Golden Arrow downtube shifters - Lube or Dry?
03-20-22, 12:24 PM
#1
Abuse Magnet
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,870
Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 151 Post(s)
Liked 174 Times
in
88 Posts
Golden Arrow downtube shifters - Lube or Dry?
I've disassembled and thoroughly cleaned some GA downtube shifters. The crud I've cleaned out certainly appears to be old, dried-out grease or oil.
However, as far as re-lubricating them, I see about 50/50 opinions of light lube vs. dry, and I'm not sure which to believe.
...and, if lubed, do I use a dot of oil, or a thin film of grease?
However, as far as re-lubricating them, I see about 50/50 opinions of light lube vs. dry, and I'm not sure which to believe.
...and, if lubed, do I use a dot of oil, or a thin film of grease?
03-20-22, 12:32 PM
#2
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,626
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3888 Post(s)
Liked 6,485 Times
in
3,209 Posts
Grease is the word.
I use a very thin amount.
I use a very thin amount.
Last edited by SurferRosa; 03-20-22 at 01:59 PM.
03-20-22, 03:52 PM
#3
Death fork? Naaaah!!
03-20-22, 05:44 PM
#4
Newbie
Likes For P!N20:
03-20-22, 08:13 PM
#6
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,626
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3888 Post(s)
Liked 6,485 Times
in
3,209 Posts
I fully disassemble, clean with WD-40, dry everything, and grease all the parts that touch each other. On occasion, newly overhauled shifters will slip during use, so I will disassemble and wipe/dab the washers with a paper towel and then reassemble.
03-21-22, 01:27 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,036 Times
in
1,874 Posts
There are some exceptions. For instance, in the 1980s, Campagnolo redesigned the Record friction levers with washers/spacers on each side of the lever made from some type of plastic (Nylon? Teflon?). The oil in the grease can damage the plastic over the long term and in the short term make them too slippery, so that you can't get enough friction via D-ring tightening, to have the lever hold its position. Basically, I never apply grease to any shift lever parts made from plastic or the portions of metal parts that come into contact with plastic.
Likes For T-Mar:
03-21-22, 04:37 PM
#10
Newbie
T-Mar, thanks for the clarification. The Huret shifters I'm working on have copper/brass washers on either side of the lever. Do you think there would be an issue with using grease on those? I know some oils can cause problems with yellow metals, but I don't know if that matters here.
03-21-22, 06:51 PM
#11
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,194
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1565 Post(s)
Liked 1,296 Times
in
866 Posts
I oil up the entire innards of all friction and SIS downtube levers, never had more than a very short-term issue with them slipping after.
I actually never clean anything before loosening the assembly then applying oil from each side and on the central pivot. The residual traces of dirt prevent any sort of slippage that might result (in the very short term) from the fresh oil.
I use basic motor oil in my squeeze bottle, nothing in the way of super friction-reducing miracle lubes having Teflon etc.
I actually never clean anything before loosening the assembly then applying oil from each side and on the central pivot. The residual traces of dirt prevent any sort of slippage that might result (in the very short term) from the fresh oil.
I use basic motor oil in my squeeze bottle, nothing in the way of super friction-reducing miracle lubes having Teflon etc.
Likes For dddd:
