Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Trek 820 shifter broken ADVICE PLEASE!

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Trek 820 shifter broken ADVICE PLEASE!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-02-20, 06:10 PM
  #1  
bubbaman
Member
Thread Starter
 
bubbaman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 42

Bikes: 80's vtg Stumpjumper, 90's vtg Trek 750 Multi Track & Trek 820 Mountain Track

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts
Trek 820 shifter broken ADVICE PLEASE!

Vintage ladies' Trek 820 shifter is broken (for the back cassette). I am mechanically inclined but don't have much experience working on bikes, so I'd like advice as to which part to get as a replacement and any advice about how to fix this. Thank you!

Last edited by bubbaman; 09-02-20 at 06:17 PM.
bubbaman is offline  
Old 09-02-20, 06:19 PM
  #2  
dedhed
SE Wis
 
dedhed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,501

Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2742 Post(s)
Liked 3,389 Times in 2,052 Posts
Define "broken". Broken or not working?
dedhed is offline  
Likes For dedhed:
Old 09-02-20, 06:34 PM
  #3  
Crankycrank
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,665
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 836 Post(s)
Liked 1,059 Times in 743 Posts
Need a little more info. The 820 has changed considerably over the years. Knowing what year it is will help. How many speeds, 7-8-9? Are the shifters original or newer replacements, Gripshift, thumbshifters, Rapidfire, etc?
Crankycrank is offline  
Likes For Crankycrank:
Old 09-02-20, 07:07 PM
  #4  
brandenjs
WV is not flat..
 
brandenjs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Charles Town,Wv.
Posts: 1,399

Bikes: 1 away from divorce!

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 150 Post(s)
Liked 431 Times in 174 Posts
If they happen to be broken, you can buy a low end pair of brake/shifter combos for right around $25. They can go up in price depending on quality, but I have used several of these sets on rebuilds and they work fine.
brandenjs is offline  
Likes For brandenjs:
Old 09-02-20, 08:09 PM
  #5  
Bill Kapaun
Really Old Senior Member
 
Bill Kapaun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Mid Willamette Valley, Orygun
Posts: 13,858

Bikes: 87 RockHopper,2008 Specialized Globe. Both upgraded to 9 speeds. 2019 Giant Explore E+3

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1787 Post(s)
Liked 1,261 Times in 870 Posts
Originally Posted by brandenjs
If they happen to be broken, you can buy a low end pair of brake/shifter combos for right around $25. They can go up in price depending on quality, but I have used several of these sets on rebuilds and they work fine.
Do they work on Canti's or V Brakes only.
The "4 Finger" versions of Shimano EF 51 & 65's (& more?) are convertible to either.
Important if "pre V Brake" vintage.


OP- This may help you figure out the year.
Trek Bike Models by Year and Color

Describe the shifters-
# speeds
Attached to the brake lever on "pods"?
Combined like the pic?
Separate from the Brakes?

Last edited by Bill Kapaun; 09-02-20 at 08:21 PM.
Bill Kapaun is offline  
Likes For Bill Kapaun:
Old 09-03-20, 06:23 AM
  #6  
bubbaman
Member
Thread Starter
 
bubbaman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 42

Bikes: 80's vtg Stumpjumper, 90's vtg Trek 750 Multi Track & Trek 820 Mountain Track

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Crankycrank
Need a little more info. The 820 has changed considerably over the years. Knowing what year it is will help. How many speeds, 7-8-9? Are the shifters original or newer replacements, Gripshift, thumbshifters, Rapidfire, etc?
I don't know the exact year of manufacture, but I'm guessing it was made in the mid to late 90s. It is Shimano Altus 3x7. The 7 speed shifter is the one that is messed up and looks exactly like THIS listing on eBay...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-ALT...8AAOSwL~VfSVIZ
and this...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-Alt...4AAOSwn9VaiYnD
So...my question is...can I easily swap out these shifters for newer style ALTUS shifters? Would it be fairly easy to upgrade from ALTUS to a different style trigger style Shimano or other shifters?
bubbaman is offline  
Old 09-03-20, 07:10 AM
  #7  
dedhed
SE Wis
 
dedhed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,501

Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970

Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2742 Post(s)
Liked 3,389 Times in 2,052 Posts
Again Broken or not working?

