Can anyone help with installing downtube shifters?

I have a pair of NOS Suntour downtube shifters with the little plastic plugs (I realise these pull out to fit the shifters) that I'm trying to fit onto my Raleigh frame. However, they have a washer with a sort of tab and I'm dammed if I know which way up this should go on the bosses. Anyone done this before and can help with some simple fitting advice / instruction? Thanks.

I have a pair of NOS Suntour downtube shifters with the little plastic plugs (I realise these pull out to fit the shifters) that I'm trying to fit onto my Raleigh frame. However, they have a washer with a sort of tab and I'm dammed if I know which way up this should go on the bosses. Anyone done this before and can help with some simple fitting advice / instruction? Thanks.

Is the tab the stop that prevents the levers from going too far forward? If so, they should be mounted with the tab point up towards the head-tube.

Are they Superbe, BTW?

Thanks Buffalo, they're not Superbe but 'Power Shift' probably Cyclone or similar, just tried mounting them but with no 'contoured' washer (like the kind you get with brake calipers to sit flush against rounded surfaces) to sit against the tube itself I wasn't sure if this was missing or not? It might be that it doesn't need one but who can say...

I have a problem with a shifter on a bike a built for my brother. It's a Simplex that has a tear shaped hole in the lever. The bolt that goes through it into the braze-on keeps coming loose. It's not one that has an adjuster D-loop like my old record ones, just a large screwdriver slot in the top of the bolt. The slot is pretty mashed which makes me think the previous owner had similar troubles. Can I glue the threads to stop this?

Skully, they replaced the bolts with the slotted ends with ones that take allen bolts. I might have some.

VanUden, are your shifters shown here: http://velobase.com/ListComponentGallery.aspx?Category=104&BrandID=b0cbe80a-c06e-4864-a3ab-dac2d4abd9e6

ORILLy?

Have a shufty when you get a chance pal.

Very close dmczone but not close enough. Here are some pics, in the link you posted some of the shifters don't have 'contoured' washers to sit directly against the down-tube so I'm now wondering if it's not required and the ones I have just fit straight on:

http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/Dura-Ace/ShiftLever/6J50B-SL-7800_7700-EN_v1_m56577569830605247.pdf

Have a look at that. Hopefully it helps (ps I know it's not suntour but most of these are fitted the same)

Thanks very much, I'm still confused about whether or not I'm missing what the PDF refers to as an 'adaptor' and is a sort of fat washer, dished on one side to fit flush against the frame and flat on the other to sit flush against the back of the shifter. Hmmm. Anyone ever seen set-ups without this 'adaptor'?

Nope, never to be honest. Unless it's a band on type shifter.

Those 'washers' sit over the square braze ons and as you say, basically hug the curvature of the frame and you screw the flat bit at the back of the shifter against that, and into the threads in the frame's braze on. There's a little tab washer that goes between the screw/adjuster and the inside of the shifter. Other than that there's not much too it.

Usually the big washer that sits over the braze on/against the frame goes on a certain way, or else your shifter will be pointing in a stupid direction. It can only go on in two different positions anyway so that shouldn't be tough!