Campag Ergo-shifter woes...

pilot_pete

Strange one this. I have always had trouble trying to get the indexing just right on my Campag Centaur Ergopower Ultrashift levers and rear derailleur. The levers and derailleur are both 2009 Centaur, 10 speed and came as standard on my Pinarello FP3.

Yet again I have been trying to adjust the rear derailleur and cable tension - let's face it, it is not rocket science and I am quite mechanically minded and I am following the Campag instructions from their technical guidelines on the website.

However, just counting the indexing 'clicks' when operating the thumb shifter I count 10 clicks. This seems a little strange. If I am in first gear, surely I should only have 9 clicks to end up in 10th gear? I always need one 'double click' at some point as I change up the gears to get one shift (this point varies as I adjust cable tension and alignment). It would appear that each click is not quite enough. Shifting using the lever going down the gears is much more positive.

I stripped the lever and it is all clean and working perfectly. I changed the derailleur cable, which improved things slightly, but bearing in mind this is a bike that is less than one year old and has now had two rear derailleur cables, surely they should last longer than six months? I see old bikes riding around in a right state that still change gear perfectly....

Could this in any way be that the shifter is actually 11 speed? Or at least the internals? Why do I count 10 clicks every time from first to 10th, and why does the derailleur seem to move just not quite far enough for each shift - requiring that double click at a certain point to catch up? The derailleur is not damaged, the hanger appears perfectly straight and all is clean.

Your thoughts appreciated.

Confused PP

Berk Bonebonce

I know what you mean. A R-H Ergo lever can seem to have an extra click when the chain is on the smallest sprocket.

My bike has downtube cable adjusters, but I tend to never touch them. I screw them well in.

In respect of the R-H Ergo lever and rear mech, all my adjustment is done using the cable adjustment screw on the rear mech.

Have you reduced the length of the gear outer cable that actually runs into the rear mech? Never shorten this piece of gear outer cable.

When setting up the rear mech and clamping the inner cable how hard are you pulling? It is a common failing to pull it too tight. Pull it with pliers, but not mega-tight.

The adjustment screw at the rear mech tends to only require slight adjustment, as in a quarter of a turn at a time. It is a common failing to give it a couple of rotations when it might only need a minimal tweak.

red dragon

I have a Centaur 10 speed group set (carbon), and could not get the indexing right. This went on for about a year. Then I upgraded the wheels to Kyserium Elite with new cassette and chain. Took it into LBS and no problems since. My mate`s bike has not had these problems. Now that it is working correctly it is really good.

Karl2010

Your Chain and Cassette could be worn.
Buy a "Park Tools Chain Wear" indicator to check your chain.
If it's been worn out for a while it could have worn your cassette out.

As another person said the Micro Adjustment screw on the rear mech only needs the slightest adjustment. (1/8 of a turn)

I was recently having problems with gear changing at the rear with brand new chain & cassette.
Finaly realised it was because i was over-doing the micro adjustment screw.
I would say just 1/8 of a turn on the micro adjustment screw is enough to send it out of whack.

red dragon

Many thanks Karl2010 will check, no rush at present as I`m waiting for warmer days. Mni tnx

Monty Dog

I would suspect your whole cable installation i.e. too tight / draggy / kinked under bar tape rather than the shifter itself. IME once set-up you can leave Campagnolo for years.

mrdsgs

are you sure you have clamped the cable the right side of the clamp screw? If it drops onto smaller cogs fine but struggles to climb onto bigger cogs, your cable tension is not tight enough.

pilot_pete

OK,

I would suspect your whole cable installation i.e. too tight / draggy / kinked under bar tape rather than the shifter itself.

I agree, shifter is perfect (apart from those 10 clicks?!)

When I changed the shifter cable it was in a 'permanent bend' where it goes into the shifter housing.....but surely it would be as it is always stretched tight in there?

Cables were the same Campagnolo ones that came off, straight from the box, rear one not shortened.

are you sure you have clamped the cable the right side of the clamp screw?

Yeah, it goes into the little groove doesn't it?

If it drops onto smaller cogs fine but struggles to climb onto bigger cogs, your cable tension is not tight enough.

No, it is the opposite, I can change down the gears (up the cog) fine, but it takes a 'double shift' at some point as I change up the gears (down the cogs) to get a correct shift.

As another person said the Micro Adjustment screw on the rear mech only needs the slightest adjustment.

Following the Campag diagrams and instructions it says to align the chain with the fourth cog using the micro adjust screw. This I have done, but still have the problem.

When setting up the rear mech and clamping the inner cable how hard are you pulling? It is a common failing to pull it too tight. Pull it with pliers, but not mega-tight.

I pull it by hand and then clamp it, so it is tight, but not too tight as to be pulling the derailleur inwards......is this correct?

So, a bit bemused really - no combination of tweeks, starting from scatch seems to work. As I said, it did improve somewhat when I replaced the cable....but surely a cassette/chain and cable should last longer than 9 months and 2500 miles? I shall check the chain wear.

Cheers again.

PP