mtnbud

My Klein Pulse's 8 speed LX Rapidfire shifters are beginning to fail. I've replaced them once before and would prefer to replace them with simple friction thumbshifters and linear pull v brakes. I'm having a hard time finding nice friction thumbshifters that won't cost a fortune. Hopefully, I'll be able to find some used shifters at a bicycle coop. If not, will the Microshift cnc thumb shifters for Alfine/Nexus 8 work? These look nice, but are a lot of money. I'm not seeing anything else out there that is of decent quality, but not too expensive.

fietsbob

If its truly a friction shift lever, what 'speeds' count does not matter... you can find a simple thumb shifter in a packaged pair for $20..

My LBS carries them, I am using a set on one bike, now.. (6 speed freewheel on it.. )

csport

What about Sunrace SL-M10: SunRace | SLM10
Not the prettiest, can be had for $10 a pair. I run one for the front (triple). It gets the job done.

Sunrace also makes SL-M96, which are nicer.

mtnbud

Thanks guys,

I saw the SunRace shifters on Amazon. Apparently they have been known to rust - I'm not sure if that's true or not. The SL-M96 is sold individually. To get the right and the left shifter would be about $50.

These are $37 for the pair, but it say's they're indexed for an 8 speed internal hub. I'm not sure if they can be switched to friction mode.

I hoping a trip to the bike shop will yield some indexed shifters that can be switched to friction mode.

Bill Kapaun

Did you try flushing your shifters with WD-40.

mtnbud

I haven't. Think it might help?

What's happening is the shifter is failing to engage every once in awhile. When it fails to engage, I'll try another two or three times and it'll finally engage. Could my shifter cables be the problem?

Bill Kapaun

It FREQUENTLY is the cure.

bubish

Here's a video about fixing a shifter this way:
This isn't the same shifter you have, but the basics still apply.

wesmamyke

The Sunrace SL-M96 comes in 8spd indexed, and generally a little cheaper on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUNRACE-138...Qu3c:rk:1:pf:0

ramzilla

If you can find a set of NOS Suntour thumb shifters, they're the best ever.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUNTOUR-ALP...pa6:rk:45:pf:0

Jeff Wills

Shimano shifters act this way when the grease turns to gum. This is a very, very, very common issue. My 8-speed XTR shifters did this about 15 years ago- I cleaned them out with spray oil and they still work fine today. I prefer petroleum spray oil over WD-40 because WD-40 tends to turn to gum on its own.

mtnbud

Thanks Bubish! It worked! Now I don't have an excused to switch to linear pull brakes... Thanks for the reminder to lubricate afer doing the WD40 Jeff

Retro Grouch 

"Gets the job done" is an understatement. Friction for front triples is the best way to go. If you happen to get a little derailleur rub, just clean your shift. You can't do that with indexed shifters. Sometimes cheaper can also be better.

mtnbud

I prefer friction also. I have some vintage Suntour shifters set to friction mode on the mountain bike I converted for touring and it's by far the simplest, easiest to work on, and most trouble free shifting system. It's especially nice on tour when you may be gone for a couple of weeks.