MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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So, I've an external Brand X dropper for the gravel bike.
Having originally run SRAM 22 (ie 2x11sp) Rival, but converting it to 1x11 last year, I thought I'd make use of the now unused left hand gear shifter paddle.
Removed the ratchet mechanism, as per this video, from the shifter ...
Feeling very smug with myself, I tried to cable it all up. It was then I realised that this dropper uses the cable end (the moulded bit at the end of the cable) at the dropper post, slotting into the actuator. But, I need the cable end at the shifter end.
I've an older Brand X on the HT, and that one has a little barrel with a grub screw at the post end, so I'd assumed all Brand X posts worked that way?
So, any solutions that will allow me to use the SRAM lever and this dropper?
I'd thought the barrel with grub screw that is meant for the normal dropper lever might work, but it's too big to fit into the actuator.
I've tried butchering an electrical connector, but the brass screw/housing isn't clamping the cable hard enough.
I'm now thinking I might just have to use a normal dropper lever, but the clamp is too small for the diameter of drop-bars.
Any ingenious bodges?
Cheers
On the brand x 1x lever there's a cylinder you put the cable through that you then tighten a grub screw in to clamp the cable to the lever - do you have this and if so would it fit in the actuator?
Edit - I didn't read your post entirely it seems...
Have a search for solderless nipple and you might find a small one that fits.
Alternatively I have crimped a nipple into a gear cable before. The wife's dropper is set up like that. It's a one shot deal, there is no way to adjust it beyond any barrel adjuster. There also isn't much room as you need to assemble the whole thing before crimping. I have a hydraulic crimper which makes it a bit easier, but you could do it with a hammer or vice and some care
@gotbike it's called a solderless nipple, I've "custom machined" one in the past for this exact purpose! I have a few in a drawer at the shop (Happy Days Cycles, Sowerby Bridge) if you're local to Calderdale or i can stick one in an envelope for you if not!
How big is the recess in the post for the nipple? SJS have an array of different sized solderless nipples that may fit with a bit of tweaking.
Maybe I am missing something but you could just bung a nipple on the lever end. I would either use a bit of brass or solder or a solderless nipple. Easier is to knot the cable end and secure it with some solder.
If you go for a new lever, Brand X makes one in 31.8 to go next to the stem. It also has cutouts for cables.
I use one on my Rove with a PNW dropper. Makes it easy to swap the post to a standard one for bike packing bags.
How big is the recess in the post for the nipple? SJS have an array of different sized solderless nipples that may fit with a bit of tweaking.
The recess in the bottom of the dropper actuator is about 4mm high, and about 6mm wide. I've just had a go at filing down the solderless nipple that came with the dropper kit (that should be for the lever end), initially, it looked like it was going to work, but it doesn't sit in the recess right, and then snags the actuators return, meaning the dropper doesn't lock in position.
@down_and_across ...
it’s called a solderless nipple, I’ve “custom machined” one in the past for this exact purpose! I have a few in a drawer at the shop (Happy Days Cycles, Sowerby Bridge) if you’re local to Calderdale or i can stick one in an envelope for you if not!
If you've got one the correct shape and size, that would be awesome. I'll PM you!
OK. So, bit of an update ...
Having hoovered* the utility room on Sunday, I found, on the floor, a small solderless nipple which I bought ages ago as a spare for the Brand X dropper on the HT (which uses one of these at the actuator end!). Lo and behold, it's small enough to fit into the bottom of the actuator on this new post for the gravel bike.
(*moral of the story so far: do more housework!)
Get it all cabled up. Works! Yay!
Tape the cables to the handlebars, ziptie it to the top tube. And it stops working! Dropper drops, but doesn't stay locked in place, as the actuator doesn't return. 🤬
Upon further investigation, and untaping/unziptying, it seems the cable is snagging as it routes out of the shifter (it's quite a tight routing through sram shifters).
And then, I thought, I seem to remember reading that SRAM gear cable is narrower in diameter than other makes. Is that true, and could this be the cause?
My Brand X dropper came with a bit to go on the other end so you could do this. I promptly dropped it on the garage door and never found it again.
And then, I thought, I seem to remember reading that SRAM gear cable is narrower in diameter than other makes. Is that true, and could this be the cause?
Yes, SRAM gear cable is 1.1mm