Another front derailleur problem

[Jimmy Doug]

Hi folks,

Hope someone can help me out with this. I have a Shimano FD-2303 front derailleur, which is controlled by an STI shifter (with a thumb switch on the levers for down shifting). Lately, flicking the brake lever to move up a chain-ring has become very touch and go. What usually happens is that the lever moves without clicking; if I try several times it will eventually 'catch' and shift, but it does need many attempts. In an attempt to resolve this problem. I have changed all derailleur cables and housing (which needed to be done anyway) but this has had no effect. The cable seems tight enough to me. Any ideas?

Cheers

 

[simon.r]

H limit screw needs adjusting? See about 2/3rds of the way down this page: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/front-derailleur-adjustments Is the screw stopping the mech moving far enough out?

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Hi,

Thanks for your input Simon. I doubt very much it has anything to do with the limit screws, though. I think the problem is more with the shift lever. It seems to me that sometimes the lever doesn't actually 'connect' with the cable - pulling it doesn't pull the cable at all.

 

[Andy_R]

Disconnect the cable from the front mech, does it allow your shifter to "click". Yes: problem with mech possibly limit screw as mentioned by Simon. No: problem with shifter.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

OK - I'll try that later. Supposing it's a shifter problem - any ideas how to correct it?

 

[PpPete]

Shimano shifters are pretty much non-user serviceable.
About the only thing you might want to look at is whether the cable is correctly routed through the shifter, or if the nipple has come off the end of the wire. Pretty unlikely since you already changed the cables.
If you like the feel of the thumb button on the side.... consider changing to Campagnolo.
If you can find some 10 speed Ultrashift levers, they mate perfectly with 8 speed Shimano (just lock out the clicks at either end using the limit screws).
Unfortunately Campag decided to limit Ultrashift to their 11 speed groupsets, and the newer 10 speed Powershift, although still compatible at the rear, are a bit tricky to get right at the front because they don't seem to have the same fine ratchet as the Ultrashift.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

The shifter has started working properly again! Over the past 100 kms I haven't had any more problems, so I suppose it's safe to assume that everything's back to normal. Very strange. Could it be that it just took time for the new cable and the shfiter to properly familiarise themselves?

 

[lpretro1]

They can get clogged up with a bit of dirt over time. A good flush out with some lube often does the trick.