Bicycle Mechanics - Problems with Campag Veloce gear shifting

Any advice welcome.

I have a new bike with Campag Veloce which has now had about 20 rides. I consistently have a problem with the front right shifter (for rear derailieur) in that it "sticks". I will go to shift into a smaller rear gear with the thumb tab and it will stick. It helps if I push more to the rear of the thumb tab but of course this makes it difficult if in the drops.

And then, I get the same problem sometimes when trying to shift to a larger gear. The longer leaver will stick (i.e won't move) and sometimes have to change down to be able to change up or pull the longer leaver towards the bar to get it to change.

Hope that makes sense. Very frustrating considering the silky smoothness I am used to with my ex Ultegra Shimano kit. Is this normal or does anyone have any suggestions on what to do to resolve this stickeness.

It sounds like you may have a defect with the "G" spring. I would take the bike back to the shop where you purchased it and have it fixed. Campy also has four service locations in the US.

http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/service/index.jsp

You can jam any Campy Ergo shifter if you inadvertent move the inner lever slightly while using the thumb tab. The thumb tab will lock up and refuse to move until you push the inner lever completely to the next "click" and let it go. So, be careful to keep your fingers away from the inner lever while using the tab and away from the tab while shifting the inner lever. Don't use the tab as a thumb rest.

This is a particular problem if you are riding in cold weather and wearing bulky gloves.

If you have the latest 2009+ Ultrashift levers, the brake hood may be a little more prone to rubbing on the thumb lever. Give the lower part of the hood a tug to pull it down and open up the slit for the thumb lever.

As others have noted, all models will lock up if you have any pressure on one lever and try to shift with the other. No resting fingers one and shifting the other - won't work.

This is a common problem and usually easy to fix.

Look on the underside of the thumb pad and you'll see tiny coil spring that engages a tab. (BTW- you'll need good eyes and good light) It's job is to push the thumb pad up and disengage it from the lever cam. Three things usually go wrong.

1- on new levers, sometimes a bit of excess plastic on the hole surrounding the spring keeps it from working properly. Use a sewing needle to pick the spring out of the hole, and work it in and out until it wears the hole enough to work smoothly and reliably. Or since it's new bike let the LBS deal with it.

2- on some new levers the pivot where the thumb pad hinges to the metal lever itself can be a hair tight and the tiny spring just isn't strong enough to overcome friction here. Add a drop of light oil, (if you don't have something like sewing machine oil, olive oil works fine) and work the pivot back and forth until it's 100% free.

3- on older levers, especially during a hot summer, sweat wicks into the pad/lever pivot, causing rust. Depending on how bad it's corroded, the thumb lever assembly can be saved with a penetrating oil of the kind used to free rusty bolts such as "Kroil" or "Liquid Wrench". Apply, allow to wick in and work the pivot until it moves freely. Once done, flush the penetrating oil, and replace with a light lube. BTW- this problem is better prevented than fixed, so keep that pivot oiled with light oil, especially in hear (sweat) or wet weather.

Once you've got the thumb pad spring back up freely after you depress it, you're problem is solved.

Hmmm, nice - thanks for the advice all. I shall have fun considering your options in the weekend. I don't think I rest my fingers on the levers .... but then again, it's not something I'm thinking about. I know with the Shimano shifters I continually keep my fingers on the levers so I can shift quickly so maybe I'm doing the same with the Compag.

Shall also check the other bits and bobs and get the sewing machine oil out. Just hope Compag is worth perservering with as moved with some reluctance in the first place :o

Does anyone have a link to service manual for the levers so I can see what's going on? Searched but have not found. By the by, they are the 2009+ ergo levers which is a nice feature.

There is no service manual, but Campy has installation instructions and spare parts lists in the tech info area of their website. Campys website has far more info than the other brands - dating back many years.

Since you have the newer levers, the thumb spring is entirely different than the older models.

http://www.campagnolo.com/repository/documenti/en/Spares10-A-010909.pdf

Here's some info that I posted on RBR.
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=154068&highlight=inside+2009+ergopower (http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=154068&highlight=inside+2009+ergopower)

Just hope Compag is worth perservering with as moved with some reluctance in the first place :o
They are, at least the Ergo brifters are. I'm not as sold on the rest of Campagnolo's components but I do like both the shape and action of their brifters.

For those of you who pick up on this thread. Issue was resolved, as suggested in the thread, simply by ensuring I'm not touching other lever when changing. So in a manner it was a finger problem :-)

Trouble free shifting now as long as I don't rest on any of the levers. Simple when you know how!!