Help me understand what to do next, bicycle shifter woes

[Manual Mac]

Bar end shifters. In friction mode.
my brake shifters lasted about 7500 miles.
I need to get out on my bike too.

 

[WobblyHand]

There are different versions of the Shimano 2x10 shifters, so it may be that you can look on eBay for a different Shimano NOS set. Most likely might be from another country (I would not buy them form China, as most likely are not authentic. I have a similar situations on my older bikes, all the specifications change every couple of years, so I often will get some back ups as I keep my bikes for 10-15 years.

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Mine are actually 3 x 10 brake shifters, but thanks for the idea. Have to remove enough stuff to find the model number. I'll do that tomorrow.

 

[ddickey]

I just looked closer to your pic and see you're running a triple up front. Also i missed that your shifters are Ultegra. There is no way they are worn out. Ultegra always used to be the previous years Dura Ace so nice stuff. I'd find the smallest off the beaten path race shop in your area and go there.

 

[WobblyHand]

I seriously doubt it's worn out, I've done >36,000 miles on a similar set and they're just fine. If the shifting is ****ty, there's a good chance that the cable inside the shifter is frayed and binding on the inside of the shifter. Mine usually last around 3000 miles before heading south and as soon as it starts being hard to shift or hanging up on downshifts (clicking the small lever behind the brake lever) I swap out the cable. If you don't then at some point it'll break and that's no fun 25 miles from home.

First, buy a set of Shimano inner and outer gear cables from Amazon or likewise. You can get cheaper, but Shimano cables are really nice.

Then put the bike into the lowest gear at the back. Undo the bolt holding the cable into the rear mech. Does this have internal cable routing - if so stop, let me know and I'll tell you a good way to do that.

Pull the hood on the shifter forwards towards the brake lever. Underneath on the outside of the shifter, you should see a small opening where the cable goes. On the inside you should see a small plate with a screw on the opposite side to that opening. Take it off and don't lose it like I did.

With the cable tension released at the other end, you should be able to push the head of the cable out of the shifter. Note you can only do this with the shifter in the smallest gear at the back. Don't shift the gears until you're finished.

Remove the old cable and install the old cable. Thread it through. Don't add any oil down the outers. I'd recommend replacing them (it makes for lovely shifting) but you probably won't have to.

When you have the cable going through the rear mech, push the mech ever so slightly into the wheel and snug up the bolt that holds the cable.

With the bike on a stand or someone holding it up for you, click the shifter into the next gear, turn the cranks and unscrew the adjuster on the mech until the chain climbs into gear. Shift back down and try again. Then try shifting two gears, unscrew the adjuster until it will shift both gears in one go. It'll take a bit of fiddling but it's pretty straightforward. After a few rides you'll need to repeat this as the cable stretches.

Cut the cable to leave around 2-3" sticking out and cap it with one of those little alu caps.

Should cost you around $25-30


To add to ddickey above DO NOT disassemble the shifter. It's full of very small very fiddly pieces and springs that will disappear in the blink of an eye. Shimano shifters literally last forever, I have some on my mountain bike that are old enough that I can't actually remember when I bought them (15 years ago? 20?) and they're still working just fine.

Sounds encouraging. A lot to digest here.

Cable routing is external. There's a little plastic piece on the bottom of the frame where the crank is that's a cable guide.

From that video I linked to I'm pretty dead set against a total tear down. That looks like a great way to lose your mind.

The Shimano inner and outer gear cables, is there only one kind?

 

[WobblyHand]

I just looked closer to your pic and see you're running a triple up front. Also i missed that your shifters are Ultegra. There is no way they are worn out. Ultegra always used to be the previous years Dura Ace so nice stuff. I'd find the smallest off the beaten path race shop in your area and go there.

Yes they are Ultegra shifters. There's a higher end bike shop in town - I never go there because I can't afford anything. What would I be asking for there?

 

[ddickey]

Yes. Brake cables are much larger, shift cable are small diameter. They come in one length only, trim to fit.
Leave that plastic routing piece in place. They are very easy to replace.

 

[ddickey]

I can only speak for my personal experience. I do not like the larger chain type stores.

 

[ddickey]

Yes they are Ultegra shifters. There's a higher end bike shop in town - I never go there because I can't afford anything. What would I be asking for there?

Are you talking about Freewheel Cycles?

 

[WobblyHand]

Are you talking about Freewheel Cycles?

In NH, yes. I've met the owner.

 

[WobblyHand]

There's also Goodale's, where I originally bought the bike. They have two locations, but I wouldn't call them a chain.