Shimano Rapidfire won't move to position 3
10-01-17, 02:10 PM
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Shimano Rapidfire won't move to position 3
Hello - Any advise on what to do before I attempt to somehow fix left hand shifter?
I have a Shimano Alivio Left Shifter 3-speed Rapid Fire Trigger SL-M410 and its will shift in to postion 2 from 1 and back again but won't shift from 2 up to 3.
I have a Shimano Alivio Left Shifter 3-speed Rapid Fire Trigger SL-M410 and its will shift in to postion 2 from 1 and back again but won't shift from 2 up to 3.
10-01-17, 02:53 PM
#2
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Has the shifter not been used in awhile (years)? If so, the lubricant probably gummed up.
The solution is solvent flush followed by lube: Spray solvent directly into the innards of the shifter (if you can't find a place to spray directly into the shifter, helps to remove the bottom cover to gain better access to the innards), let it drain, work the shifter from 2 to 3 and back, repeat. It might take awhile, don't get discouraged. Once it gets shifting on its own, follow with your favorite spray lubricant.
If it's been used regularly, make sure there's enough cable tension at baseline, and that your front derailleur outer limit screw isn't preventing the jump from 2 to 3.
The solution is solvent flush followed by lube: Spray solvent directly into the innards of the shifter (if you can't find a place to spray directly into the shifter, helps to remove the bottom cover to gain better access to the innards), let it drain, work the shifter from 2 to 3 and back, repeat. It might take awhile, don't get discouraged. Once it gets shifting on its own, follow with your favorite spray lubricant.
If it's been used regularly, make sure there's enough cable tension at baseline, and that your front derailleur outer limit screw isn't preventing the jump from 2 to 3.
10-01-17, 02:54 PM
#3
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Assuming going to 3 is the big ring like mine and your front derailer is unobstructed, it sounds like cable stretch or front derailer adjustment. I can try to explain it poorly, but there are YouTube videos on how to make the adjustment at the shifter and/or front derailer that may serve you better. Try the barrel adjuster on the shifter before anything else to see if you can get the shift.
10-01-17, 03:07 PM
#4
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has the shifter not been used in awhile (years)? If so, the lubricant probably gummed up.
The solution is solvent flush followed by lube: Spray solvent directly into the innards of the shifter (if you can't find a place to spray directly into the shifter, helps to remove the bottom cover to gain better access to the innards), let it drain, work the shifter from 2 to 3 and back, repeat. It might take awhile, don't get discouraged. Once it gets shifting on its own, follow with your favorite spray lubricant.
If it's been used regularly, make sure there's enough cable tension at baseline, and that your front derailleur outer limit screw isn't preventing the jump from 2 to 3.
The solution is solvent flush followed by lube: Spray solvent directly into the innards of the shifter (if you can't find a place to spray directly into the shifter, helps to remove the bottom cover to gain better access to the innards), let it drain, work the shifter from 2 to 3 and back, repeat. It might take awhile, don't get discouraged. Once it gets shifting on its own, follow with your favorite spray lubricant.
If it's been used regularly, make sure there's enough cable tension at baseline, and that your front derailleur outer limit screw isn't preventing the jump from 2 to 3.
10-01-17, 03:35 PM
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newer alivio shifters have a removable TOP cover typically(one on my bench right now)... remove that top cover... most have three tiny screws, so work over a smooth surface that won't hide a screw if you drop it... then, follow the flush/lube procedure mentioned above... the PAWLS are not moving freely, and this is why it won't shift correctly... those pawls need to be freed up... sometimes a simple flush/lube won't do the trick, and you need to physically move them until they are once again free moving parts, ok?
and no, i'm not saying ALL Alivio Shifters have top covers. hard to say what changes they have had over the years.
and i agree with Stormsedge... is it that the shifter shifts, but the chain doesn't make it to the large chain ring, or is it that the shifter doesn't click into that third position?
and no, i'm not saying ALL Alivio Shifters have top covers. hard to say what changes they have had over the years.
and i agree with Stormsedge... is it that the shifter shifts, but the chain doesn't make it to the large chain ring, or is it that the shifter doesn't click into that third position?
Last edited by maddog34; 10-01-17 at 03:41 PM.
10-01-17, 03:59 PM
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I see this problem often. Agree it is likely a stuck pawl.
