Bicycle Mechanics - Help with my Sora Shifter

So after only about 11K miles, my right Sora Shifter stopped. It's ironic because as I was riding, I was marveled at how flawlessly it had been working. Basically, the rachet mechanism stopped engaging all together. Both the lever and the thumb shifter move just fine but nothing is engaged. So my question to the expert: Is there anyway to salvage the shifter or is this the end of the road for it?

Thanks.

Remove it, and try flushing it with WD40 and seeing if that frees it up while its off the bike and the cable is removed.

It sounds like the grease has gummed up and left the pawls stuck. You just need to take the shifter apart, remove any pawls, de/regrease them and put 'em back. I don't think anything's broken.

It sounds like the grease has gummed up and left the pawls stuck. You just need to take the shifter apart, remove any pawls, de/regrease them and put 'em back. I don't think anything's broken.

BAD idea on an epic level. Try spraying with WD-40 or other chain lube, but never try to disassemble a Shimano brifter.

BAD idea on an epic level. Try spraying with WD-40 or other chain lube, but never try to disassemble a Shimano brifter.

+1000

Than you all for the suggestions. I opened the cap to take a look and actually found the problem. A tiny spring tensioning a lever that drops down onto the pawls broke and a small piece had jammed the lever. That's why nothing was engage as the gear moved. I took the broken piece out so now the shifter is working again. However, the lever now relies 100% on gravity to drop down so I expect any friction/gum would cause to the shifter to stop enaging again. I will use it temporary until I can get a new one and make sure to keep it clean. Interestingly, the shifting is now 100% quiet. There is no clicking sound at all. Very strange.

Interesting failure. I'm surprised you were able to access the pawls without full disassembly... I've done a set of Soras but it was a couple of years ago so it's hard to remember how they were arranged.

Perhaps you can jerry-rig something?


never try to disassemble a Shimano brifter.

Ha.

You might have a broken or mis-routed cable in there. Sure, spray it full of solvent or thin lubrication and see if that does it, but the first thing I do is remove the cable, or whatever is left of it. Then see if it shifts. If the cable is OK then you can always put it back in.

Interesting failure. I'm surprised you were able to access the pawls without full disassembly... I've done a set of Soras but it was a couple of years ago so it's hard to remember how they were arranged.

Perhaps you can jerry-rig something?



Ha.

The pawl is accessible once the gear indicator cover is off and the brake level is pulled. The spring is tiny and the way it is (was) attached to the lever has a unique shape. There is no way I can do anything with so little space in there. I rode the bike to work this morning and just as I suspected, the shifting to the larger cog doesn't always work right away but with a quick down shift to smaller cog to get the lever moving I can immediately shift back up. I expect the problem to get worse as the weather gets colder.

Ever seen those tiny little elastic bands they hang off kids' braces?

Might one of those be persuaded to help?