Bicycle Mechanics - Tiagra shifters, rear shifter sticks when shifting

Forgive my tech speak, as I'm still a newbiew to mechanics...
I got a Tiagra 9-speed grupo with STI shifters on my commuter bike and took it in a while back for a tune up at a local shop.. but didn't fix this problem like they said they'd catch, wondering if anyone has any solutions to this:

Basically, when I shift all way way to the little gear from a big cog, around the 3rd to last cog, the little shifter on the brake just stops clicking.. kinda like it either thinks its already on the bottom or stops because it thinks its going to up-shift. So I have to up-shift (or downshift? i never remember which way is up ) or move the big lever to almsot shift the other way to, I guess, get the little lever to go again and then I can continue shifting to the little gear.

Don't know if it helps.. but it does seem like the brake/shifters seem to be really spread wide.. like they aren't exactly parallel with the bars but kinda stick out on the sides, maybe like 5-degrees or so off-center..

Is it time to upgrade? Hope not $$.. if anyone has any tips, much appreciated!

Shimano doesn't like to do multiple gears on one throw of the lever. Try clicking down and releasing the lever one cog at a time. You also may want to shoot a little dry formula chain lube into the shifter assembly occasionally to keep things running smooth, especially if you ride in bad weather.

Shimano doesn't like to do multiple gears on one throw of the lever. Try clicking down and releasing the lever one cog at a time. You also may want to shoot a little dry formula chain lube into the shifter assembly occasionally to keep things running smooth, especially if you ride in bad weather.


Yea, I try to click 'em off one at a time.. its just always that gear. I've sprayed the lube into the innards of the shifter but to no affect

Yea, I try to click 'em off one at a time.. its just always that gear. I've sprayed the lube into the innards of the shifter but to no affect Try doing it with the bike upside down. Somewhere on these forums, many months back, I read that that's the way to get the lube to go where it has to.

Excellent! I'll definately give that a shot.. thanks!

Excellent! I'll definately give that a shot.. thanks!
Have you checked cable adjustments ?

When you figure it out let me know, mine does the same... I bought my shifters real cheap used so I don't much care, and figured they were worn. But if its a matter of lube let me know what works.

Have you checked cable adjustments ?

Yeah I know it's not the cable.. it goes all the way through.. you know how then you shift to larger gears, theres some sort of mechanism that prevents the little shifter from working while you are using the other.. it's like that just starts to get engaged.