Bicycle Mechanics - cock-eyed brifter - can you adjust this problem away?

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3kidsnotime
01-13-10, 11:53 AM
So, this spring I'm returning to bicycling after a ~2 year hiatus.
I crashed hard in early summer 2008, and killed a bunch of components.
I took the rest of the summer to rebuild with a Soma frame and salvaged,replacement parts.
That following summer I didn't get on the bike - life, you know?

Anyways, I am determined to do some serious bike commuting this summer and have revisited my budget bike built. I changed stem and bars for one things. And now that the new ones are on, I noticed by right brifter handle kicks to the outside a little more, when at rest, then the left brifter. It's Shimano 105 stuff from around 2002.

Now there is a bunch of slack before gear changing, so I can hold it in it's proper position, but I know of no adjustments on Shimano shifters.

Does anyone else have this dis-symmetry?
Does anyone know any tricks to adjust it away?

Functionally I'm ok, but I just realized I'm going to have to cut some cable lengths down for the shorter stem I put on, and I'd like to fix up the brifter then if there is a chance to.

Thanks!
Ryan


2manybikes
01-13-10, 12:04 PM
It's hard to be sure, but in the photo it looks as if the whole brifter is twisted. The angle that the cables exit the brifters seem different and about the same difference as the lever angles. Maybe it's a handlebar problem?
No lever position adjustment that I know of.

AndrewP
01-13-10, 02:46 PM
The pieces where the brifter clamping band attaches have been twisted. If you remove the brifter from the bars by undoing the bolt on the outside under the hood, you may be able to straighten them with visegrips.