Have my shifters had it?

[Mile195]

Having some issues with changing gear... Not uncommon and usually a little adjustment or replacement of a "consumable" sorts it out, but this time I'm a little stumped.

In this order I have changed...
1 - Chain, just because it was due. Then my problems started.
2 - Rear Shift cable
3 - Cassette. I didn't think it would help as I'd only run two chains on it so far, but what the hell I thought. I can always put it back on next time. It made no difference.
4 - Jockey wheels. There was more play in them than I would expect. It's helped, but it's still not right.

I've spent masses of time trying to tune up the gears, but you get it right in one direction, and it doesn't work in the other. You get it working at the bottom end, it doesn't work at the top. Sometimes it's just completely inconsistent.

This list only leaves two remaining suspects: Dérailleur or shifter. Both are equally expensive and cost too much to just "give it a try", unlike the cassette which I'll get through eventually anyway.

My bike has done 15'000 London miles. Therefore it's probably done 8 or 9'000 gear changes. I've never run a pair of shifters into the ground before. Does anyone have any idea how long they should last? Could this be my issue, or does anyone have any experience that might show I'm barking up the wrong tree?

Thanks all in advance.

 

[raleighnut]

Having some issues with changing gear... Not uncommon and usually a little adjustment or replacement of a "consumable" sorts it out, but this time I'm a little stumped.

In this order I have changed...
1 - Chain, just because it was due. Then my problems started.
2 - Rear Shift cable
3 - Cassette. I didn't think it would help as I'd only run two chains on it so far, but what the hell I thought. I can always put it back on next time. It made no difference.
4 - Jockey wheels. There was more play in them than I would expect. It's helped, but it's still not right.

I've spent masses of time trying to tune up the gears, but you get it right in one direction, and it doesn't work in the other. You get it working at the bottom end, it doesn't work at the top. Sometimes it's just completely inconsistent.

This list only leaves two remaining suspects: Dérailleur or shifter. Both are equally expensive and cost too much to just "give it a try", unlike the cassette which I'll get through eventually anyway.

My bike has done 15'000 London miles. Therefore it's probably done 8 or 9'000 gear changes. I've never run a pair of shifters into the ground before. Does anyone have any idea how long they should last? Could this be my issue, or does anyone have any experience that might show I'm barking up the wrong tree?

Thanks all in advance.

There should be play in the top jockey wheel, about 3/4 of a mm, its how Shimano got indexing to work properly. This side to side movement stops the side plates of the chain from riding on top of the gear teeth. It sounds to me that the new gear cable may not of "hardened off" yet and is still stretching or you may have fitted it to the wrong side of the clamp just check everything over.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

or possibly something, hanger?, is bent or out of alignment.

 

[Brommyboy]

Put the chain onto a middle sprocket. Study the line of the chain passing over the sprocket and into the guide wheel, from underneath. If not straight, then the gear cable setting needs adjusting.

 

[Gains84]

Sometimes the gear cable "outters" can have gunk inside that prevent a smooth shift so need a change, the new cable could just be getting instantly gunked up.

 

[Mile195]

Thanks for the replies. Both the cable and it's outer I changed at the same time so I should be ok there. I'll have a look at the hanger. It's had knocks in the past, but nothing just before I started having troubles.

But can I presume then that the general consensus is that the shifter shouldn't have worn out yet?

 

[HLaB]

Have you cleaned and lubed the shifters/ deraileur yet. They can fail with bad maintenance but try that first. I just removed mine and they were still working fine after the region of 30,000 miles and a few offs but when I got a reasonable priced upgrade I decided to go for it.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Thanks for the replies. Both the cable and it's outer I changed at the same time so I should be ok there. I'll have a look at the hanger. It's had knocks in the past, but nothing just before I started having troubles.

But can I presume then that the general consensus is that the shifter shouldn't have worn out yet?

I've been using the same STI shifters on my Vivente tourer/commuter for over 70,000km and never had to oil and/or degrease it, so I get the impression they're generally pretty durable and long-lasting. (or perhaps I just got lucky?)

 

[Andy_R]

Give everything( shifters, cables, mechs) a good spray of GT85. If if starts working properly then it's time to strip down and lube stuff properly. If not...well, try summat else....