mid 90s LX shifter problems

I’ve got the rear working with new cables but on the front, it won’t hold position when you shift. Any idea what might be causing it?

wear and tear?

Well thanks for that as I’d obviously assumed it’d be as new. I was asking for advice about what might be worn or torn.

The whole shifter will be worn. They’re not serviceable so only option is to get a new one. hth

the retaining cogs and ‘pins’ are usually of a plastic type material (thats from my limited experience of pulling a few apart). They just wear out and cannot be replaced/cannot get replacements. Best bet if you want to keep that model is to ask around in a LBS for old stock.

I found one in a shop i worked in and put it aside for ‘safe’ keeping.

Take the cover off and look for the ‘rachet’ mechanism. There’s a little sprung catch that holds the cog thing in place (not sure my powers of description are up to much…). Often they get a bit sticky, so wiggle it about and give it a dose of GT85 or similar. That might do the trick. :)

+1 for a possible sticking pawl due to the grease drying out, won’t cost anything to check,may save you the cost of a new shifter.

Happens quite a lot with old stuff, flush it out thoroughly with spray grease or gt-85 whilst operating the lever loads of times.

GB

As above; flush with GT85 or simliar, then lube using something like reclaimed fork oil or 3in1, something light. Grease tends to get sticky and clogs things up when dirt gets in there.

They could just be knackered though. I’ve got some XTs that are gubbed.

try and track down some thumbshifters they will last for ever !!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHIMANO-DEORE-XT-SIS-LIGHT-ACTION-THUMB-SHIFTERS-SL-M732-/280749209905?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item415df4f931#ht_680wt_1189

I’ve got a pair of them. Noteeth wants them but I’m waiting for the Apocalypse when I know they will be worth more than Bill Gates.

Cheers all. I’ll give it another go today. Frankly I’m fed up with the whole sodding thing. Instead of finishing my Hummingbird I’m stuck fixing a bike from an ungrateful bugger who is questioning whether spending 4 quid on cables was “too expensive” so if the gt85 doesn’t sort it I’ll buy a new one and give the bike back to him.

LOL, but yeah, if you are pushing the lever and it’s not engaging, 90 percent of the time it’s just the sprung ratchet things not moving.

I dread to think how many Rapid Fire shifters have been thrown away over the years because of people saying they are ‘not serviceable’.

It helped to a certain degree. Looks like the limit screw has been knackered too but he’s got two gears on the front and seven on the back so he can be satisfied with that. Some new grips, sell on some tyres that will clash with the hummingbird and we’re all done.