Sticky gears

[RizzoTheRat]

I have Shimano LX gears, and the levers have stopped springing back after changing gear on the rear. I'd assumed it was the tension on the cable that sprang them back, but I've just lubed the cable and even with me pulling on the exposed bit of the cable where it runs down the tube to put some extra tension on it, they still don't spring back. Presumably there must be return spring inside the shifter, anyone know how complicated they are inside, ie if I dismantle it is there a good chance I'll never get it back together? Is it easier to just fit a new shifter?

[Bacon Is Proof]

I don't know about the modern crop, but I remember seeing a dismantled rapid fire shifter some years ago and it was something like 50+ parts.
I'd be buying a new shifter, which means you might as well take the old one apart, it probably will just be a tiny spring that has broken or popped out. There isn't enough movement between the gears for the lever return to work on cable tension if you think about it.

[frisbee]

Shimano use grease in their shifters that turns solid after a cold winter or two.

[dontlookdown]

Cleaning the shifter mech is quite likely to fix this problem. Certainly worth a go as replacement shifters for older systems can be hard to find.

https://youtu.be/8lJ3vCtWYvw

[dontlookdown]

Also - fully dismantling an indexed shifter is not for the faint hearted. Quite a complex and fiddly mechanism with lots of springs and small parts.

[RizzoTheRat]

Warmest day we've had for a while, and it worked fine on Friday but not today, I'd guess that means something broken rather than just getting slowly gummed up or grease getting hard?

[frisbee]

RizzoTheRat said:

Warmest day we've had for a while, and it worked fine on Friday but not today, I'd guess that means something broken rather than just getting slowly gummed up or grease getting hard?

The grease goes hard and stays hard even after it warms up again. Intermittent operation isn't uncommon.

Its usually possible to dismantle just enough that you can clean and relubricate the mechanism without springs flying everywhere.

[loskie]

I was having this with mine in the winter, thought I needed new shifters, (It felt like the cable wasnt being GRIPPED by the shifter) but took the wee inspection cover off, cleaned with degreaser and an old toothbrush the gubbins inside, wiggled the mech and re greased with silicone spray. Now works fine again. It was a you tube video I googled too.