Locked Shimano 105 shifter

[Spizz 23]

Hi , well here I am again with another mechanical problem, ! which has probably been covered on here, ...the story goes, that I was merrily cycling to work in the sun last week, and went to change up a gear and found my right hand gear shifter locked solid and unable to change gear, I have had a similar problem in the past and solved it by simply replacing a frayed or worn cable, however having taken the old cable out , the shifter is still jammed solid almost as if there is something jammed inside ....any help or advice would be much appreciated

Thanks from Mark

 

[doog]

Is it worth spraying it with WD40 ..or dipping it for the night..I saw a guy on youtube who rescues stuck shifters by doing exactly that.

 

[Spizz 23]

yes , I think de - greasing would be a good first option, will keep you informed of any progress

Thanks from Mak

 

[biggs682]

i have a set RSX sti's that were the same loads of GT85 , Chain Degreaser and some Plusgas and hey presto its now operational and getting better the more i use it

 

[lpretro1]

Prob some bits of wire have become detached from cable and jammed it up - you can dismantle these levers - but find a diagram before you do so

 

[Spizz 23]

A good de - greasing seems to of sorted it, ! soaked the gear changer in a small de -greaser bath for two hours and cleaned with a paint brush...hey presto it started clicking away

Mark

 

[Dogtrousers]

Loving the WD40 solution

Problem: Thing does not work.
Solution: Is it electronic? If yes, switch it off and switch it on again. If no, squirt it with WD40.

If the above does not work, hit it with something.

 

[goody]

I tried dismantling a broken sti shifter once. There are still approximately 140 components lost somewhere on my shed floor.

 

[MPChurch]

Taking apart the more recent 105 shifters is probably about as easy as a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle upside-down and without the picture. Unless you know what you are doing, its probably best to take it off your bike and whip it into a shop to get a pro look at it. Failing that, i've got a nearly new set of 105 10sp shifters to sell.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

The (r/h) Ultegra shifter on my Dyna-Tech play up too, & won't shift up the cassette (to smaller sprocket)
That said, they (& the bike) do date back to 1994, so I'd hazard a guess that they're worn out, or any internal lubrication has long since dried up


'Ditto' the RX100, on my old work bike

 

[Spizz 23]

The (r/h) Ultegra shifter on my Dyna-Tech play up too, & won't shift up the cassette (to smaller sprocket)
That said, they (& the bike) do date back to 1994, so I'd hazard a guess that they're worn out, or any internal lubrication has long since dried up


'Ditto' the RX100, on my old work bike

Hi Richard, you need to take the shifter off the bike completely which is a bit of a hassle as you may as well change the cables at the same time, and immerse in a good de - greaser for a while, you will be surprised as I was what this can do, I had already started looking for a new shifter on e bay, but now it is working like new after re - lubricating

Mark

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Mark
Thanks for that

I'll clarify, if I can, some of my recent bike history......

The Dyna-Tech probably hasn't been touched for the best part of 3 years, - hence it's stickiness - since its replacement, in the work-bike status, when the (blue) Ribble was purchased
Full 8-speed Ultegra, barring a Campagnolo Chorus Chainset (172.5mm, & 52 x 39) & B/B


The 'yellow bike', that bears the RX100 group, was a work-bike ( a bitsa) that replaced a Raleigh that was RTC'd in 1997
This has definitely been touched since that picture (date-stamp; Sept 2013)




The Dyna-Tech was been demoted from 'good weather bike', by a Ridley in, I think(?) 2010, to work bike

The Ridley, itself, was taken off the road, last October, when my wife bought me a Ribble Gran Fondo (11-speed Ultegra, including wheels) for my 50th


The Dyna-Tech, & Ridley are both for sale, but not really advertised, just is anyone (maybe at work, or in running club) asks me if I know of a bike for sale)

 

[Ajax Bay]

you can dismantle these levers

You can.

I tried dismantling a broken sti shifter once.

Same here; just the once. See photo for 'residue'.

Taking apart the more recent 105 shifters is probably about as easy as a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle upside-down and without the picture.

No, it's much easier than that. But forget putting the bits together again: a 5000 piece jigsaw would be easier and take less time.

If spraying/soaking with GT85/WD40 doesn't free it up (and the cable's OK ie not frayed), replace (and have fun taking the redundant one apart).

 

[goody]

I think you have a few bits missing.

 

[lpretro1]

U usually don't have to go THAT far to find the offending bits of wire!!!