Cycling UK Forum

I would like to use a Shimano triple front derailleur with campagnolo levers.
The front lever rackets up in stages on the campag which presumably would give a chance to index on the middle and outer chainring but it then drops down in one movement from outer to middle and middle to inner, so some doubt here if it would index correctly.
If I can avoid the route of having to fit such an arrangement just to see if it works would be useful to say the least.
I have Centour 10 speed levers and a Shimano 105 triple front mech.
Campag triple front mechs are becoming a rare item so any help would be appreciated.

ideally you need to know which exact year your levers are; IIRC they vary.

Likewise there are many 105 mech variants, and they are not all quite the same as one another.

cheers

You've already got the parts Why not try it and see? Sometimes it works with this combo and sometimes it doesn't. Alternatively, a Shimano MTB mech or road flat bar front mech are nearly the same cable pull as Campag.

I'm using Veloce 10s with a Shimano 105 9-speed triple front derailleur. The only issue is that Shimano front-derailleur springs are stronger than Campagnolo, so shifting is a bit harder work than intended. This may ultimately have an effect on wear in the lever. I think I've heard talk of replacing the spring, but I can't recall the details.

Thanks Gents for your replies and as you say CREPELLO it's worth giving it a go, drossall seems to be running the exact combination I have in mind as I believe Centour and Veloce are basically the same levers.
Pity about the concern about the overly strong spring though as I really don't want to ruin my levers so may look for a Campag front mech, old stock or used over the next month.

Bowedw wrote:.... seems to be running the exact combination I have in mind as I believe Centour and Veloce are basically the same levers.....

They do share parts, but bearing in mind that in some years Veloce and Centaur don't even manage the same number of gears, how likely do you think that is?

As I said before, they vary with year of manufacture.

I suggest that you might want to take a look at the campag spare parts pdfs (from their website). Centaur 10s first appeared in 2002 and there are 'original 10s', 'quickshift', 'powershift' and 'ultrashift' versions. Centaur 10s is still listed in the 2013 catalogue, after that I got bored looking. This means that there are at least four different versions of these shifters, maybe more. From your description I think you probably don't have the first one, but that doesn't narrow it down much.

The correct pairing of front mech and shifter version is a bit of a minefield, so Campag have helpfully compiled some compatibility tables. These tables normally appear towards the end of each year's 'part A' pdf.

If you just try things out randomly it is quite likely not to work perfectly and in some cases it may banjax the shifter.

Centaur

That's worrying. Why would that happen? In general, the derailleur just moves in response to the shifter. I suppose that, if travel were greatly different, you could have a high tendency for the derailleur to hit the end stop and to find yourself trying to force the shifter to move further?

Searching in my spares box I have 2 versions od the Veloce double, 1 Shimano FD 4500? double and 1 LX triple .
A rough measurement of the cranked arm cable fixing to pivot and pivot to pivot with the bit that actually moves side to side puts them approx the same with maybe the cable arm being slightly shorter. The thumb test on the arm to operate put the Campag Veloce as about the same, the Shimano double was bordering on the impossible to press but the LX triple was considerably easier, the wrong frame clamp size tho' at only 28.6mm.
As I really don't want to ruin my levers I will look for a suitable Campag.
Thanks everyone for you input, it's good to know there are others around who are not afraid to have a go.

drossall wrote:That's worrying. Why would that happen? In general, the derailleur just moves in response to the shifter. I suppose that, if travel were greatly different, you could have a high tendency for the derailleur to hit the end stop and to find yourself trying to force the shifter to move further?

I think that can happen as you describe. Also because some shifter versions have many fewer clicks than others, some pairings won't give good shifting anyway, especially on a triple. The other thing is that some of the later versions are intended to wok with a low return force mech. As I understand it with the wrong mech, this (even if it seems to work OK to start with) just wears the shifter out prematurely, which is double-bad news; the later versions don't have full (small) spare parts support, making the shifter a throw-away item more or less. Not that you would know that from the cost, mind.

Bowedw wrote: As I really don't want to ruin my levers I will look for a suitable Campag.

I think you are doing the right thing in worrying about arm length and spring return force on the front mech, but TBH unless you identify which model year your shifters are, I don't see how you will identify which Campag front mech is meant to work with your shifters.

BTW campag make a 'widget' that can be used to overcome some of the compatibility issues (mostly 2009-2010 I think); this extends the arm with the pinch bolt on it slightly. This alters the shift ratio and lowers the cable tension. If you have a DIY inclination, you can make your own widget to fine-tune the front mech setup. Note that the shift ratio varies through the stroke of the front mech (so will vary with chainline too) and this factor can also be fine-tuned by altering the height of the extension widget as well as the length.

cheers

You already have a Veloce Double front mech. I've heard of people using these on triples set ups. I have no experience myself, but again, it might be worth trying it out. I believe that the Veloce double will give you enough throw for your triple CS. The main limitation would be that a excessive difference between big an small chain wheels may effect gear change quality.

Hi CREPELLO I have tried this previously with a Shimano 105 and as I recall the chain would only come off the inner cog by taking it onto the outer and then dropping back down to the middle ring. Perhaps some playing around with the derailleur height may have overcome that.
Could be different with the Campag and from what I have seen from other derailleur they all seem to have enough swing to travel over the three rings. The deep inner chain guide is the only thing that's different. Some one more able than me could probably braze on an extension.
Nothing to lose by trying a double and it's not as if I have to have racing swift shifting.
Interestingly the new Shimano 105 triple would not shift down onto the inner ring when in use on the road, ok on the stand. The derailleur was right in and touching the frame in some part , moving the derailleur down slightly and it changed perfectly under road use.

When I checked the cable pull Campag 9 speed front mech pulled about 18mm in total.
Shimano MTB 8 speed pulled about the same but the road mech pulled about 12mm.

When I tried a 105 front mech it was very heavy to shift but the Alvio mech worked great.

I have used Campag double mechs as a triple. It also depends on the chain set. Why not keep an eye out for an old Comp triple front mech?

CREPELLO wrote:You already have a Veloce Double front mech. I've heard of people using these on triples set ups. I have no experience myself, but again, it might be worth trying it out. I believe that the Veloce double will give you enough throw for your triple CS. The main limitation would be that a excessive difference between big an small chain wheels may effect gear change quality.

I have a bike with Centaur 10 speed levers working a Veloce double on a triple chainset with 105 9 speed on the back. It all works very well so Crepello's suggestion is worth a try at least. Have also had various Campag shifters working all sort of front mechs without any problems - well Campag, Sram, Shimano and Sachs.