Suntour Barcons, Ever had a one fail **********???
01-25-16, 09:37 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Suntour Barcons, Ever had a one fail **********???
Building my version of a bulletproof touring bike. Figured this question would fit better here than in touring section since more folks using vintage parts here.
So, has anyone here ever had a Suntour barcon fail?? Something break internally or wear out ? How about buggered after a fall?? I know about losing the lock nuts,
but wondering about an actual failure of the part.
Thanks
So, has anyone here ever had a Suntour barcon fail?? Something break internally or wear out ? How about buggered after a fall?? I know about losing the lock nuts,
but wondering about an actual failure of the part.
Thanks
01-25-16, 09:39 AM
#2
feros ferio
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No. These things are very durable and reliable. I have had them for years on my daily driver / commuter / general transportation bike, the UO-8.
I have also ridden for several years with a missing outer locknut, and have not even had to retighten the pivot screw.
I have also ridden for several years with a missing outer locknut, and have not even had to retighten the pivot screw.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
01-25-16, 09:43 AM
#3
Senior Member
After the set up put a peice of clear tape over the lock nut and it will not fall out.
Never had a set break on me.
But... Stupid me switched the levers into the wrong body and it would not move. Once back in the correct body, they worked perfect. Close as I've been to barcon problem.
Never had a set break on me.
But... Stupid me switched the levers into the wrong body and it would not move. Once back in the correct body, they worked perfect. Close as I've been to barcon problem.
01-25-16, 10:17 AM
#4
Sunshine
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I saw a set at our local co-op which were broken even though they looked great on the outside. Took some convincing to get the guys to not try to sell them. So yeah, they can break.
...but the 2 sets I have are 34 and 26 years old and both work great without any issue. I move the levers and gears change. I took the older set apart after buying them to clean everything and de-crud the insides. The newer set is Accushift and doesnt come apart from what I can see.
If you take them apart, lay each component out in order of how they have to go back in because the number of spacers is mind boggling.
...but the 2 sets I have are 34 and 26 years old and both work great without any issue. I move the levers and gears change. I took the older set apart after buying them to clean everything and de-crud the insides. The newer set is Accushift and doesnt come apart from what I can see.
If you take them apart, lay each component out in order of how they have to go back in because the number of spacers is mind boggling.
01-25-16, 10:21 AM
#5
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A trick I learned may be more durable... Put a couple drops of clear fingernail polish on the nut/bolt. It will act like glue and if you ever need to take the thing apart, it is easy to undo.
After the set up put a peice of clear tape over the lock nut and it will not fall out.
Never had a set break on me.
But... Stupid me switched the levers into the wrong body and it would not move. Once back in the correct body, they worked perfect. Close as I've been to barcon problem.
Never had a set break on me.
But... Stupid me switched the levers into the wrong body and it would not move. Once back in the correct body, they worked perfect. Close as I've been to barcon problem.
01-25-16, 10:25 AM
#6
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I haven't had a single issue with the pair that I am using.
01-25-16, 10:27 AM
#7
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Put over 100,000 mileson a set; transferred them from one of our tandems to the next one.
Excellent even when I took 'em off index shifting so I could use a extra cogs.
Excellent even when I took 'em off index shifting so I could use a extra cogs.
01-25-16, 10:32 AM
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Yes. The little metal tab that connects to the ratchet broke off. The shifter just flopped around like it was loose.
01-25-16, 10:37 AM
#9
Senior Member
I've had at least two dozen sets. Never had one fail.
+1 Lock nuts disappear. I would probably just use a stainless nylon lock nut instead.
And for a long tour, I'd probably use lined SIS housings and stainless cables. There was a thread earlier that the original SS wound housings do not like SS cables. They seem to shift better with galvanized cables.
+1 Lock nuts disappear. I would probably just use a stainless nylon lock nut instead.
And for a long tour, I'd probably use lined SIS housings and stainless cables. There was a thread earlier that the original SS wound housings do not like SS cables. They seem to shift better with galvanized cables.
01-25-16, 06:33 PM
#10
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Thanks for the feedback. I knew they were good. But it seems they are REAL GOOD!
01-25-16, 07:59 PM
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I've been using SunTour barcons since 1987, and the only problem I've had was losing one of those round outside nuts on a ride and enduring plenty of ghost shifting as a result.
01-25-16, 08:17 PM
#12
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Question: how much cable can they pull? Meaning, will they pull enough cable to move a derailleur through a 10-speed cassette?
01-25-16, 08:24 PM
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I know I used them with a 9 spd setup. Wasn'tsure it would work but it did.
01-25-16, 10:26 PM
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That's the only bit I've ever seen break. And only due to rust/neglect on bikes I've bought for parts.
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01-26-16, 02:29 AM
#15
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I've had the same set of SunTour barcons on my trusty old Fuji since late 1976, and closing in on 50,000 miles. I've only lost one of the tiny screws (item 11 on the diagram below) that hold the ratchet cover in all that time.
The shifter still worked fine, just rattles/buzzes while riding. It had been that way for 15 years before I found a replacement screw.
I've installed used sets of SunTour barcons on all of my other road bikes. Well, the last set will be getting installed going on my recently acquired Miyata 710 that I keep in Phoenix when I go out there again in a couple of months. I'm so used to riding with barcons that I don't feel comfortable riding anything else.
The shifter still worked fine, just rattles/buzzes while riding. It had been that way for 15 years before I found a replacement screw.
I've installed used sets of SunTour barcons on all of my other road bikes. Well, the last set will be getting installed going on my recently acquired Miyata 710 that I keep in Phoenix when I go out there again in a couple of months. I'm so used to riding with barcons that I don't feel comfortable riding anything else.
01-26-16, 01:50 PM
#16
Senior Member
...and here they are in real life: Suntour Barcons - courtesy of Stronglight. I've used this more than once when doing repairs. Between this and the schematic posted above, I think we've got it covered. 
Last edited by simmonsgc; 01-26-16 at 01:54 PM.
01-26-16, 03:05 PM
#17
Still learning
I've had one I had to replace as it would not stay at the gear I wanted, not matter how tight the lock nut was.
01-26-16, 03:15 PM
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I've got them set-up on 6, 7, and 8 speed clusters and found 8 speed to work, but had to make sure that I had the limit screws on the derailleur just right, and no slack in the cable at all on the small cog.
01-26-16, 03:26 PM
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The man who dies with the most toys…is dead. - Rootboy
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