10-02-17, 01:25 AM
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Thanks everyone for the reponses.
The shifter has actually been sitting unused a drawer for around 2 years and before that was not getting a load of use. Just put it on to my kids bike yesterday when I noticed the problem.
Its currently not cable up so I guess must have seized up as mentioned here.
Any advice on what of solvent spray to use ? I have WD40 but generally don't ever use it anywhere on a bike.
Has the shifter not been used in awhile (years)? If so, the lubricant probably gummed up.
The solution is solvent flush followed by lube: Spray solvent directly into the innards of the shifter (if you can't find a place to spray directly into the shifter, helps to remove the bottom cover to gain better access to the innards), let it drain, work the shifter from 2 to 3 and back, repeat. It might take awhile, don't get discouraged. Once it gets shifting on its own, follow with your favorite spray lubricant.
If it's been used regularly, make sure there's enough cable tension at baseline, and that your front derailleur outer limit screw isn't preventing the jump from 2 to 3.
The solution is solvent flush followed by lube: Spray solvent directly into the innards of the shifter (if you can't find a place to spray directly into the shifter, helps to remove the bottom cover to gain better access to the innards), let it drain, work the shifter from 2 to 3 and back, repeat. It might take awhile, don't get discouraged. Once it gets shifting on its own, follow with your favorite spray lubricant.
If it's been used regularly, make sure there's enough cable tension at baseline, and that your front derailleur outer limit screw isn't preventing the jump from 2 to 3.
Its currently not cable up so I guess must have seized up as mentioned here.
Any advice on what of solvent spray to use ? I have WD40 but generally don't ever use it anywhere on a bike.
10-02-17, 06:39 AM
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I like CRC PowerLube in the red can for both solvent & lube. It has PTFE (Teflon). About $3 a can at auto parts & hardware stores.
10-02-17, 06:40 AM
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Was your shifter ever right?
I favor figuring out what's wrong before trying to fix it. Disconnect your shift cable from the derailleur and try cycling the shifter. If it works, your problem is in the derailleur rather than in the shifter.
I favor figuring out what's wrong before trying to fix it. Disconnect your shift cable from the derailleur and try cycling the shifter. If it works, your problem is in the derailleur rather than in the shifter.
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10-02-17, 12:37 PM
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Yes it did used to work. Currently got the cable disconected but problematic nonetheless.
10-02-17, 09:11 PM
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10-03-17, 08:30 AM
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Good luck!
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My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
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10-03-17, 09:44 AM
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FWIW... This may not apply. I regularly, twice, have fitted/adjusted a front 3 speed dérailleur and got the cable routing wrong. In my case both front dérailleurs had a bent bit of metal prior to the fixing bolt and I assumed that I had to route the cable under the bent bit of metal. Result was I could not hit the big cog. So I finally tried routing the cable over the bent bit of metal and things worked.
03-29-24, 08:39 AM
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I ended up having this problem with both my trigger shifters. I took them apart and couldnt for the life of me figure out why they wouldnt advance.
I tried flushing with solvent and working the levers; in 15-20 seconds both were functioning normally again. I added a little spray lube and closed them up. Back to normal. Thanks to the folks in this thread!
I tried flushing with solvent and working the levers; in 15-20 seconds both were functioning normally again. I added a little spray lube and closed them up. Back to normal. Thanks to the folks in this thread!
03-29-24, 10:25 AM
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As others have said, you don't need to take the shifter apart, but this video lets you see how a pawl shifting mechanism works. And why when you push the lever, nothing happens.
If you can push the lever and FD cage moves but doesn't complete the shift, that is something else.
John
If you can push the lever and FD cage moves but doesn't complete the shift, that is something else.
John
03-29-24, 10:42 AM
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If the solvent flush isn't successful (which sometimes it isn't), there are other methods for persuading the shifter to get back to that 2/3 jump.
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...l#post23196306
https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...l#post23196306
03-29-24, 11:14 AM
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FWIW... This may not apply. I regularly, twice, have fitted/adjusted a front 3 speed dérailleur and got the cable routing wrong. In my case both front dérailleurs had a bent bit of metal prior to the fixing bolt and I assumed that I had to route the cable under the bent bit of metal. Result was I could not hit the big cog. So I finally tried routing the cable over the bent bit of metal and things worked.
