Bicycle Mechanics - Did i Break my lever?

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rOOster14
08-21-05, 07:51 PM
well, i fell ( i dont really want to say where...or how but im sure you will ask) and i hit my left STI style lever and now there is alot of "play/slop" in it. it still shifts, but there is no tension on it really at all and its kind of an awkward thing to do to shift up or down. where as the shifter for my rear deraillur is tight and under constant tension it seems (normal). did i just knock my lever out of adjustment? can i fix it? enlighten me bike mech gods.
-rOOster-

stonooka
08-21-05, 08:50 PM
What a shame! You have almost the top of the line Shimano groupos. 105/Ultegra. You say it still shifts or clicks. If the cable moves progressively as you shift, maybe its just a matter of readjusting your front derailer (FD). Some slight modification to the brifter housing shape due to an unfortunate incident may have loosened up the cable enough such that the cable tension is too slack at the FD. The cable can be retensioned at the FD: there is a definite recommended procedure. Shimano brifters, unlike Campagnolo, are not repairable. If your brifter is totaled you will be out over a 100 bucks to replace it.

Have your LBS look at it and if the shifter is working he can readjust the FD. Should'nt take him more than 15 minutes if nothing is busted in the brifter. If he sold you the bike he should do it for nothing. If you want to do it yourself, the Park Tool Website will walk you through it.

I'm also thinking, maybe the cable stop end in the brifter tore loose due to your accident, so that would involve a relatively inexpensive cable replacement and a FD cable tension adjustment. I think you can inspect for this by peering in the handle from the front of the bike. You might have to peel back the rubber covers to see.

Sinchi