Lov2hurdle

Hay gents and ladies: I just finished my 86 bianchi build and all is beautiful, but when I shift my front derailleur I have to tighten it after use . Now I did put a lil grease on during assembly, I’ve seen where some have put bees wax is that to hold the friction. Or is it my eBay shifter is missing a washer or something?

dddd

Friction levers all seem to have a fixed friction surface at the mounting, which is usually no source of problems.
But on the outer side of each lever is another friction surface that is loose except for it being keyed either to the pivot shaft/boss or to an extension of the stationary friction surface via a "bridge".

The cause of the adjuster screw loosening isn't that it needs to be bonded to the boss through the threads. The cause of loosening is that the outer friction plate/washer isn't being prevented from rotating, however slightly, which in turn causes the screw to loosen.

Sometimes the washers aren't stacked right, or the washer isn't tightly keyed onto the flats on the boss, or the keyed washer isn't fitting tight to the bridge.
Sometimes it's the inner friction surface that has rotational play on the square portion at the base of the boss.
But one way or another, the stationary friction surfaces all must be held from rotating even slightly.

This is all generic for all friction shifters. But if you have popular levers like Nuovo Record, then a useful assembly diagram might be found on the internet.

Usually I start by comparing the left and right lever assemblies to see why one lever's screw keeps losing tension while the other screw stays tight. Look closely and check for rotational play in the stationary washers in order to identify where the loose side might be assembled differently from the tight side.

Chombi1 

You might try to change out any plastic bushings/washers that you might have in your shifters as they might be worn out. Causing the shifter to slip and go out of adjustment.

CliffordK

I don't remember ever greasing my shifters.

The Campy style have a wing nut on them, but once adjusted, it is normally good for quite some time.

If I was you, I'd take it apart and clean it.

Bianchigirll 

What kind of shifter? If they are both friction shifters try swapping screws.

Spaghetti Legs 

If you tighten it all the way down and there is side to side play in the lever then there is a problem in the setup, maybe a missing washer. This can also be considered if back and forth movement of the lever is very loose. If it works properly at set up and then tends to loosen up, I would consider using blue Loctite on the bolt.

JohnDThompson 

You don't state the make/model of the shifters. Check to be sure you have all the parts, and that they are installed in the proper order and orientation.

markwesti

Do they look like this . These were pretty messed up when I got the bike , my first tip was that the PO put lock washers under the thumb screws ! All I had to do was take it apart and clean everything , re assemble (no lock washers or grease) and perfect .


IMG_0310 by mark westi, on Flickr

SurferRosa

What???

After I clean all the shifter parts during their overhaul, I grease all contact points except the threads when putting the pieces back together.

Salamandrine 

This question is impossible to answer correctly without knowing the brand and model shifter in question, or at least the model of Bianchi so that it can be deduced.

Generally speaking, friction shifters should be very lightly greased. BITD even the adjuster threads got light grease -- to prevent seizing. Blue loctite can be substituted on the adjuster threads if there is a problem with loosening in use. A properly set up friction shifter should stay put and not come loose with use.

If they need to be tightened after every use something is wrong, or a part is missing.

During the last couple years, in the mid 80s, campy record shifters were changed to use a plastic insert washer. The tell is the bulging conical outer washer. This type should not be greased at all. Use blue loctite on the threads. Frankly, if this is what you have I'd pull them. They can be made to work OK, but they inherently suck. They were commonly replaced with Simplex retrofrictions during that time period. Note that the older campy record shifters with all metal parts worked fine. They never have to be adjusted once set up.

Lov2hurdle

This is great they are campagnolo so I should be able figure it out with these pic thanks

Slightspeed

The left side (front) shifter on my Simplex kept slipping, and I was afraid of breaking the black plastic wing nut, so I just slipped a small split lock washer over the shaft, just under the wing nut, and it stays nice and tight, but shifts easily up and down. The other side has always been fine. Sorry for the wierd angle, but the bike is hanging on a rack. I have another bike with Campy DTs with the ring type tightener, but they have never been a problem with slipping.

Lov2hurdle

After work I’ll hope over to b/ shop and put all your input to use and see how it works, thanks

Lov2hurdle

Well I cleaned and applied lock locktite last road this morning didn’t shift waiting for Lo/t to fully cure up date coming

chainwhip

Out of courtesy, perhaps you could post a few pictures of your shifters and set up when you post your update.

Lov2hurdle

[img]blob:https://www.bikeforums.net/766f1a53-f3c6-4f4a-bce5-0a28d104f4ad[/img]This is what I have . I might have gotten short changed . But the first ride was fantastic lost tight held I must say now I know why they say steel is real thanks

Lov2hurdle

I’m having no luck posting pic on my iPhone sorry

Lov2hurdle

Anyway yes I believe I have the pesky record shifters mentioned they came with no plastic washers i got ebayed 🤔