zjrog

I'm ditching the RSX 3x7 brifters on my 98 Cannondale R200, for now. Mainly they have gummed up and no efforts to clean them ON THE BIKE have succeeded. So giving some thought to other 3x7 brifters in the classifieds, or upgading the whole bike to Tiagra or better 2x10 or maybe 1x11. Just sort of thinking out loud here.

So my question revolves around the RSX RD A410, can it manage a 9 or 10 speed group? I'm guessing the RD won't manage anything beyond a 30t cog, I slipped a wheel with a 10 speed 11-36t cassette under the bike, I had to remove the RD to fit the wheel, and the only way to cover the 36t cog is with a road link. The RD doesn't seem like it would cover the 10 speed, so likely answered both questions.

I'm guessing the 105 FD1057 will work with just about any option I choose, 2x or 3x...

ThermionicScott 

Back when RSX was developed, people used triples to get low gears, not monster cogs like 36T. Per Velobase, it only handles up to a 28T cog: VeloBase.com - Component: Shimano RD-A410 GS, RSX

If you have a late model, it should have enough sweep to handle 9/10 speed.

pdlamb

IIRC, my vintage 1998 RSX setup featured 11-32 cassette. I may still have the brifters, as I converted to Campanano 9-speed after a couple years.

zjrog

That's pretty much what I recall. This bike was for my wife when new, and we had the shop swap out the RSX 2x7 for the 105 3x7. This 98 R200 has 126mm rear spacing. I can pull it for 130mm axles, but that isn't much fun. Unsure if the the RD is late enough for that wide of a sweep.

I'm trying to decide what I want from this bike. It spent way too long sitting in storage. But it doesn't deserve to be sitting in non operational condition.

zjrog

Trying to decide if I'm staying with 7 speed... Cheapest option is to stay with the 3x7.

ThermionicScott 

I agree it ought to be ridden! Nothing wrong with 7-speed, that's what nearly all my bikes are.

zjrog

I picked up a 92 Trek 1400 today, that has been upgraded with 9 speed 105 components. So, giving a ton of thought to keeping this R200 7 speed.

Edit... 1400 is not upgraded. It had a 9 speed cassette, but still the 105 1055 group. I am taking the wheels from the R200 for now, until I decide on what to do with that drivetrain.

zjrog

Giving a ton of thought to a used set of Sora 3x9 brifters to replace the RSX 3x7 brifters. I need to see about swapping an eight speed hub body on the RM-40 hub...

I had considered a complete upgrade. But just picked up a 2006 CAAD8 R1000 frame... Talking with a friend about possibly going SRAM Red 10 speed for the CAAD8... Then find a wheelset appropriate for it. N+1...

andrewclaus

Those brifters may have some life in them yet. I resuscitate quite a few of them at the non-profit shop where I volunteer. Once in a while I see one that won't respond to clean and lube. Attack it with a "make it or break it" mentality, do some disassembly (there are guides on YouTube and elsewhere), and you may be able to find and free up the sticking pawl and get it back together. You have nothing to lose if the option is replacing them anyway.

I used a set (3x7) for over twenty years on my primary ride and they were still working great when I sold the bike. I also salvaged a pair (3x8) for an older bike, used them for many seasons, and they were working great when I sold that bike. They need maintenance very few years.

If there's a co-op in your area, you may find a cheap set in their parts bin.

Stuck brifters are the main reason we get a lot of nice donations at the non-profit. Thirty minutes of volunteer work usually free them up.

zjrog

My initial attempts of flooding with solvent might have done more damage than good to any plastic parts. But. I have removed them to do just as you suggest, make it or break it. RJ the Bike Guy has an excellent video on YouTube for the RSX... I've been anxious to look into them again with a different approach.

Sora is still an option, but keeping this bike close to original isn't a bad idea either.

I love my local Collective, I've snagged some really great stuff over the years. Local is relative, at 40 miles away...

They were functioning up until this winter, but yes, they spent a lot of time the past 20 years just sitting.

Thanks!

zjrog

First off. Patience is not in my wheelhouse... Never has been.

Got the brifters off the bike days ago. Finally today, I took them outside, let them sit in the sun. Every 30 minutes went over and hit them with WD40 and tried to work them. After the third shot ofcWD, the left started to click. So I kept at it and flooded the brifter and kept working it. Finally, it started working. Took another hour and the rest of my WD40 can but the right side shifts nicely again. I am actually anxious to get this back on the road...

ramzilla

Microshift makes some nice 2x7 and 3x7 brifters for a good price.

zjrog

I agree. I came close to ordering a set. Seriously considered a Sora 3x9 upgrade too. But, keeping with the now working RSX.