel but I'm considering goint to an 8 or 9 speed cassette.

As it is an old fashioned bike I kept the original friction shifters on the downtube for the retro look.

I've had some problems with them though as they seem to slip into lower gears as I climb a hill, to the point when I can end up in top gear by the time I reach the summit, if I dont constantly reajust them.

Any ideas on the cause of this problem and whether changing the levers would make a difference? Can I get indexed shifters??

I recently restored my steel steed. You could try cleaning the levers of all grease and oil making sure there's enough friction to hold the desired gear. When I remember back in the day my freewheel used to slip quite a bit when climbing, I'm pretty sure I mistakenly wd40'd the down shifters.

ChrisSA

Or you could use some 7spd Sora STI shifters?? I have some for sale...

rolf_f

Plenty of second hand ebay options. My Sachs levers broker recently - actually one of the attachment bolts. I got a complete second hand Sachs New Success shifter set for less than a £10er inc postage - and they are really nice gears. The old ones are now (missing bolt aside) serviceable backups).

Note - if the bolts aren't tight enough, the gears will slip so that might be your problem.

Incidentally, it isn't just a good idea keeping the downtube shifters for the retro look. The functionality justifies it as well. Much simpler mechanically than STis and cheaper to replace (as per above). The only real disadvantage I find is I do need to sit down to change gears.

bompington

Hmm, not sure I can share the love-in with friction shifters, since I've been stuck with them for ages now. Originally mine were indexed but the indexing just kept giving out, after a couple of secondhand ebay replacements and one quite expensive new set that all broke or lost their indexing quite quickly I've just stuck with friction.
I don't like not being able to brake and change gear at the same time - essential at a few bottom-of-hill junctions on my regular routes - and I don't like constantly having to take a hand off the bars to make adjustments. My ill-fated Boardman, the only bike I've ever owned with integral shifters, was a revelation - everything was just so easy - and worked perfectly every time.

By all means go with friction for the retro style, and of course it's cheaper than replacing the whole works, but there's a reason why they're becoming extinct!

keef66

You're right. It was a bit of a nostalgia trip testing them out on the old Pug, but I won't be trading in my 10 speed 105 STI's any time soon!

rodgers73

I commute and use for sportives a modern bike with the sti shifters on them. The old one is for occasional and more leisurely trips where I'm pretty much cruising all day.

I was tightening the bolt with my hand a lot before changing in the hope that they wouldnt slip, but it only worked for a bit.

I'm happy with downtube shifters on the longer trpis because you have days to get used to them. I found the downhill junction situation a bit tricky but soon learnt to change the gears before doing the braking and that worked well.