Wabeery

Welcome back, I’m posting here so often that I’m starting to question my ability maintain a bike. Anyway so I’m upgrading the groupset on a 2012/13 Carrera from 9 Speed whatever shimano was on there (likely 600 but not sure) to 105 r5800. I’ve set up the STIs and installed PTFE brake and gear cables. The brake cables work (after another thread I here) but the levers aren’t creating any tension on either gear cables. Even when the cables are taut and tightened on the pinch bolts. Some advice would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: I feel like I should add that I am researching queries and search through existing threads before posting. I do come here before texting my LBS though - I feel like I ask him too many questions lol

HillRider

Did you shift both levers to the most "relaxed" positions (smallest cog and small chainring) before attaching the cables to the derailleurs? Be sure that has been done and pull all of the slack out of the cables before tightening the pinch bolts.

cxwrench

Start from the beginning. Do as HillRider said. It's not hard.

Wabeery

Yup, followed the manuals from shimano, the cable is taut as I mentioned in the post.

squirtdad

To be clear you what all are you upgrading, Shifters, derailers, crankset, cassette?

5800 is 11 speed so would not shift well with 9 speed cassette, but the would not be any movement

I would double check initial lever position, if you are at the highest/tightest postions with the shifters and the cable is taut, it would not shift.

loosen the cables, hold the cable with some tension and use the small lever to click until it won't click anymore, this puts the shifters as noted to the most relaxed(smallest cog and small chainring) which is where you want to start

SpedFast

But were the shift levers in the 'relaxed' position before tightening the cable and pinch bolt?

Wabeery

I have upgraded the shifters, front/rear mech, and brake/gear cables.

I shall give that a try.

Edit: I also have a new wheel with an 11speed hub and cassette. Additionally I am using an 11speed chain with quick. The set up and compatibly of components isn’t the problem only that the shifters aren’t creating tension on the gear cable.

squirtdad

need a 11 speed cassette also

good luck

Wabeery

Yes forgot to mention I bought a wheel with an 11spd hub and cassette also - I’ll edit that onto previous message.

Wabeery

Yes - that is what ‘yup’ was referring to.

Wabeery

Update: shifters are still not creating tension in the cable

dedhed

https://si.shimano.com/api/publish/s...002-05-ENG.pdf

SoSmellyAir

Wabeery Let me spell out some of the above advice by others in excruciating detail just to make sure, not to cast aspersions on your bike maintenance skills.

I have the same 105 5800 groupset, and I just installed new shift cables and housings last week (How long do rear derailleur cables last? - Bike Forums).

1. You are using the rearward, smaller lever on each side to shift each STI shifter to its most relaxed position before doing anything else, right? That should take 2 clicks on the left, and 11 clicks on the right.

2. By "not creating tension", do you mean that when you push the forward, larger lever of an STI shifter inward, it is not pulling on the corresponding cable? If not, what do you mean?

3. Before connecting the cable to the corresponding derailleur, hold the cable in one hand and try to shift by pushing the forward, larger lever inward with your other hand, to see if you can feel the lever pulling the cable.

4. Did you mix up the shift cable and the brake cables?

cxwrench

11 gears, 10 clicks.

SoSmellyAir

Yes, the extra click on each side is just to make sure. See, e.g., DM-ST0002-05-ENG.pdf at 12.

Wabeery

I appreciate you going into detail but I’ve already said this in the posts before chap.
1. Yes, as stated in the manuals, I used the smaller lever B to move the shifter into the most relaxed position (Small sprocket and chainring).
2. When pushing either shifter lever the cable threaded through the shifter mech doesn’t move at all. It’s worth noting that brakes work perfectly fine.
3. Yup tried this at the recommendation of another poster and as I said; the cable doesn’t move.
4 Yes I am using a Teflon shifting kit. Yes i’m absolutely sure because I’m looking at the packet, it’s ~1.2mm, and the cable housing has individual steel cables.

I’ve replaced brake and shifter kits maybe 3 times now on different bikes and never had this issue. Comments like “It’s not hard” are a bit rude and not needed really. Either way I appreciate the advice.

SoSmellyAir

I have done it only once so you (and probably everyone else in this thread) are more experienced than I am.

If you disconnect the shift cable from the pinch bolt of the derailleur to allow slack in the cable, and pry the cable off the side of the STI lever body and hold the cable right there (i.e., partially undoing Step 4 on page 13 of DM-ST002-05-ENG.pdf), does pushing the big lever pull on the cable? If not, maybe the cable was not pulled sufficiently deep into the STI lever body (in Steps 2 and 3 on page 12 of DM-ST002-05-ENG.pdf) or the STI lever is somehow defective.

SpedFast

I'm beginning to think that since this isn't the chaps first rodeo there might be a problem with the shifter.

Iride01 

Maybe it's time to pay your tuition to DIY school and go to a bike shop that has a mechanic that is willing to show you what is wrong.

Either the shifters aren't working, which I'd doubt unless you broke them. Or there is just some simple thing you just are not properly understanding.

Each of us have had our aha moments when something finally gelled that we were simply... wrong about. I've had plenty.

mprince

Post pictures (you have enough posts) and you are guaranteed to get better advice. You're not helping yourself here by resorting to insulting those who are honestly trying to help you with bits and pieces of information given. My input is largely what has been said above, but apparently that isn't good enough, so you need to provide more info so people can get you a solution.

icemilkcoffee 

A lot of times with used shifters, you need to do this while pull on the shift cable. Otherwise it doesn't click.

curbtender

My only guess would be you missed the cable seat when you threaded it. Little different than the 9 speed.

TMonk

Deleted a bunch of argumentative posts that weren't really contributing to the conversation, which might be over, IDK. But we'll see.

Let's try to be nice