A Really Dumb Question re: Shimano 105 front der

[smyrna45]

Hi. Last night I finally acquired a new (for me) 1980's Maile with
full shimano 105 group and DT shifters for a picture of Ben Franklin
on some green paper lol. I have parked the old Huffy against the
garage wall awaiting my decision on whether to return it to the thrift
store from wence it came, or keep it as a souvenir of the 30 pounds I
lost riding it.

My question is this. The rear der shifts like a dream and is of course
indexed. The front der shifts well too, but it doesn't seem to be
indexed (no click). I know indexing is not really needed when you
only have two sprockets to choose from. Is the front shift lever
supposed to click when you change gears, like the rear one?

 

[Arthur Harris]

"smyrna45" wrote:

> My question is this. The rear der shifts like a dream and is of course
> indexed. The front der shifts well too, but it doesn't seem to be
> indexed (no click). I know indexing is not really needed when you
> only have two sprockets to choose from. Is the front shift lever
> supposed to click when you change gears, like the rear one?

What you have is normal, and is actually a good thing. By the front shifter
being non-indexed, you can "trim" the front derailleur as needed to avoid
chain rub.

Congrats on your find, and good luck with it.

Art Harris

 

[Dan Daniel]

On Sat, 24 Jul 2004 15:34:13 -0400, smyrna45 <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Hi. Last night I finally acquired a new (for me) 1980's Maile with
>full shimano 105 group and DT shifters for a picture of Ben Franklin
>on some green paper lol. I have parked the old Huffy against the
>garage wall awaiting my decision on whether to return it to the thrift
>store from wence it came, or keep it as a souvenir of the 30 pounds I
>lost riding it.
>
>My question is this. The rear der shifts like a dream and is of course
>indexed. The front der shifts well too, but it doesn't seem to be
>indexed (no click). I know indexing is not really needed when you
>only have two sprockets to choose from. Is the front shift lever
>supposed to click when you change gears, like the rear one?

6 speed set-up? I had that on a used a bike I bought. I'm still using
the 105 front derailleur on a bike (the rear was bent when I bought
it). Anyway, no indexing on the front. I don't know if any downtube
shifters have it; maybe the newest?

 

[Arthur Harris]

"Dan Daniel" wrote:

> Anyway, no indexing on the front. I don't know if any downtube
> shifters have it; maybe the newest?

Nope. Even the Dura-Ace 9-sp DT shifters have no indexing on the front.

Art Harris

 

[smyrna45]

On Sat, 24 Jul 2004 18:59:37 -0700, Dan Daniel
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Sat, 24 Jul 2004 15:34:13 -0400, smyrna45 <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Hi. Last night I finally acquired a new (for me) 1980's Maile with
>>full shimano 105 group and DT shifters for a picture of Ben Franklin
>>on some green paper lol. I have parked the old Huffy against the
>>garage wall awaiting my decision on whether to return it to the thrift
>>store from wence it came, or keep it as a souvenir of the 30 pounds I
>>lost riding it.
>>
>>My question is this. The rear der shifts like a dream and is of course
>>indexed. The front der shifts well too, but it doesn't seem to be
>>indexed (no click). I know indexing is not really needed when you
>>only have two sprockets to choose from. Is the front shift lever
>>supposed to click when you change gears, like the rear one?
>
>6 speed set-up? I had that on a used a bike I bought. I'm still using
>the 105 front derailleur on a bike (the rear was bent when I bought
>it). Anyway, no indexing on the front. I don't know if any downtube
>shifters have it; maybe the newest?


Yes. It's a 6 speed set up. I think Art Harris is right, you do use
the front der to "trim" it out. Probably one of the few ways to get
that silent riding unless the front was prefectly adjusted all the
time. Of course, I don't use the front much anyway.