After buying and gutting a couple of 9150 brifters to make lhs brake levers for 1x machines, then a 7970 one so I could modify my Mavic Zap fly-by-wire setup to not need that stupid little switch wart, I got it into my head that I could put the switch warts I stripped from those 9150s into a set of 7970s.
It’s almost a drop-in; I need to lengthen the switch wiring for the shift switches, chop off the 3rd switch and wire in the old 7970 one, and take a dremel to the little bay that the wiring hub fits into so I can fit the slightly wider 9150 units.
And then to figure out if I can use an existing frame or if I have to put together a new one so I can test it out.
Spurred on by the knowledge that the B-17 that I re-covered hung together on my last poop-barn, I decided to pull finger on the next saddle project. Buddy gave me a ti brooks that he had for some reason over-oiled to the point of extreme stretching. Not sure what he did but it’s a manky mess. My dad tells me that if I soak it in water it should displace the oil. Then I will slice the nose off and move it back a bit. Will see what happens…
So my longer dropper post is coming today. I might potentially ruin my carbon mtb frame later! The idea is to trim the long seat tube down about 20mm. At about 15mm it gets thicker and requires a 36.4 seatpost clamp, which I have also acquired. All things considered, I think this will work out if I make clean cuts.
Been exploring my options with regard to the cutting:
Oscillating multi tool for making the cut across the tube?
Spade bits for drilling the clamp holes on top of the seat tube? I don’t have any so probably won’t be waiting for some to be shipped to me, but sounds like a good idea:
Aside from a drill and whatever more specialized bits I can get at a lowes/home depot/ace, I also have access to a dremel and a drill press.
I think I’ll try the oscillating multi-tool for the big cut across the tube. Then buy a diamond tip or carbide dremel bit for the cuts along the seat tube that will allow the seatpost clamp to do its clamping job. If anyone has recs about which of these would be best, lmk!
I usually drill carbon tubes with a carbide twist drill with low pressure, slow speed and coolant. Deburr with a ball grinding wheel. A carbide burr for a dremel might be a good option. I think this is a terrible idea though and you’ll end up wrecking the frame.
