Weird 90s mtb cable routing
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: BC
Posts: 59
Bikes: 1990 Rocky Mountain Hammer, 19(7?)?Le Croco, 2000 Mikado Magellan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
14 Posts
Weird 90s Rocky Mountain mtb cable routing
Hey everyone, I picked up a 1990 rocky mountain project yesterday and having only worked on old road bikes, I'm not clear on all of this new fangled cable routing.
I was told it had all original Deore DX components, which included what appears to be a Deore DX bottom pull front derailleur. What I am confused about is that the braze-ons seem to be for a top mount derailleur. Perhaps that is why it became a project, someone ordered an incorrect part back in the day. Can anyone confirm this?
Let me know if you need better pictures, I think these will work but they're all close up
I was told it had all original Deore DX components, which included what appears to be a Deore DX bottom pull front derailleur. What I am confused about is that the braze-ons seem to be for a top mount derailleur. Perhaps that is why it became a project, someone ordered an incorrect part back in the day. Can anyone confirm this?
Let me know if you need better pictures, I think these will work but they're all close up
Last edited by cb400; 04-22-20 at 11:26 PM.
#2
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,842
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12771 Post(s)
Liked 7,688 Times
in
4,081 Posts
Is that a threaded hole I see down towards the bottom, on the aft side of the seattube? If so, it was likely fitted with a pulley to run the cable on the top tube, yet still use the bottom pull FDs of the era.
#3
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,842
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12771 Post(s)
Liked 7,688 Times
in
4,081 Posts
I can't find any pics of one on an old MTB, just CX ones, where they were used for a much longer period of time.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: BC
Posts: 59
Bikes: 1990 Rocky Mountain Hammer, 19(7?)?Le Croco, 2000 Mikado Magellan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
14 Posts
I believe you are exactly right, I remember wondering what that weird bit was in the box of parts and I'm fairly sure it was one of those pulleys. I will check in the morning and see if I can get it set up. Thank you!
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 18,084
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4205 Post(s)
Liked 3,864 Times
in
2,312 Posts
These ST cable reversing pulleys are a common CX thing a few years ago. As internal cable routing took over the pulleys became a Dodo bird of sorts. Not the best design on a mud intended bike but did alloy bottom pull frt ders to have TT routed cables. Andy
__________________
AndrewRStewart
AndrewRStewart
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Yep, I had a '92 Trek 7000 MTB and it had the same FD cable routing and the pulley on the seat tube to actuate the bottom pull derailleur with top tube run cables.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: BC
Posts: 59
Bikes: 1990 Rocky Mountain Hammer, 19(7?)?Le Croco, 2000 Mikado Magellan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
14 Posts
Found the bit and installed it (I took it apart and cleaned it after this picture and then threaded it all the way in). The stock shifters even seem to work okay!
Having three sets of cable braze-ons on the top tube and random bits of housing everywhere is a big change from what I'm used to. I think I got the cable positions right with a derailleur cable on each outer braze-on, and the rear brake in the middle.
#8
Señor Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,066
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 649 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
215 Posts
Close, but the cable is routed wrong at the derailleur pinch bolt.
Under the cable pinch bolt on those derailleurs was generally a washer with a little tab. The cable should go from the pulley, over the tab, then under the pinch bolt. THe tab and cable should both be on the side of the bolt closer to the centreline of the bike.
Under the cable pinch bolt on those derailleurs was generally a washer with a little tab. The cable should go from the pulley, over the tab, then under the pinch bolt. THe tab and cable should both be on the side of the bolt closer to the centreline of the bike.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: BC
Posts: 59
Bikes: 1990 Rocky Mountain Hammer, 19(7?)?Le Croco, 2000 Mikado Magellan
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
14 Posts
You are correct although the picture is deceiving, nothing was actually connected at the time. I've since connected it on the inner side. There is only an indent on the rear derailleur for the cable to be clamped into but I will be looking out for a tabbed washer in the parts box just in case. .
Last edited by cb400; 04-23-20 at 01:57 PM.