Very stiff Dura Ace 9 spd shifter

sinjun
sinjun Posts: 53
edited September 2008 in Workshop
I am about to fit some Dura Ace 9 spd shifters and have just noticed that the right one (rear shifter) is very stiff on both up and down shift. I'm sure it was fine before, like the silky smooth left shifter. Is there anything I can try to free the action up? Also, anyone know what the flat cables insode the shifters are for?

Comments

  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Sure you are not looking at the Flightdeck wires?

    Shimano shifters occasionally cause the cables to fray inside the shifter. Worth checking that the cable itself is okay. Then worth checking the feel of the cable independently of the shifter, in case it's simply friction in the cable housing. At that time, you'll be able to play around with the shifter without a cable through it (or at least without a tensioned cable through it).
  • sinjun
    sinjun Posts: 53
    Thanks for the reply - yes, I think it is the flat cable is a sensor wire. It is a bit crumpled and twisted but I'm not sure if that has anything to do with the stiff shifting.

    The shifter is not yet on the bike, I was just trying out the feel before fitting, so it's not the cable. Seemed fine before and I just wondered if there was anything which could malfunction inside to cause a sudden reduction in smoothness of operation.
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    The flightdeck ribbon cables can foul the mechanism. If in doubt, simple surgery removes the problem. A good quality shifter like the Dura Ace deserves regualr cable chages too - nothing shifts as sweetly as a new gear cable, and if you buy them in bulk it costs less than a fiver to change front and rear.
  • Bugly
    Bugly Posts: 520
    Also hard to guage the shift stregth of the bike without the correct leverage. Are you sure that the cable is fine (not frayed or kinked)?
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Yes, you could get your wife to pull hard on one end of the cable and see if the shifter feels more normal.... :D
  • sinjun
    sinjun Posts: 53
    robbarker wrote:
    The flightdeck ribbon cables can foul the mechanism. If in doubt, simple surgery removes the problem. A good quality shifter like the Dura Ace deserves regualr cable chages too - nothing shifts as sweetly as a new gear cable, and if you buy them in bulk it costs less than a fiver to change front and rear.


    Thanks for this - I think I might just remove the ribbon cable since I don't plan on using it. Agree about cable changing to preserve shifting quality - I also tend to replace outer cable before there's anything obviously wrong with it.

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