deacon mark

I am tuning up a bike for a younger fellow he got his dad's Lemond Zurich. He dad passed about 12 years ago and it has been in storage all this time. He is about 23 year old and rides a bit wanting to give cycling more of a go. My question is this bike is in great shape paint and condition-wise, the Rolfs wheels are true and spin fine. It actually is my size a 59 so I can ride it to really give it test when I am done.

My question is if this is a 2001? It has a 9 spd Shimano Ultegra and this is the catch. The front shifts perfect and both of the brakes are great. However, the right rear shifter was acting up so I did the flush with WD-40 and manage to get it working. The chain is fine not stretched and in good shape. Rear cassette is fine no issues that I can see at all. I put all new jagwire cable and housing the stuff I use on my own SHimano 6800 stuff. The rear shifting will go through all 9 gears and such but of course the big-big gear is slight noisy. I am used to my stuff and I can use all 11 gears without any problems. It manages up and down the cogs but does not always shift perfect. I will sometimes miss a click or not quite make it going upshifting. I know it is not a cable or housing issue the brifter is just no crisp anymore. Should I expect this old of a brifter to shift perfect of even for that matter old 9 spd Shimano to shift with not misses?

If this was my bike I would upgrade it to 10 speed but maybe that is not worth it. In fact you can get R7000 pretty cheap. I want the fellow to enjoy the bike so maybe I should just fine a used right or set of 9 spd Shimano. That said I don't know if it would necessarily shifter better. I am going to give a test ride and personally it may not bother many riders but I am serious cycling putting in lots of miles and I would want perfect shifting with no misses. Here is a picture of the bike. Also I woudd assume this is a thread BB so going to external BB to me would be a huge plus and new cranks.

fishboat

Been there, own them..there's no reason it shouldn't shift perfect if it's had as little use as you say.

deacon mark

No the rear shifter has been used quite a bit and therefore worn pretty good. I know well how to adjust a rear derailleur. The shifter has a bit of play in it and is no crisp as the levers worn. As I mentioned I have to get working by using the WD40 flush otherwise it was not doing anything with the cable.

Warren128

It's definitely a 2001. I had one, and it was a super sweet ride until it had to be retired due to a cracked down tube. I built mine with Campy 10. However, one of my other bikes is running 9 spd Dura Ace 7700, and it still shifts perfectly to this day. Perhaps your best move is, like you said, find a perfectly functioning set of 9 spd brifters to replace your worn out one. The trick is to find a set, because you never know what you're getting with used parts. Any level will be fine (105, Ultegra, Dura Ace).

BTinNYC 

my 2 cents;
If the hoods are in good condition, I'd look for a used 9 speed right brifter. Many of these hoods are in bad shape and there are NO replacements. If the hoods are shot, I'd go straight to 11 speed Ultegra/rim. The 11 speed Ultegra is the best Shimano mechanical group I've used. (I'm sure the DA 11 speed is wonderful too). Nice bike!!

curbtender

Little heat helps clear out the junk. Spray and let it sit in the sun or heat it up with a hair dryer. Then add tri-flow or another good lube. Sometimes that gunk on the pawls is pretty stubborn. If you do find a set of 7700 shifters, that would be a nice upgrade. Micro shift sells a workable replacement also.

zukahn1 

Based on dealing with similar bikes I would say lube everything then ride it hard some working all the gears. A lot of older bikes tend to wake up work good ounce there road a bit.

ljsense

I'll join the others who are encouraging you to do more to clean that right shifter. If the cassette is original, it hasn't seen enough action to worn out.

Try some aggressive solvents in alternation with spray lubricants. Take off the hoods so you know you are getting into every access point.

I'm pretty sure 9 speed Ultegra had metal ratchets and pawls to do the shifting. While not really serviceable, unlike say Campy Record, they usually cleared out with enough attention and worked great if nothing inside was broken.

curbtender

https://m.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=1276771

356geoff

Hair dryer, then ride it and do a lot of shifting.

bikemike73 

The Lemonds are GREAT !!!!

LOVE THEM !!!!

It's my favorite bike !!!!

I would clamp the seat post though, .and not the frame, to be on the safe side

As above have said, lube and ride. If there is a lot of " gunk" spray with wd 40 and let it sit in the sun, or hair dryer