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Why can't I get the shift cable adjusters back in place on shifters?

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Why can't I get the shift cable adjusters back in place on shifters?

Old 03-20-20, 09:33 PM
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Miradaman
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Why can't I get the shift cable adjusters back in place on shifters?

I'm not sure what my major malfunction is here. Took apart the shifters (Shimano Alivio) on my 1995 GT mountain bike because they were frozen up. Got 'em clean and shifting nicely and back on the bike. When I was putting the cables back on I discovered I have no idea how to get the barrel adjuster setups back on the shifters. What am I missing here? There's a threaded metal piece, a spring that goes over it and then the plastic barrel but no fitting on the shifter for the threaded piece to screw into like I thought it would. What holds everything together? How do I get this to work? Yes, I should have paid better attention taking them apart but I didn't realize it would be an issue. Thanks
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Old 03-20-20, 10:03 PM
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If a barrel adjuster was part of the shifter before it's going to fit now, assuming something like a ball peen hammer wasn't taken to it.

Are you unable to see the cable port? Have you installed the inner cable yet and confirmed that it's run properly? A photo would help a lot to remember which generation shifters you have. Some only had a barrel adjuster on the front lever. Andy
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Old 03-20-20, 10:14 PM
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Do you have another bike to look at?
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Old 03-21-20, 04:04 AM
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Do the adjusters fit into a threaded fitting on the frame or, potentially on the derailleur itself?
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Old 03-21-20, 06:52 AM
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Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart
If a barrel adjuster was part of the shifter before it's going to fit now, assuming something like a ball peen hammer wasn't taken to it.

Are you unable to see the cable port? Have you installed the inner cable yet and confirmed that it's run properly? A photo would help a lot to remember which generation shifters you have. Some only had a barrel adjuster on the front lever. Andy
Here's photos. Thanks.



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Old 03-21-20, 06:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Bill Kapaun
Do you have another bike to look at?
Yeah, I tried that and none had the same set-up.
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Old 03-21-20, 06:54 AM
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Originally Posted by 100bikes
Do the adjusters fit into a threaded fitting on the frame or, potentially on the derailleur itself?
I assumed the threaded piece went into a threaded fitting in the shifter but there doesn't seem to be one.
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Old 03-21-20, 07:20 AM
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In the last picture, it looks like the entire bowden setup is the wrong way around. The cable is coming out of the wrong hole.. The cable should be coming out of the hole that is on the other side of the shifter assembly (same side where the brake cable also exits). That hole will be threaded, so you will be able to screw in the barrel adjuster on that side.
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Old 03-21-20, 07:24 AM
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Originally Posted by lubloi
In the last picture, it looks like the entire bowden setup is the wrong way around. The cable is coming out of the wrong hole.. The cable should be coming out of the hole that is on the other side of the shifter assembly (same side where the brake cable also exits). That hole will be threaded, so you will be able to screw in the barrel adjuster on that side.
This. Your barrel adjuster is on the wrong end and most likely your cable is threaded in the wrong direction. I'd take photos before disassembly next time around just so you have some reference. I do this when I come across something out of the ordinary.
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Old 03-21-20, 07:29 AM
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Originally Posted by lubloi
In the last picture, it looks like the entire bowden setup is the wrong way around. The cable is coming out of the wrong hole.. The cable should be coming out of the hole that is on the other side of the shifter assembly (same side where the brake cable also exits). That hole will be threaded, so you will be able to screw in the barrel adjuster on that side.
Yep, You got it. My bad. Wasn't paying attention to what I was doing. Thanks!
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Old 03-21-20, 07:31 AM
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Originally Posted by 2cam16
This. Your barrel adjuster is on the wrong end and most likely your cable is threaded in the wrong direction. I'd take photos before disassembly next time around just so you have some reference. I do this when I come across something out of the ordinary.
Yeah, the first photo I posted was one I took for reference for re-assembly. Guess I should have taken more. In my defense this is my first foray into thumb shifter maintenance...I've only re-cabled road bikes and twist shifters on cruisers before...
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Old 03-21-20, 09:07 AM
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I suggested that the cable might have been miss routed in my first reply but without an image I wasn't sure. Glad the problem is so easily dealt with. Andy
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Old 03-21-20, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart
I suggested that the cable might have been miss routed in my first reply but without an image I wasn't sure. Glad the problem is so easily dealt with. Andy
Yes, a seriously dumb mistake on my part. But it was late when I was putting everything back together. And it was literally the first time I had taken a good look at the bike since I bought it a few weeks ago. I was even thinking as I tried to reassemble everything that it seemed like a rather odd and inconvenient place for a cable to go, right between the shift triggers like that...duh!
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