If they're "not working" the common Shimano index shifting repair is to flush them with WD 40 while working the shifter to soften and flush out the old hard grease that is keeping the index pawl from catching. This means liberal amounts of flushing then relube.
Damaged and actually "broken" means replacement.
dedhed is offline  
Likes For dedhed:
Old 09-03-20, 07:30 AM
  #8  
alcjphil
Senior Member
 
alcjphil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,921
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1815 Post(s)
Liked 1,693 Times in 974 Posts
Originally Posted by bubbaman
So...my question is...can I easily swap out these shifters for newer style ALTUS shifters? Would it be fairly easy to upgrade from ALTUS to a different style trigger style Shimano or other shifters?
7 speed is 7 speed, no problem. There really isn't anything better to upgrade to, 7 speed is old technology, to upgrade you have to go to 9,10, or 11 speeds which involves changing the whole drivetrain
alcjphil is online now  
Old 09-03-20, 04:47 PM
  #9  
ShannonM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: Humboldt County, CA
Posts: 832
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 405 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 430 Times in 286 Posts
If the shifter is actually broken, you're boned... they're not really repairable, and small parts were never made. New brake lever and new shift lever are your only option. (If your town has a bike co-op, they probably have a bin of them, in which you can find one that will work.)

If it's just gummed up and too sticky to shift, the WD-40 thing works... Pull the cable out, spray WorkDog-40 into shifter, click the bejesus out of it until it loosens up, clean up the mess, replace cable, adjust, ride bike.

--Shannon
PS: Good 7-speed trigger shifters are hard to find. Me, I'd go with Deore or Deore XT thumbshifters, but I always hated the under-the-bar ones anyway, so YMMV. (I also always despised thumb throttles on ATVs, but I'm weird.)

Last edited by ShannonM; 09-03-20 at 04:51 PM.
ShannonM is offline  
Likes For ShannonM:
Old 09-03-20, 04:58 PM
  #10  
tkamd73 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,832

Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 603 Post(s)
Liked 1,062 Times in 534 Posts
Just buy the one on eBay and install it, simplest, and cheapest solution.
Tim
tkamd73 is offline  
Old 09-11-20, 09:48 AM
  #11  
bubbaman
Member
Thread Starter
 
bubbaman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 42

Bikes: 80's vtg Stumpjumper, 90's vtg Trek 750 Multi Track & Trek 820 Mountain Track

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by tkamd73
Just buy the one on eBay and install it, simplest, and cheapest solution.
Tim
I would, but I don't trust it. If you look closely, it has a crack that runs down the bottom plate. It doesn't look to be in good overall shape, although the seller has good feedback and says it works.
bubbaman is offline  
Old 09-11-20, 09:49 AM
  #12  
bubbaman
Member
Thread Starter
 
bubbaman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 42

Bikes: 80's vtg Stumpjumper, 90's vtg Trek 750 Multi Track & Trek 820 Mountain Track

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Liked 7 Times in 4 Posts
My shifter is actually BROKEN, as in it moves too freely (completely sloppy) and does not pull on the cable at all. It's wasted.
bubbaman is offline  
Old 09-11-20, 10:21 AM
  #13  
70sSanO
Senior Member
 
70sSanO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,801

Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970

Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1943 Post(s)
Liked 2,164 Times in 1,323 Posts
Since it appears you have separate shifters and brake levers, you can go with a thumb or trigger. If you want trigger shifters, buy an Altus M315 and be done with it.

You should replace the cables and cable housing at the same time.

As others have said Shimano 7 speed works with any Shimano 7 speed shifter, except Dura Ace bit that is not applicable.

John
70sSanO is offline  
Likes For 70sSanO:
Old 09-11-20, 10:56 AM
  #14  
blacknbluebikes 
Senior Member
 
blacknbluebikes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NJ, USA
Posts: 1,278

Bikes: two blacks, a blue and a white.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 444 Post(s)
Liked 844 Times in 408 Posts
I've replaced the shifter on my '91 820. tried a fix first, did not succeed. replaced with thumbshifter. been fine for years, since.
blacknbluebikes is offline  
Likes For blacknbluebikes:
Old 09-11-20, 11:06 AM
  #15  
Iride01 
I'm good to go!
 
Iride01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,953

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6178 Post(s)
Liked 4,796 Times in 3,308 Posts
If you pull on the bare end of the cable, does it pull out all the way?
Iride01 is offline  
Old 09-11-20, 11:51 AM
  #16  
tkamd73 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Menomonee Falls, WI
Posts: 1,832

Bikes: 1984 Schwinn Supersport, 1988 Trek 400T, 1977 Trek TX900, 1982 Bianchi Champione del Mondo, 1978 Raleigh Supercourse, 1986 Trek 400 Elance, 1991 Waterford PDG OS Paramount, 1971 Schwinn Sports Tourer, 1985 Trek 670

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 603 Post(s)
Liked 1,062 Times in 534 Posts
Originally Posted by bubbaman
I would, but I don't trust it. If you look closely, it has a crack that runs down the bottom plate. It doesn't look to be in good overall shape, although the seller has good feedback and says it works.
Another will come up on eBay, if you have the time.
Tim
tkamd73 is offline  
Likes For tkamd73:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.