New shifter required?
#1
New shifter required?
Hello all, was out on a ride last week and I broke a shifter/the cable. It looks like the metal bit that holds the end of the gear cable in place has broken.
Do you think this is a new shifter required or not? I have had a look and the metal part holding the end of the gear cable on one shifter is there, and on the other shifter the metal part has slipped off down the shifter
Do you think this is a new shifter required or not? I have had a look and the metal part holding the end of the gear cable on one shifter is there, and on the other shifter the metal part has slipped off down the shifter
#2
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,231
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Liked 2,557 Times
in
1,441 Posts
Hello all, was out on a ride last week and I broke a shifter/the cable. It looks like the metal bit that holds the end of the gear cable in place has broken.
Do you think this is a new shifter required or not? I have had a look and the metal part holding the end of the gear cable on one shifter is there, and on the other shifter the metal part has slipped off down the shifter
Do you think this is a new shifter required or not? I have had a look and the metal part holding the end of the gear cable on one shifter is there, and on the other shifter the metal part has slipped off down the shifter
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,321
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Liked 1,095 Times
in
725 Posts
I believe the OP means that the head of the cble has broken off inside of the shifter. They can be gotten out but not without considerble pain IME.
#5
Senior Member
Would be useful to know what make and model of shifter you are dealing with
Likes For alcjphil:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,863
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Elite Disc, 1983 Trek 520
Liked 789 Times
in
444 Posts
You should attempt to get it out. The remaining frayed end may do fatal damage to the shifter, or at least jam it up. But not necessarily. I rode one of mine once for months until it fell out almost by itself, sort of like a splinter left to fester in a wound. Yes, I've done that too.
Hopefully, like me you'll learn to check your cables at least yearly from now on. You've probably had some shifting problems lately and have had to adjust the cable a few times--that's a good clue for next time.
Hopefully, like me you'll learn to check your cables at least yearly from now on. You've probably had some shifting problems lately and have had to adjust the cable a few times--that's a good clue for next time.
Likes For andrewclaus:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,209
Bikes: ...a few.
Liked 410 Times
in
236 Posts
If you shifted a few more times after the cable snapped, like I stupidly did, then it's much harder to fish the little piece out. It's totally doable, though, but takes a bit of finesse. Don't discard the shifter yet.
I've taken apart shifters before, and it's not an easy job, but hopefully you can get it out before you have to resort to taking it apart to fix it.
I've taken apart shifters before, and it's not an easy job, but hopefully you can get it out before you have to resort to taking it apart to fix it.
#9
Senior Member
Here are a few YouTube vids to show you some different methods of getting the broken end out. Don't give up, it's doable. shimano sti shift cable broken end removal - YouTube And as already mentioned, anytime either derailleur starts to not shift properly between gears, check for a fraying cable especially at the shifter so you can catch it before it snaps.
Last edited by Crankycrank; 04-11-22 at 08:35 AM.
Likes For Crankycrank:
#10
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,135
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
Liked 415 Times
in
282 Posts
Sounds like the end that broke off is the head of the cable. IF you can CAREFULLY shift into the 10th gear (only on the shifter) and carefully remove the cover, then you should be able to poke out the exposed cable end with a pick/paper clip. The new cable will have an intact head, which threads into the now exposed hole, last. If I haven't been helpful, then sorry.
#11
You should attempt to get it out. The remaining frayed end may do fatal damage to the shifter, or at least jam it up. But not necessarily. I rode one of mine once for months until it fell out almost by itself, sort of like a splinter left to fester in a wound. Yes, I've done that too.
Hopefully, like me you'll learn to check your cables at least yearly from now on. You've probably had some shifting problems lately and have had to adjust the cable a few times--that's a good clue for next time.
Hopefully, like me you'll learn to check your cables at least yearly from now on. You've probably had some shifting problems lately and have had to adjust the cable a few times--that's a good clue for next time.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,321
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Liked 1,095 Times
in
725 Posts
You should attempt to get it out. The remaining frayed end may do fatal damage to the shifter, or at least jam it up. But not necessarily. I rode one of mine once for months until it fell out almost by itself, sort of like a splinter left to fester in a wound. Yes, I've done that too.
Hopefully, like me you'll learn to check your cables at least yearly from now on. You've probably had some shifting problems lately and have had to adjust the cable a few times--that's a good clue for next time.
Hopefully, like me you'll learn to check your cables at least yearly from now on. You've probably had some shifting problems lately and have had to adjust the cable a few times--that's a good clue for next time.