Silver 2 shifters on Shimano barend pods

[Mike Blackwell]

I'm replacing the worn out circa ~2000 Shimano barend shifters (DuraAce I think) on my Redwood with Silver 2's. I was thinking I could keep the Shimano bar pods and just swap out the shifters, but now I'm not sure sure. I've attached a picture of what I have (Silver 2 on top, Shimano on bottom).

Looking at just the left side - the Silver 2 comes with a smaller normal flat washer and a larger flat washer with a square hole and a tab sticking out. The old Shimano shifter has a spacer with some intricate internal structure.

To get the spacing right, so the Silver 2 shifter cable exit aligns with the bar pod cable retainer it seems like I need to use the Shimano spacer. The big Silver 2 washer (with square hole and tab) doesn't seem to fit anywhere, I assume that's just for the Silver 2 pod. Not sure if I need the smaller Silver 2 washer, but it seems like I might to keep the pressure across the shifter face even.

The internal structure of the Shimano spacer seems to be the biggest problem - it prevents things from nesting together the way it ought to (I think). Maybe I need to remove some of that internal material?

So - before I start irreversibly filing and Dremelling - am I on the right track here? If anyone's done a similar swapout I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks!  Mike Blackwell

[Joe Bernard]

Here's what you need to make that work. The big round washer with the big square hole but no tab, then the small metal washer. This shifter slides on next, then the plastic washer, then the metal cover (looks like a hubcap) then the bolt.

What you're missing is the big washer without a tab, it came with the bar-end pod I ordered from Riv. I think you can get them separately from them.

[Joe Bernard]

And here's it assembled. Riv doesn't list the washer (without tab) separate like I thought, lemme dig around in the endless pile o' parts, I might have one I can mail you.

[Mike Blackwell]

Thank you Joe, that is exactly the information I needed. Besides the tab not fitting anywhere I thought the big washer was too thin and just set it aside, but now I see that is not the case. I think I should be able to cut and file the tab off pretty cleanly, and will be all set. If that doesn't work I'll give RBW a call, now that I know what I'm looking for.

Ride on!  Mike

[Bones]

Semi-related: anyone have any luck mounting the new silver 2 shifters to a quill stem shifter mount? When I called Riv they weren’t sure, I guess they haven’t tried that yet. They mentioned that the older silver shifters work fine that way though. I’m contemplating doing downtube shifters or quill mount on my new Roadini when it comes in...

[Bill Lindsay]

I run XO shifters on the IRD quill stem mount.  They work just fine.

Bill Lindsay 

El Cerrito, CA

[Joe Bernard]

Mike: Yeah, it didn't look right to me when I first tried to put it all together, either. I didn't find a washer for you but I'm glad I could steer you in the right direction.

[Bones]

Cool thanks Bill.

[lambbo]

Bones, I just took the front bar-end silver shifter off the bar (Shimano) and put it on the down tube, where the front shifter already was...it honestly feels like it shifts better, for whatever reason, and it's just so nice on the Roadini to have the bars less messy.  My vote is downtube!

[Bones]

Thanks for the input. I’ve never used either much, and I’ve been riding single speed an awful lot the past few years, so I think I’d lean toward downtube shifting for the simplicity of it.