Bicycle Mechanics - Tiagra brifter front gear problem

I have a problem straight away with the front gears on my new bike.

I can change from the small ring to the large ring, but not back again. The brifter works fine with no tension on the cable, but won't work when the cable is under tension.

The small lever moves, but feels like it is pushing against resistance. Nothing clicks or changes.

Since it's a new bike, take it back to the shop and they'll fix it for free. Probably take less than 5 minutes.

I have a problem straight away with the front gears on my new bike.

I can change from the small ring to the large ring, but not back again. The brifter works fine with no tension on the cable, but won't work when the cable is under tension.

The small lever moves, but feels like it is pushing against resistance. Nothing clicks or changes.

Stop pedaling to shift.

Unfortunately, being a mail order shop, they don't offer after-sales services . . .

Erm, pedalling has nothing to do with it. Pushing in the small lever should reduce tension on the cable. It doesn't, unless the cable is slack to start with.

Remove the cable and check it and the housing for kinks or other signs of deterioration. If the cable checks out ok then lubricate the cable and reinstall. If you don't know how to reinstall the cable and properly adjust the derailleur, then just do quick google search as there are many resources on the web that will take you through the process step by step; or buy a repair manual, they are relatively inexpensive.

Cheers,

-J

Unfortunately, being a mail order shop, they don't offer after-sales services . . .

Erm, pedalling has nothing to do with it. Pushing in the small lever should reduce tension on the cable. It doesn't, unless the cable is slack to start with.

Take it to the LBS and pay to have it fixed!

I think I've broken the shifter.

Found a techdoc on the shimano site that says "caution; the lever will break easily if moved to zone A".

Basically, this shifter works on doubles and triples. If you have a double and push the large lever to the 3rd cog position (ie, push it inwards as far as it will go), then the shifter breaks.

This is a truly crap design. Anyone agree?

I think I've broken the shifter.

Found a techdoc on the shimano site that says "caution; the lever will break easily if moved to zone A".

Basically, this shifter works on doubles and triples. If you have a double and push the large lever to the 3rd cog position (ie, push it inwards as far as it will go), then the shifter breaks.

This is a truly crap design. Anyone agree?

Reading the instructions/warnings AFTER you break it doesn't necessarily constitute poor design.

I wouldn't blame shimano for not warning you ... I'd blame the operator. Shimano has no clue that you are going to use the triple shifter on a double chainwheel ... they only say that it's possible with due considerations ...

... I disagree, it's not a crap design.

Tippy, Shimano sell this lever set in a groupset with a double chainring. So Shimano certainly *DOES* "have a clue" that it will be used with a double chainring.

How you broke your shifter is no different from breaking a shifter because you had your high stop screw turned all the way in plus too much cable tension. You applied too much force to the ratcheting mechanism and broke it. You must have had to really push to break the shifter BTW. Shimano can't keep you from doing that any more than they can keep you from overtorquing a fastener. They supply the specs; you still need to follow them.

well, i guess buy new shifters to start. may as well go with new shifter wires and cable housings, just to eliminate them from the potential problem list. they are cheap enuff to just replace, and a lot of hard to shift problems end up in the wires or shifters. now that those parts are new, id check the deraillur for damage or anything wrong with the high or low govener screws.

that is where id start.

From your original post it does not sound like you broke the shifter - you wrote that it shifts fine with no tension. It sounds like there is too much tension to allow the rachet to release. It could be a faulty FD, though it would have been difficult to upshift. Or it could be as simple as the high limit screw is in a bit too much. Try loosening the limit screw a quarter turn.