Merckx Corsa Extra sizing

[chrispy2001]

The lever shifts actually properly and does move to the proper vertical position. Switching the boss adapter 180 puts the shifter in an incorrect position so...the mystery continues. Might be time to take it to the vintage road bike shop.

 

[rusty bodie]

Re:

you need to ask a truly vintage mechanic!! :?

now, if i remember correctly, i think that with one version of those levers, the "light action" model, you fitted it as follows:

grease the gear lever boss on your frame and fit the silver mounting collar over it with it's notch at the 10 o clock position as you look at it,

push the lever on to the boss and let it hang vertically down to the ground,

fit supplied washer(s)/ plates etc and screw in the butterfly wing bolt in clockwise until it was almost starting to bind the lever against the boss,

then wind the lever itself anti clockwise over the boss until the play is taken up and then screw the butterfly bolt in tight to secure the lever in place.

i think that this lever rested in roughly the same position as shown on mine in the photo below. the whole idea of this was to give a "light action" lever that was already biased to rotate in the clockwise position (towards the rider's knees) thus making the shifting of the front mech easier.

 

[chrispy2001]

Good god...
Ok lemme try that.

 

[chrispy2001]

Re:

Worked like a charm, cheers mate.
Now...rear shifting: do you recco going to 5mm SIS housing or keeping it at 4? The shifting is good but not perfect. Or, is that the nature of 30 year old parts?

 

[Jamiedyer]

Yes! Rusty the man has it!
I was alooking at my 9 speed 7700 rather than my 7402s.
Looks like you saved me some faffing about as well, thanks

Jamie

 

[rusty bodie]

Re:

that's terrific news - i'm not senile after all!

use the 5mm cabling - the 4mm is too neat and will cause friction against the inner wire and hamper (great word) precise shifting ... make sure that's it the correct gear housing and not the spirally coiled brake housing as the latter compresses under tension and will mess up the relation between the gear lever and rear mech.

you're building a nice 80s road bike, so get those handlebars rolled round a few degrees in the stem to make the bottoms of the bars almost parallel with the top tube . .



and the saddle slid right back in the cradle - be fussy and get the spirit level out too . . that's how i have my old rolls saddle set up, however, having the nose raised by a fraction can really make the difference to your comfort . . mess around with it and find out what works best for you . .

 

[Jamiedyer]

It sounds a bit 'nerdish' when its said like that, but, he's right once again Rusties the man!

Jamie

 

[rusty bodie]

Re:

spot on, that man.

if magnus magnusson was still around i'm sure he would have stuck me in that big chair of his by now!!



when is that bike ride of your's happening, jamie? i am due up in aboyne soon to break my legs in (!). a pal of mine lives there and the barsteward is as fit as he was in his teens back in the 80s!!

craig

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hi mate
Its May the 18th, Bonar Bridge.
Details over in macretro I think.
A few people coming, a varied group so it should be pretty laid back.

Jamie

 

[Jamiedyer]

I was also browsing the ebay ads last night and if you go to Ebay.com there is a 753R Merckx in the states. He says there are a couple of holes under the top tube. Its played down slightly I think, especially as you can clearly see the cable running through it there that much day light getting in, as the holes are quite large

Jamie