Bicycle Mechanics - Problem with Shifter

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mercier23
05-28-08, 08:54 AM
The shifter on my old mt. bike will not shift the front gears. I don't feel any clicking in the shifter, but it does move the cable when I try to shift from the the small front sprocket to the larger ones. Could this just be slack in the cable, or do i need a new shifter?

bikeman715
05-28-08, 01:38 PM
yes there is slack in your cable . you might need new cable and housing if that doesn't work then you need a new shifter .
Bill Kapaun
05-28-08, 03:12 PM
You might describe the type of shifter you have.

Does the FDER move toward the larger ring and then move back when you let off the "lever"?
Sometimes, flushing with a solvent, like WD-40, will thin out the hardened grease and allow the pawls to engage (again).

mercier23
05-29-08, 10:03 AM
Its an old Shimano Deore XL shifter for a seven speed drive train, it does move the fd toward the big chain ring and then goes back when let off the shifter. I will try the wd40 and see if that works. Thanks for your info.
CACycling
05-29-08, 12:33 PM
If just shooting it with WD40 doesn't do it, I've had luck opening shifters up, spraying them good and physically moving the pawls back and forth till they move freely.