pgoat

I have a 1993 mtb with Shimano XT 7 speed Rapid Fire shifter pods (typical underbar setup, big thumb pad for downshifts, little index finger pad for indexed upshifts).

It's always worked well, but I just noticed two things in the last week -

1. there are two thin strands of steel wire protruding from the pod case of the rear derailleur shifter - they exit on the aft side of the pod and extend out along the thumb pad - they actually jab me and prick my thumb often, which is how I discovered them.

2. I am not able to shift all the way down to my smallest cog 12 or 13t, depending on which of two wheel sets I am using (I have two - very similar, one is a 12-21, the other a 12-23, and I had the bike set up at a shop for this last summer - the original cassette was a 13-30). I AM getting all 6 indexed clicks from the shifter; it's just not going all the way out to the smallest cog.

Is this typical? Does it mean my shifter is dying? Or could it be fraying shifter cable ends protruding?

maddmaxx 

Cable seems to be coming apart.

Old School

Try replacing your cables -- it is inexpensive and eliminates a lot of the "usual suspects" as you will need to readjust FD and RD as well.

pgoat

I was hoping you'd say that! I know these pods are not typically serviced, so I was dreading dumping the $ into the old bike to go up to 8 speed (an extra cog in place of a spacer on the newer wheels I replaced the original 7 spd hub with), or worse yet, a 9 speed (New cassette, chain, RD $$$$$$$$). Depending on what shifters are even out there (I am assuming 7 speed pods are hard to come by these days).

I am guessing I just need a new cable, and then to tweak the high screw on the RD for the small cog, then? Assuming all else is ok, of course.