857 build-- rear shifting finally solved!

[kondilemma]

Just wanted to share my tale with everyone, especially any new Proflex owners having drivetrain problems after a rebuild.  I was almost ready to abandon my 857 project after experiencing bad ghost-shifting whenever the rear suspension compressed.  Nothing worse than hearing the rear cogs getting ground to a pulp.  It wasn't much use for anything but city bikepath cruising...forget taking it to the weekly training rides with the local cycling club.  Resorted to riding my wife's Big Sur with the pink waterbottle...
Suspected that the shifter cable routing was the problem, as mentioned in this forum. I had purchased this as a frame only, and it seemed I fudged the cable routing in the end. 

Decided to try easing the transition from the lower cable guide to where it enters the swingarm.  In the end I just ended up pulling the cable out of the gulde completely.  Halleluia!  She works!  Took it on the final club ride of the season and easily kept up with the latest in Gary Fishers and Scotts and Rocky Mountains and Treks.

The ride season here is rapidly shortening--it gets light too late and dark too early.  Time to charge the light kit and dig out the long johns.

Take care all,
--Brad

[shovelon]

Hmmm, very interesting.

Ever since I put long travel shocks on my Oz, I have been having ghost shifting that I blame on 9 speed (I still am an 8 speed lover though ).

I did have a cracked/flopping derailuer housing coming out swingarm hole that was fixed, and still have a worn XT derailluer. But maybe your full length housing is the fix.

[shovelon]

That is one good looking 857 there.

[kondilemma]

But maybe your full length housing is the fix.

That was my first thought--I had run out and bought a length of cable housing intending to run it complete front to back, but was short by an inch... 

The inner cable still runs thru the swingarm, but is only anchored to the downtube on the high mount.  Suppose I should zip-tie it to the frame before it catches on something while on the trail...anyone make purple zipties ?

[jeffhop]

ive not had any problems with my oz ghost shifting with the four way on it but i ran an extra big loop of cable between the frame and swing arm so maybe thats what cures it. Kondilemma i bet you secretly loved riding round with the pink bottle 

[willem]

Y'know, I never stopped to figure out what the issue was, but... on both my 856's I completely solved any rear shifting problems with a full length cable housing. Just snake a coat hanger through the swingarm and pull the housing right through.

Now that I'm using a SRAM rear derailleur, it's really tricky to make that sudden dogleg coming out of the swingarm over to the "front entry" derailleur.   

BTW, I'd love to show pics of the latest Proflex build, but not sure where to file the pictures... Is there an easy way to do this? Can I link in from Snapfish?

Will

[kiwi]

BTW, I'd love to show pics of the latest Proflex build, but not sure where to file the pictures... Is there an easy way to do this? Can I link in from Snapfish?

Will

we have a gallery.....

[Carbon_Angus]

i am in LOVE with the GRAPE colored 857...if it is a waybig and you ever wanna sell.....

a "hoop" is needed to prevent ghost shifting for

from the your pic it looks like it good be a wee bit shorter, with your travel set up. but as it does lool like you could wedge that pink waterbottle in there somehow....lol

[kondilemma]

CORRECTION--make that a pink water bottle CAGE.   I am allowed my own personal water bottle-neutral in colour.

--but maybe that cage WOULD add a little something special...

[kondilemma]

Now that it's in working order, there are a few tweaks I'd like to make. 

--narrow the handlebars a bit--they feel a bit wide
--cut a bit off the noname seat post
--and of course finish the disc brake conversion.  Right now I just have the discs mounted on the wheels but nothing else--pseudo dual braking system!