Moving shift levers from downtube to stem

[Wayne Naha]

Howdy Bell-ringers!

I have a beloved old Raleigh Gran Sport that is effectively a single speed due to the shift levers being mounted on the downtube.  That was fun many years ago, but I don't go there anymore.  The last time I tried was very nearly a disaster.

So I am in the middle of moving them to the stem.  I bought Riv's IRD Quill Stem Mount, and their downtube cable stops to accomplish this.  Now I have run into a technical problem that I don't know can be solved.

If you look at the picture, hopefully you can see the problem.  The cable guide on the stem mount does not align with where the cable will ride on the shifter.  This shifter is the Suntour Power shifter, with the internal ratchet, what I believe the new Silver 2 shifters are modeled after.

Has anyone ever dealt with this before?  Would the actual Silver 2 shifters work?

Also, this bit seems too short:

[Joe Bernard]

Yeah you got troubles. The stem mount is designed for Silver1 (or Suntour Sprint) dt levers, and Shimano 105, 600, Dura-Ace, et al, might work too. Silver2 is a tougher call because they have a larger barrel than Silver1, your best bet is to stick with the originals me-thinks. 

[lconley]

I think a Shimano bar end shifter spacer (Rivendell sells them) and a little work with a Dremel tool or file may work for aligning the shifter with the hole. 

Not sure what the inner diameter of your shifter looks like - not sure if the internally threaded part needs to be longer or not, or if you can use a longer machine screw/bolt from the other end.

Laing

Delray Beach FL

[Wayne Naha]

Thanks for all your input folks.  @KenP, I have a pair of vintage friction bolt of shifters, and the clamp that held them on the downtube.  But the clamp diameter is a lot bigger than my stem.  Maybe I can find a clamp meant for the stem?  I appreciate what you say about the IRD mount's fragility.  @Joe Bernard, I think picking up a cheap pair of levers might be what I end up doing

On Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 7:33:04 PM UTC-5 KenP wrote:

three suggestions

*pick up a vintage set of bolt-on friction shifters (see picture, works great)

*Use your IRD bracket and get some Shimano indexed bar-end shifters

N.B.: the IRD bracket is light and fragile, so be gentile when shifting (don't ask how I know)

*There's a guy I corresponded with through Ebay who will fashion you a stem mount that will match your needs.

[Wayne Naha]

So I picked up this little beauty today.  Very painless.  Should be on the road PDQ.  Very pretty, too!

Who wants to buy an IRD Stem mount?  Make you a good deal.