Shimano shifters

wilwil
wilwil Posts: 374
edited December 2008 in Workshop
I've just bought a winter bike and the front Tiagra shifter won't click down. Is this terminal? I was sorting out the front derailleur and it stop working.

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Firstly, check to make sure the cable isn't frayed inside the shifter which can stop it moving - likewise, check under the BB cable guide to see there's nothing stopping it moving. Next, remove the cable and see if that makes any difference - try lubing the inner cable to see if it frees it up? Finally, try blasting the innards with ample quantities of GT85 or WD40 to try and flush out any debris - work the lever up and down to see if you can coax the internals back into life. If the above doesn't work then the shifter is probably stuffed - sadly there are no serviceable parts and a replacement lever is needed. There's usually plenty on ebay due to crash damage or similar problems.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    sounds like a rusty cable...
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • wilwil
    wilwil Posts: 374
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Firstly, check to make sure the cable isn't frayed inside the shifter which can stop it moving - likewise, check under the BB cable guide to see there's nothing stopping it moving. Next, remove the cable and see if that makes any difference - try lubing the inner cable to see if it frees it up? Finally, try blasting the innards with ample quantities of GT85 or WD40 to try and flush out any debris - work the lever up and down to see if you can coax the internals back into life. If the above doesn't work then the shifter is probably stuffed - sadly there are no serviceable parts and a replacement lever is needed. There's usually plenty on ebay due to crash damage or similar problems.

    thanks. Its nothing to do with the cable. The large lever is stuck in the up-shift position and the small lever won't release it. this is with the cable attached or unattached to the derailleur.
    Because of the position of the drum its impossible to remove the cable.
    They are 2008 shifters! My LBS can get the inards for £60.00. Ill try the WD40. If it works will I have to lube the insides again?
  • wilwil
    wilwil Posts: 374
    Some success. I've found out that if I push the large lever hard over to the right before trying to change down with the small lever, it works. Does this shed any light on what could be wrong?
  • wilwil
    wilwil Posts: 374
    Now the big lever takes the chain up but doesn't stay there. It just springs back taking the chain back to the small ring. There are no clicks and the small lever doesn't do anything.
    I've tried some more WD40 but it has always looked clean in there.
  • rockmount
    rockmount Posts: 761
    I think you'll find most likely the ratchet is knackered ... it's a Tiagra thing. I'm surprised that your LBS can get parts, according to Shimano Tiagra shifters don't have any serviceable parts, and may only be repaired with a new one.
    .. who said that, internet forum people ?
  • MabBee
    MabBee Posts: 40
    I'd be surprised if your LBS can even go as far as getting a single lever. I've always had to buy these levers in pairs (I've had both a Sora and an Ultegra lever break over the past 6 years)
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    can you get the cable out? Sometimes they jam in the mechanism and can cause the ratchet to stick.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • mike ives
    mike ives Posts: 319
    I had a Tiagra shifter go duff. The LBS told me, as suggested above, that they were not serviceable and it would have to be a new lever. They ordered and supplied only the one lever that was broken; they also stated it was quite common with Tiagra. It was expensive to replace really. I wish I had upgraded the set to105s.

    Hope you can get it sorted.
  • wilwil
    wilwil Posts: 374
    My LBS can get the mechanism with the 2 blades attached. You can just get the one and it fits into the existing casing so you don't have to redo the bar tape etc. There is a little grub screw under the lever which releases a bar and a spring and the whole thing drops out.

    The whole thing is a disaster: I bought this bike in error and have to sell it as it is too small for me I was told it was a 56 and its a 54. When I bought it the shifter worked and it broke the next day when I was tuning the gears ready to sell. You can only buy the complete levers in pairs and that would have been 50% of the cost of the bike!

    Unfortunately I'll have to knock the winter bike idea on the head now as I'm going to lose on this little episode and i can't face trying to find another one.

    I'm now glad I've got got Campag on my Wilier

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