mmcc73

Hi - I’m soon to be installing a pair of barcons (see pictures) and I have a couple of very basic questions. I’ve found threads dealing with cable routing but nothing to this level of potential dumbness.

- How do I access the bolt that causes the expanders to expand, thereby locking the shifter in the handlebar?

- Which way is up? When installed should tensioning the inner cable be done when pulling the shifter upward or pushing it downward?

Thanks!

John Nolan 

Here's a link to the installation manual:
https://www.ragandbone.ca/PDFs/suntou...ers-manual.pdf

mmcc73

Awesome - thanks!

52telecaster

You're gonna love em.

Fahrenheit531 

Always cool to see the original documentation. Thanks @John Nolan

Jeff Wills

I agree that you will love them.

One piece of advise: the "locknut" on the screw that goes through the center of the shifter can come loose and disappear. Get used to snugging it down periodically.

Finding replacements is not impossible but they're pricey:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Suntour-Bar...-/173822982487

randyjawa 

Excellent heads up advice. When I install a set and set the adjustment, I always put a drop of Loctite on the lock nut. As for pricey new ones - fogedaboudit. I have on a few occassions just took an old nut, filed it to fit and Bob's your uncle.

This is the culprit and this one is original. Could not find a picture of one that I made...

Pompiere

In case you didn't catch the note on the installation sheet, turn the 6 mm wrench counter-clockwise to tighten the expander, and clockwise to loosen. This probably comes up more for people who are trying to remove them from old handlebars.

Prowler 

Someone here suggested applying a round 'dot' of black electrical tape over that nut, adhering to the shifter body too. Maybe 1/2" diameter. I put those on my Suntours and they've stayed for three years now. Works fine, lasts a long time, fail safe and drains to the bilge.

I really like my barcons. I have them on my 1974 Crescent. Lovely ride.

Big Block

Very timely for me. A set of the Suntour barcons arrived in the post today. Those installation instructions will make my life so much easier.
Many thanks

Salamandrine 

Wow. Blast from the past. That's exactly how I remember installing them in the shop. Haven't seen the instructions in decades.

OP, keep in mind that tape then was assumed to be cotton. You'll have a hard time tucking modern padded tape into the end of the bar and still getting the barcons in. Fizik would probably be OK, just. I recall doing one with cork when it first came out BITD and it was a bear. You're better off wrapping upwards in the modern manner if using padded tape.

due ruote 

A good replacement for those locknuts can be made from the head of a pan head screw. Just cut the head off, drill and tap M4. +1 on the Loctite.

52telecaster

Great idea.

Mr. Juicy Juice

anyone know the best adaptor to use to convert a suntour barcon set up to a downtube set up or a stem set up for a roadbike? Is it even worth it to keep the shifters or should I just buy new ones?

due ruote 

Just buy a set of Suntour Power shifters with downtube or stem band. They are essentially the same shifters and much less expensive.

deux jambes

The lever that says, “Tick Tack, Tick Tack.”

Whit51 

The lever body tends to rotate when you are snugging it down tight. I insert a long hex wrench in the hole in the lever body where the shift lever attaches to hold the lever body straight while tightening. Also, the small hex nuts that were used to hold reflectors on old pedals work fine ( but don't look as nice) as a replacement for the lock nut, providing you find the right size.

Last ride 76 

buy or trade, not a good candidate for conversion.

Mr. Juicy Juice

Thanks for all the advice! Think I'll clean up the Barcons and look to sell them.

Jeff Wills

As others said- they are not easy to convert. Search for SunTour Power Ratchet shifters from the early '80's: same bulletproof mechanism, different mounting.

Here's an old thread about them: https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...g-shifter.html