Cannondale brifter stuck?
09-25-21, 06:26 PM
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Cannondale brifter stuck?
My wife just got a used Cannondale Synapse. It it almost new but sat for a few years.
The brifter doesn’t want to move to downshift. It did upshift.
I won’t force it, but it feels like it is hitting something when I try to move it.
The brifter doesn’t want to move to downshift. It did upshift.
I won’t force it, but it feels like it is hitting something when I try to move it.
09-25-21, 09:30 PM
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Left or right shifter?
09-25-21, 09:50 PM
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Shifter. It's a shifter. We know it includes a brake lever. What brand/model? You haven't given any useful info at all. And when you say 'upshift' you do mean shifting to smaller cogs, right?
Also this is a mechanical issue/question so it shouldn't be in GD, it should be in 'bicycle mechanics'.
Also this is a mechanical issue/question so it shouldn't be in GD, it should be in 'bicycle mechanics'.
09-25-21, 10:57 PM
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I don't care for the term brifter but there is a Sub forum on BF with the term so I guess its legit. Lol
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09-26-21, 05:00 AM
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The Cannondale I bought in early spring had inconsistent shifting RSX brifters. They responded really well to the WD40 flush (make sure you remove the hoods first). Google it- it's pretty simple, but there are some posts/videos etc about doing it. Can't remember now, but I think I used some light lithium grease after flushing/drying.
09-26-21, 05:27 AM
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It could be as simple as a bad shifter cable that needs to be replaced. I would start by disconnecting the cable and seeing if you can get it to downshift and upshift as you put vary tension on it.
09-26-21, 08:35 AM
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If it feels like a hard stop, find a YouTube video that shows how to check & replace a cable on your model brifter. They sometimes fray inside at the bend and malfunction. Easy fix. You’ll need to pull back the hood and know where to look. Follow video instructions. If it only feels sluggish and doesn’t catch shifting it may just be a sticky brifter. Spray internally with WD40 to clean. You can find videos on that too.
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09-26-21, 09:58 AM
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But if cable housing is moving when you try to actuate, then release/unscrew the cable from the deraiileur (FD or RD ?) pull cable housing a few inches off shifter to expose the cable there, grab cable and see of it slides smoothly - will tell you ff problem lies at shifter or at some point AFTER the shifter - might be an 'partial torn'/unraveled cable stuck at a junction or in cable housing... a rusted/unraveling cable is mostly likely... replace cable and likely best to replace the cable housings as well.
EDIT: ... like Veloz said...
09-26-21, 12:35 PM
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That doesn't tell us much on the model/speed.
But if cable housing is moving when you try to actuate, then release/unscrew the cable from the deraiileur (FD or RD ?) pull cable housing a few inches off shifter to expose the cable there, grab cable and see of it slides smoothly - will tell you ff problem lies at shifter or at some point AFTER the shifter - might be an 'partial torn'/unraveled cable stuck at a junction or in cable housing... a rusted/unraveling cable is mostly likely... replace cable and likely best to replace the cable housings as well.
EDIT: ... like Veloz said...
But if cable housing is moving when you try to actuate, then release/unscrew the cable from the deraiileur (FD or RD ?) pull cable housing a few inches off shifter to expose the cable there, grab cable and see of it slides smoothly - will tell you ff problem lies at shifter or at some point AFTER the shifter - might be an 'partial torn'/unraveled cable stuck at a junction or in cable housing... a rusted/unraveling cable is mostly likely... replace cable and likely best to replace the cable housings as well.
EDIT: ... like Veloz said...
It is a Cannondale Synapse, all carbon with Ultegra groupset. It has rim brakes, not disc. Is there a way to figure out what year it is by the serial number? I really haven’t taken the time to look for decals etc.
09-26-21, 03:05 PM
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09-26-21, 03:07 PM
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09-26-21, 03:07 PM
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I am not sure how many speeds it is. I will count the rear cassette later.
It is a Cannondale Synapse, all carbon with Ultegra groupset. It has rim brakes, not disc. Is there a way to figure out what year it is by the serial number? I really haven’t taken the time to look for decals etc.
It is a Cannondale Synapse, all carbon with Ultegra groupset. It has rim brakes, not disc. Is there a way to figure out what year it is by the serial number? I really haven’t taken the time to look for decals etc.
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09-26-21, 03:24 PM
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I was just hoping it was a common issue. If I can’t figure it out I will take it to my local bike shop. It wouldn’t hurt to get it checked over anyway.
09-26-21, 03:40 PM
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09-26-21, 04:12 PM
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oh, it doesn't matter at the moment, which model... check the cable and housing... likely where the problem source is.
09-26-21, 04:56 PM
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no problem. You should watch some of us old scuba divers get upset when someone calls them oxygen tanks.
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09-26-21, 05:13 PM
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Odd that they would be new condition.
Undo the cable pinch bolt at the rear derailleur so the cable is slack. See if the shifter then clicks without any tension. That is always my 1st step to determining what's wrong.
If it clicks as it should, then you know the shifter is fine and the issue is elsewhere(cables, housing, rear derailleur). If the shifter doesn't click as it should, you know the issue lies with it.