Mountain Biking - Sachs grip shift or XT rear derailer?

After being a terrible person for 2 years leaving my beloved bike unridden I decided this year I'm going to get out there. I even bought some new shoes! :) Anyway the bike isn't holding gear anymore. Something has happened during the storage period. The bike is a Cannondale F1000 from 97 - Sachs grip shift with a XT derailer. I'm pretty sure that the shifter is at fault and not the derailer but how can I make sure?

Questions that will follow if the the grip shift is at fault:

What dangers are there in buying a set of used xt(r) shifters? (8 speed) Are shifters like that failure prone? Do they wear that much?

My guess is that there is nothing wrong with either your shifters or your derailleur, but rather with your cables. Most likely the section of housing that wraps the bottom bracket. It's probably full of dirt and grit and preventing smooth shifting.

If you are mechanically inclined, go the the bicycle mechanics section and download the Barnett's Manuals on how to do this. Or, go to www.parktool.com and go to their Home Repair section.

If not, take the bike in for a basic tune-up, should cost around $40!

L8R

Ooops forgot, no problems switching to XT shifters. Shifters rarely get damaged. Last a long time as well.

L8R

Bike is clean but maybe the cables have lost elasticity causing this?

Perhaps I should explain what's happening a little more clearly. Say I put the shifter into position '3', an easier gear, if I don't hold it in that position with my hand it will ratchet down to '8' as if the it's being pulled down. I can actually feel the shifter wanting to twist down in my hand.

Regardless, thanks for the links a2psyklnut a tune up can't be a bad idea after the bike has sat for so long.

Sachs twist shifters were known to do that over time. The pair I used to use on a bike did that after awhile. Just get some new twist shifters, or what you were talking about.

Yeah I've heard more than one other rider refer to them as Suchs - ha ha ha :o and I never really adapted to the twist style shifting as it was....

I'm gonna see if they're repairable but regardless the hunt for some rapid fire shifters has begun!

Most any LBS should be able to procure those easily.

Yeah I've actually been looking lately - $80CDN for a new set of Shimano Deore 8 spd. seems to be the going rate. I'm hoping to find a set used in XT or XTR flavour for a slightly lower price.

edit: bad grammar.

Perhaps I should explain what's happening a little more clearly. Say I put the shifter into position '3', an easier gear, if I don't hold it in that position with my hand it will ratchet down to '8' as if the it's being pulled down. I can actually feel the shifter wanting to twist down in my hand.


The shifters are plastic and as a result will wear out. New XT shifters are the way to go. Keep checking ebay!

L8R

I'm pretty broke right now so "new XT" are probably going to be out my price range. Do older LX, XT or XTR components have non plastic internals?

I think he was speaking of grip shifters. Rapidfire has both metal and plastic parts, and lots of them.

Well to close this I picked up some XT shifter tonite - still tweaking but so far they seem good.

Thanks to all for the advice! :)