OK… I bought a Felt DA about 3 weeks ago as a frameset. I built it up with Sram Force/ Record crankset/ and shimano shifters (later change to sram)/ Shimano Ultegra Calipers.
I have had a few problems with the frame in trying to build it up the past few weeks. The Shimano rear brake caliper DOES NOT FIT, even though Felt says any caliper will work. I had 5 mechanics look at it from one bike shop, then took it an hour to a Felt dealer and had them look at it, and they said the Ultegra does not work, so they put on a Cervelo caliper. Brake problem done, hopefully i can upgrade it to zero gravity later on
2nd problem: front derailleur cable guide: the cable slips off the guide when shifting to the large chainring, and thus bringing the derailleur back down to the lower chainring. Hopefully this is just me, but I’ll bring it to the local bike shop tomorrow.
3rd problem: Shimano bar end shifters set to friction doesn’t work either because the throw on the shifters don’t shift the chain all the way to the largest cog… looks like I’ll have to dish out another couple of hundred dollars to get sram shifters…
Money wasted on this project:
-$80 on rear shimano caliper
-$80 on shimano bar end shifters (works OK, but doesn’t shift to largest cog)
I have had to buy another brake caliper: $40 and have to buy Sram shifters: $190.
SO… Don’t buy ultegra calipers for the Felt DA
Hopefully in a few days this thread will be re-named to “Felt DA Pojrn.” We’ll see…
EDIT: I figured out the brake, now the headset is loose…
I think you will find, if you do a search, that it has been well established that Ultegra calipers DO NOT work on this frame. Its been posted here numerous times.
I have searched and have posted in several threads. I have heard different things from different people, one person said only dura ace and a special caliper works, while another person said all calipers work. Here is the quote the person said that all brakes will work: “You can install any rear brake to DA and B2, it is not designed like new Specialized. In fact I have Zero Gravity brakes on it working great.”
Felt themselves say “a regular road bike brake will work” and “every thing is regular road bike components” They fail to mention an ultegra brake will work.
I just started this thread because that information was not in a thread about felt problems, and I wanted to update people on my bike…
aww… wow… sorry 'bout that. I’ve been searching for a couple of weeks about Felt and I guess I missed that thread…
But yeah… I know its a great bike once I get by all this small details. Did you have any problems with the cable coming off the front derailleur guide while shifting up? I wonder if its the Sram derailleur…
I gotcha. I recalled hearing about it several times, probably starting with this thread here:
I have searched and have posted in several threads. I have heard different things from different people, one person said only dura ace and a special caliper works, while another person said all calipers work. Here is the quote the person said that all brakes will work: “You can install any rear brake to DA and B2, it is not designed like new Specialized. In fact I have Zero Gravity brakes on it working great.”
Felt themselves say “a regular road bike brake will work” and “every thing is regular road bike components” They fail to mention an ultegra brake will work.
I just started this thread because that information was not in a thread about felt problems, and I wanted to update people on my bike…
I know I mentioned that my ZG brakes worked fine – and they do. In fact, the rear works better than on any other bike I own, because the cable comes at the right angle. I don’t think I mentioned anything about other brakes. I did try one of the Oval aero brakes and it didn’t work (no suprise since it sticks out so much).
The other two problems sound like derailleur-shifter mismatch issues. I’ve never had a problem with the cable slipping off once it was on.
It is a very fine bike, extremely cleverly designed.
First remove the stem. Second remove bolt, Then under the stem there are two more bolts. remove them also after that the metal cap will come off. under that there is a round thing on the top of the head set??? make sure that is tight. Then put everything back tighten them strongly but I would suggest sending an email to Felt at: http://www.feltracing.com/contact/default.asp
No offense to anyone but, don’t you think getting answers from customer support better than public forum? I’ve communicated with them numerous times and they are very good answering all your questions.
i don’t know about the brake situation, but sram has made it quite clear from day one that other brand shifters are not really compatible with their derailleurs. i set up shimano bar ends as a temp fix while waiting for my sram shifters to arrive and i didn’t have any trouble shifting in friction mode once i got the limit screws set, but i’m much happier now that i have the sram shifters. have you talked to felt about your brake and front derailleur trouble, or are you just working with the dealer and online forums? i’m sure that they would be glad to help you out.
I put the shifters on friction too, works fine… waiting on sram shifters to arrive then Ill bring it to the LBS to check out the front deralleur guide. Headset is loose too, I emailed felt and will talk to the local felt dealer when they are open.
i don’t know about the brake situation, but sram has made it quite clear from day one that other brand shifters are not really compatible with their derailleurs. i set up shimano bar ends as a temp fix while waiting for my sram shifters to arrive and i didn’t have any trouble shifting in friction mode once i got the limit screws set, but i’m much happier now that i have the sram shifters. have you talked to felt about your brake and front derailleur trouble, or are you just working with the dealer and online forums? i’m sure that they would be glad to help you out.
4 or 5 weeks later… still haven’t ridden the bike.
Sent the frame to my LBS to have the headset tightened, and have them look at the front derailleur guide. They looked at the cable guide, and it turns out I have a faulty frame. They have to send it into the Felt factory to have them either fix the cable guide, or replace the frame. I will get the frame back in about 1 or 2 weeks… hopefully.
Hopefully in a week or two I’ll have my bike back and be able to ride it after a month and half of having it sit in my house and at the bike shop.
On a better note, Davis Wheelworks has been great, They have gone way past my expectations with taking my bike in an having it ready in a very short period of time, when compared to other bike shops. I suggest anyone who can check out the shop should try and do so.
I’ve communicated with them numerous times and they are very good answering all your questions.