I've just installed DA 8/9 bar end shifters on my aerobars for use with my 9sp tri bike. I'm working the shifting out and everything is fine there. However, I have the rd shifter set to index shifting but I only hear about 5 of the 9 clicks. There is a huge jump in the middle that results in friction shifting for about 3 gears. The DA shifter says only compatible with DA RD, and I am using an Ultegra RD, but I can't imagine that that would cause a lack of clicking in the shifter. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I've just installed DA 8/9 bar end shifters on my aerobars for use with my 9sp tri bike. I'm working the shifting out and everything is fine there. However, I have the rd shifter set to index shifting but I only hear about 5 of the 9 clicks. There is a huge jump in the middle that results in friction shifting for about 3 gears. The DA shifter says only compatible with DA RD, and I am using an Ultegra RD, but I can't imagine that that would cause a lack of clicking in the shifter. Any thoughts? Thanks.

What model shifters are they? If they are 7700 series, they will work with both Ultegra and Dura Ace 9 speed rear derailleurs. If they are 7400 series, they will only work with Dura Ace 7400 series rear derailluers. As for the index gap, did you buy these new? It's strange that it's in the middle of the range and not at either end. It sounds to me like the either the index unit was removed and not re-installed correctly or it's missing some teeth.

They are the 7700 series. I figured the compatability talk was simply some DA propaganda. The shifters are brand new. I disassembled and reassembled them to make sure everything was installed properly. It is odd.

Did you check to see that the red arrow on the shifter for the rear is in the proper place for indexes shifting? If it is rotated back, it will become a friction shifter. The little silver discs on the inside of the shifter will fit all 4 ways on the square, but only one of them has a cutout that fits the side of the square with the dimple on it. Not having this in the right place skews the shifting a bit.

HTH...

The Flash

I've had similair problems a couple times installing bar ends on my cx bike. I was able to resolve it by removing and reinstalling the lever. I imagine the lever itself wasnt properly aligned with the indexing mechanism, not really sure but the problem corrected itself both times. do a search on the cx board I think this was discussed there last fall.