Bicycle Mechanics - LBS said no trim on shifter! True/False

my buddy told me that his front derl. was rubbing a lot when he moved up his cog set in the back. I told him to trim and he said that the LBS had just tuned it up and said that there was no trim in his shifter. He has a triple Ultgra shifter that is one year old.

False right...there is a trim...and is there a trim for all three front rings?

thanks....

There are four positions on the shifter. You have trim (two positions) on the middle chain ring. That is the only place you need it if you are adjusted properly.

Look under the hood rubber, if it is an st-6510 then it only has three posotions, that one was intended to be used double or triple and only has the trim step when used as a double.

Look under the hood rubber, if it is an st-6510 then it only has three posotions, that one was intended to be used double or triple and only has the trim step when used as a double.Nonsense....All ultegra 9 speed shifters(as well as 105 and tiagra) from day one are/were intended to be used as a double or triple and all have trim. Two positions for the middle ring,and one for the small ring.Besides, if a shifter has trim as a double,it would obviously have trim when used as a triple, if it had that capability. Old RSX 7 speed shifters would shift a double or triple,but had no trim with either. 8 speed 105 and rx-100 shifters that were triple specific,would shift either a double or triple,but had no trim in either mode.The 8 speed non triple shifters were double only and also had trim.

There are four positions on the shifter. You have trim (two positions) on the middle chain ring. That is the only place you need it if you are adjusted properly.actually, there are 3 ring positions, plus trim for either side of the middle ring and 1 trim position for the small ring.

my buddy told me that his front derl. was rubbing a lot when he moved up his cog set in the back. I told him to trim and he said that the LBS had just tuned it up and said that there was no trim in his shifter. He has a triple Ultgra shifter that is one year old.

False right...there is a trim...and is there a trim for all three front rings?

thanks....All ultegra 9 speed shifters have trim. I have had people claim there is trim for the big ring. Can't find it in mine. considering the cross chain effect for a triple it would make sense not to have trim for the big ring, since you should avoid more of the big cogs with a triple. The small and middle ring positions in the shifter are used with a double and that allows for trim in both rings.

All ultegra 9 speed shifters have trim. I have had people claim there is trim for the big ring. Can't find it in mine. considering the cross chain effect for a triple it would make sense not to have trim for the big ring, since you should avoid more of the big cogs with a triple. The small and middle ring positions in the shifter are used with a double and that allows for trim in both rings.


How old is your ultegra 9 ?

My 2000 105 3x9 had trim in the big ring. My 2003 DA 3x9 has trim in the big ring. The DA will also go from the granny to the big ring in one shift if desired. I worked on a friends ultegra 3x9 and it would lose the trim for the big ring if the cable was just a little too tight. The ultegra seems to have the least effort to shift compared to both the 105 and the DA. It's really hard to find the detents even when it is working correctly. It always seemed to need adjustment, much more than the 105 and the DA ?? I would think that the slightest wear would make that detent not work ?? Just a guess, but it always was a problem. Can the detents in these things wear out?

Actually the st-6600 is a double only. It has a trim position but is not meant to work on a triple. There is also the st-6603 that was intended to be triple only. This is the way Shimano markets them, they may or may not work otherwise.

Actually the st-6600 is a double only. It has a trim position but is not meant to work on a triple. There is also the st-6603 that was intended to be triple only. This is the way Shimano markets them, they may or may not work otherwise.Well, now with the 6600 business you are talking 10 speed. They are double and triple specific as marketed but the triple will shift a double.And they both have trim.Your prior incorrect reference was to 6510 9 speed.

Mea Culpa. I made a mistake. Thanks for not being a d1ck when pointing it out.

Mea Culpa. I made a mistake. Thanks for not being a d1ck when pointing it out.

Rev Chuck, I've only been around Bike Forums for a month or so, but I have noticed that you are always at the ready to answer questions, frequently with considerable detail, including one I asked not to long ago. Don't let the flip attitude of some sour puss get to you. I look forward to reading lots more of your knowledgeable advice and I'm sure others are as well.

looked under the hood....it is a st-6500. I also looked at what cogs he could get to....on the big ring he can get to 11-12-13-14 of his nine speeds and then there is rub on the front.

so bottom line is....no trim on the big ring? but the other two do have trim?

Rev Chuck, I've only been around Bike Forums for a month or so, but I have noticed that you are always at the ready to answer questions, frequently with considerable detail, including one I asked not to long ago. Don't let the flip attitude of some sour puss get to you. I look forward to reading lots more of your knowledgeable advice and I'm sure others are as well.


agreed

and if everyone waits till they are 100% certain that they cannot be wrong then there would be far fewer posts and much less fruitful discussion

To make sure the der is working right unhook the cable from the der and shift up to the big ring position. Then shift back down and count, you have to go easy for the trim click or it will skip over it. If you get three clicks the trim position is working. If you get two clicks it is not. Depending on how tight the cable is tensioned the trim click "works" in a different spot realitive to the middle ring.

"I also looked at what cogs he could get to....on the big ring he can get to 11-12-13-14 of his nine speeds and then there is rub on the front."

That sounds like the cable is adjusted to tight to start with.

I was looking in the Shimano Total info manual and they show the sti dual control lever having no trim position when used as a triple. Of course then in another section about the Duraace triple they mention an Ultegra lever(with no number) for triple that has a trim position for the middle ring: Low/trim/middle/high

^
My Shimano Total Information manual (04) shows the same info; haven't found anything pertaining to the non-6600 in my 05 STI manual and recycled my older ones.

[edit to clarify that I was referring to the full-line tech booklet Shimano provides its dealers with, as opposed to the little guy you get with your STI shifters]

actually, there are 3 ring positions, plus trim for either side of the middle ring and 1 trim position for the small ring.

Yep, your right. 4 positions total. 1&2 on the small, 2&3 on the middle, and 4 only on the big.

I was looking in the Shimano Total info manual and they show the sti dual control lever having no trim position when used as a triple. Of course then in another section about the Duraace triple they mention an Ultegra lever(with no number) for triple that has a trim position for the middle ring: Low/trim/middle/highWell, despite what shiamno says, there is trim for the middle ring and trim for the small ring when used as a triple. There is trim in in the same lever positions when used as a double,and it just doesn't magically vanish when you hook a triple FD to one othem.

**head spins**