Would like to switch levers to a newer style on this bike, but the Mountain LX thumb shifters are attached to brake housing. Any ideas on how to mount to bars? Bracket available? Easy to find?
by 0DTEEOY
Would like to switch levers to a newer style on this bike, but the Mountain LX thumb shifters are attached to brake housing. Any ideas on how to mount to bars? Bracket available? Easy to find?
by 0DTEEOY
3 Comments
I believe you can by removing the Allen screw underneath.
https://preview.redd.it/uqsczwgtz76f1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=acf9c08b07cd16d40af29c54a2ad878b6f624555
You’ll need to find a compatible bar clamp. Mountain LX is a 45+ year old groupset that Shimano didn’t make for very long. Good luck.
These shifters are actually more desirable to bike conaisseurs than the newer cheap escapement style shifters because they have a friction mode that will shift 8,9,10,11speeds easily using the same rear derailleur. In friction mode they also don’t need to be readjusted, so thats another plus.
Whats the reason you want to replace them in the first place? Usually when shifting is bad, the reason is friction in the cable housing due to gunk buildup and often the cable tension is also not adjusted properly. Replacing the cables usually solves all problems.
If you really want to replace them you need to also new brake levers, because the mount of these will likely interfere with the bulky escapement style shifters. Most brake levers today are for the higher pull ratio V-brakes but you probably have Cantilever brakes. They are two finger levers too which are easier to use than the old ones. I think they still work despite the higher pull ratio, but it changes the modulation a lot. There are some Avid FR-5 clones out there for 3$ which work nicely, but even a set of Deore BL-MT610 sets you back just 20 Bucks.