Maintence of Shimano STI levers

[martinireland]

Just looking for advice on what other people what people use. I have read that WD40 for cleaning out the old lubricant that is clogging up the levers. Then use a lithium spray grease after for lubrication. How old/mileage would be on a new bike before it would need to be cleaned and re lubed. From what ive read the factory lubrication is good for a couple of years...... don't know if id agree with that though ?

 

[migrantwing]

I did mine within a few months of getting my new bike. Just removed the hoods, blasted WD40 through all the workings, allowed it to dry off overnight, and then used a light machine oil to lubricate the shifters, working through all the gear shift positions a handful of times.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I did mine within a few months of getting my new bike. Just removed the hoods, blasted WD40 through all the workings, allowed it to dry off overnight, and then used a light machine oil to lubricate the shifters, working through all the gear shift positions a handful of times.

I should try that on my Vivente tourer. I've just topped 70,000km on this bike after 5.5 years using it, and it still has the orginal STI shifters (aka brifters). I've never oiled them once, but they still work .

 

[jazzkat]

You mean you have to clean and lube these things?

Damn, another thing to be OCD about!

 

[Spoked Wheels]

I did mine within a few months of getting my new bike. Just removed the hoods, blasted WD40 through all the workings, allowed it to dry off overnight, and then used a light machine oil to lubricate the shifters, working through all the gear shift positions a handful of times.

I wouldn't use WD40 - I would certainly add a little oil though.

 

[cyberknight]

What about a spray grease after wd 40 ?
I found some thats fairlay light , in fact tried it for greasing crank/ pedal hole (?) and its too light for that so might be the ticket for this ?

 

[martinireland]

I think I seen some light spray grease in Halfords.... would that be good after the wd40 ?

 

[Fab Foodie]

I've never done anything to my Ultegra STIs in 9 years, they really don't need attention.

 

[ianrauk]

I've never done anything to my Ultegra STIs in 9 years, they really don't need attention.

This...............

 

[Acyclo]

This...............

That ^^^^.

 

[Cuchilo]

The levers on the pug I have been playing with where solid as it had been left standing for so long . I was advised to soak the hell out of them with wd40 and keep clicking them . I thought I was on a losing battle but one by one the clicks came back .

 

[smokeysmoo]

Very early road STI's eventually had am issue with the factory lubrication 'gumming up'. AASHTA.

"There is advice on the Web to free up the mechanism by soaking the lever in solvent or squirting solvent into it. If you're going to try this, remove the rubber hood first, or it will absorb solvent and expand.
Relubricate the shifter with lithium spray grease."

However, I've never heard of such issues on later version STI's, (except LH 105 ones), and I've never had any issues with any of mine

 

[rb58]

I've never done anything to my Ultegra STIs in 9 years, they really don't need attention.

Nor me. And mine are still working perfectly.