modifying cheap falcon thumb shifters
#1
wheelin in the years
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 666
Bikes: Some Schwinns, a Gary Fisher, some vintage lt wts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
modifying cheap falcon thumb shifters
Hello all,
I remember that a few of you had bought some cheap thumb shifters off e-bay awhile ago and modifed them to friction. I am buying some of these $.99 falcons from Nashbar
Has anyone tried removing the indexing off these to make them friction?
I remember that a few of you had bought some cheap thumb shifters off e-bay awhile ago and modifed them to friction. I am buying some of these $.99 falcons from Nashbar
Has anyone tried removing the indexing off these to make them friction?
#2
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,798
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1393 Post(s)
Liked 1,325 Times
in
837 Posts
I did the conversion on a similar-looking unit simply by opening it up and sanding down the detents. As long as you can adjust the friction setting, it should work find.
__________________
"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
#4
wheelin in the years
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 666
Bikes: Some Schwinns, a Gary Fisher, some vintage lt wts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I thought the might be just friction, but the ad said 5 speed(?). I hopefully will know in a couple of days. If not I will take the dremel tool to it as John E suggests and remove the detents .
It seems as though Nashbar is getting rid of all the older stuff. I mean they only carry a few square taper bottom brackets now and there is other things that I assume they would carry , like smooth post cantaliver brake sets.
It seems as though Nashbar is getting rid of all the older stuff. I mean they only carry a few square taper bottom brackets now and there is other things that I assume they would carry , like smooth post cantaliver brake sets.
#5
Leather and Canvas Fetish
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SoCal
Posts: 263
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would think so too, since there's no 1 through 5 markings indicated?
Anyway, here's a stupid question: I'm assuming I would have to buy a matching pair--L and R--for the front and rear derailleurs? The Nashbar one will only work on the rear, right?
Anyway, here's a stupid question: I'm assuming I would have to buy a matching pair--L and R--for the front and rear derailleurs? The Nashbar one will only work on the rear, right?
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pinole, CA, USA
Posts: 17,392
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times
in
25 Posts
These are cheap and much higher quality.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=013
I don't think you'll ever see index shifters marked 1 through 5.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN:IT&ih=013
I don't think you'll ever see index shifters marked 1 through 5.
#7
Señor Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,923
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Liked 1,090 Times
in
638 Posts
I think the "indexing" is accomplished by a very tiny ball bearing that sits in position and catches on indents. I have adapted a similar six speed indexed to friction by removing the tiny bearing.
__________________
In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
#8
wheelin in the years
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 666
Bikes: Some Schwinns, a Gary Fisher, some vintage lt wts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I asked the customer service rep about the left or right , he put me on hold , and came back on the line with an answer. He said they could be used for eather. I don't know whether the base plate can be moved 180 on the mounting band or if the rep did not know what he was talking about.
At $.99 a side I was willing to risk it. If not a little brazeing and I can configure it to what I want. I am working on trying to duplicate somthing like kelly take-offs for a pair of Origin8 "gary" bars.
One pair ( I orderd 5 pair) is already spoken for. I will use them on my son's little caliente road bike. The drop bars were cool/cute, but at 9, he is safer on a riser bar. The others I can do modifications ( Laughing like a mad scientist edit mad cyclist, “ welcome to my laboratory, hahahah” ). If and when I get the mounting bracket right, then I will look at some nicer ones, like Dirt Drop has pointed out.
At $.99 a side I was willing to risk it. If not a little brazeing and I can configure it to what I want. I am working on trying to duplicate somthing like kelly take-offs for a pair of Origin8 "gary" bars.
One pair ( I orderd 5 pair) is already spoken for. I will use them on my son's little caliente road bike. The drop bars were cool/cute, but at 9, he is safer on a riser bar. The others I can do modifications ( Laughing like a mad scientist edit mad cyclist, “ welcome to my laboratory, hahahah” ). If and when I get the mounting bracket right, then I will look at some nicer ones, like Dirt Drop has pointed out.
#9
wheelin in the years
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 666
Bikes: Some Schwinns, a Gary Fisher, some vintage lt wts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
They arrived yesterday.
FWIW - They are not indexed, they have a ratchet sound that is made by a plastic on plastic spring loaded paul and notched (^^^^^^^) top of the case. They are all marked "R" for right side.
FWIW - They are not indexed, they have a ratchet sound that is made by a plastic on plastic spring loaded paul and notched (^^^^^^^) top of the case. They are all marked "R" for right side.
#10
)) <> ((
ebr898,
i just got a pair of these in today. how many speeds have you tried using these for? i'm going to see if they'll do all 9 of mine, but i'm guessing maybe 7 or 8.
i just got a pair of these in today. how many speeds have you tried using these for? i'm going to see if they'll do all 9 of mine, but i'm guessing maybe 7 or 8.
#11
low end rider
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 780
Bikes: 80's. hoarder.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 56 Post(s)
Liked 43 Times
in
37 Posts
I'm using one of these to shift my crosscut triple FD. I think I paid nashbar 0.59 $ on sale and with a coupon. Was strong enough to survive an endo with just a little chipped plastic!
#12
wheelin in the years
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Kansas
Posts: 666
Bikes: Some Schwinns, a Gary Fisher, some vintage lt wts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have used them on 7 & 8 speed, but in fixing up older bikes I have generaly found nicer bits salvage/used. They do work alot better than cheap grip shifts, anyday.
#13
)) <> ((
i installed these yesterday on my bike. i am using XT M770 9-speed cassette and XT M760 9-speed RD, and they work great! they are at about the limits of their range, but the shifting is smooth.