Campag shifters which won't shift

barrybridges

I've got Campag centaur shifters, 2010 and haven't done an excessive amount of mileage on the bike.

Over the past three months, I've had problems with the shifters and not sure how to resolve them.

Put simply, the rear shifter doesn't shift, or it only shifts maybe 1 in 10 attempts. There are 2 issues:

Problem 1

When I try to shift UP a gear, the rear shifter depresses fully, but the gear doesn't change. It feels like the shifter isn't 'catching' on the cable underneath (if that makes sense), so I end up having to press and release the up shifter around 10 times before finally it clicks and the gear shifts.

It just feels like it's not actually connected to the cable underneath it.

Problem 2

When I try to shift DOWN a gear, the down shifter just won't move at all; and no amount of force can move it. It's like it's locked into position. I can shift UP as much as I want, but the down shifter won't budge.

The only way to get it to work is either to brake hard and then try to shift (sometimes this 'unlocks' the down shifter), but this is maybe 1 in 10 times, or the other 9/10 times the solution is to vigorously 'wiggle' the UP shifter laterally (e.g. sideways, not as if you were trying to change gear) and then this unlocks it.

Sometimes it takes 30 - 45 seconds to unlock the down shifter.

This is immensely problematic, particularly when you hit a nice hill and can't change down! Any ideas for both?

It's only the right (rear) shifter.

estampida

clean and lube the gear cables

first thing to rule out

keef66

Is it possible the cable is fraying inside the shifter?

rolf_f

keef66 wrote:

Is it possible the cable is fraying inside the shifter?

This is entirely likely. Worth releasing the cable from the mech and pushing it through to see what's happening. If it looks fine, I'd pull it out anyway and see how the shifter behaves without any cable attached to eliminate faults in the mechanism.

Ambidextrous

To me it sounds as it would be worth while to change the g-springs when cleaning and greasing the internals of your shifters. I am not 100% sure whether the 2010 Cemtaur Ergos have g-springs, but the symptoms you describe sounds like worn out g-springs. Visit www.campagnolo.com for an exploded view of your shifters. The G-springs are cheap as dirt and make the shifters work as new again!

Cheers, Martin

zephyr26

Where do you get the new G springs from?

g00se

Identify exactly which model of the levers you have. I'm assuming 2010 Centaur levers will be the last model that still used the higher end Ultrashift mechanism before they went powershift (new logo).

Anyway, head over to the tech docs on the campag website, find your lever version and look sat the spares diagram to get the g-spring code. Then talk to your LBS or try i-ride.co.uk

gfk_velo

2010 Ergopower shifters don't have G springs, they work on a clutch system.

There were two variations available in 2010. UltraShift and PowerShift.

UltraShift allow multiple up and down-shifts, PowerShift allow single upshifts and multiple (up to 3 cogs at a time) downshifts.

Shift problems with UltraShift are best resolved by talking to us at Velotech Cycling Ltd (we are the main UK Campag Service Centre). There are a number of potential issues.

Shift problems with Powershift are likewise best addressed by speaking to us - as these levers are not really serviceable, the usual fix for a failed shift is a new lever body complete.

You can reach us on 07802 758 469 or drop us a mail via the website - http://www.velotech-cycling.ltd.uk

Cheers
Graeme

barrybridges

Thanks for your responses. I've had a quick look myself but before I saw the latest reply I'd booked the bike in to Cycles Dauphin up Box Hill, as I've used them before.

I've just taken it apart a bit but got a bit scared and put it back together pretty quickly!

I'm fairly certain I've got the Ultrashift system - I can shift up/down multiple gears. To me, it looks like the problem is actually that the up (thumb) shifter isn't engaging with the serated cogs underneath; the shifter is slipping over the cogs on the internal shifter mechanism, possibly because it's worn.

The left shifter (which obviously I use less) has the same amount of 'play' in it as the right hand one, so it's not an issue of anything being loose; it just looks like a worn thumb shifter.

I'm not sure whether the thumb shifter is worn, or whether the cogs are worn on the mechanism underneath, but I'm hoping Cycles Dauphin can resolve it.

canamdad

Hope that your LBS can help you out but, if not, by all means, ship them off to Graeme. He fixed a rt Veloce lever for me that I had been trying to get to work properly for 2 years. Just wish I had sent it to him sooner!

Lord Jimmy 7th

Definately ship it off to graeme. He did mine a month or 2 ago under warranty (same probelm) , had it back within 2 days and its been perfect since

dennisn

The OP didn't mention if he had done any work himself on said shifters. This would be my first question to him. Then move on from there.