fbagatelleblack

Aargh!! Like an EEDIOT, I took the little black screw off the front of my right-hand/rear Shimano Sora 8-Speed brifter and took the little black plastic cap of the assembly. Now, I've spent several hours trying to line things up and put everything back together, but I just cannot make it work. It either jams or it does not ratchet from one gear up to the next.

I can make everything work with the black plastic cap off by holding the little spring back and shifting gears. I can see how the molded cap is suppose to hold that spring back and align it so everything shifts right, but when I screw everything back together with the cap on, it does work right.

I've looked through the archives and seen where some folks say that you just cannot reassemble a brifter, that once you pull the bonehead move of taking things apart, the brifter is toast. But, I called my LBS and they told me they could put everything back together. I figure if they can do it, so can I, if someone can tell me how.

So, any of you figured out the secret to this operation? If anyone can help, please let me know. If I can figure this out, I'll probably write it up in Cycloculture (https://cycloculture.blogspot.com/), so this could be your ticket to (very little) fame and (absolutely no) fortune.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,

Forbes Black

wrk101

There's a guy on ebay that rebuilds Shimano brifters, all except SORA models unfortunately. You might want to contact him anyway.

I have not used his services, but he has been doing it for a while.

Here's his facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100856572916

DieselDan

Never, ever try to disassemble and try to fix a Shimano shifter.

tjspiel

I've never done this with a Sora, but I have taken apart a 105 that starting jamming figuring I had nothing to lose. Turns out there was some sand in there so I cleaned it all and re-lubed. Anyway to get it back together I needed a "spring tool" to keep tension on the spring while I reassembled it. I was able to fashion one out of a twist-tie that worked OK but it took a few tries. It was as good as new when I finished.

It was never completely apart.

fbagatelleblack

A twist tie! That's a great idea. I was thinking I'd need something like a dental pick to hold the spring back. I'll try the twist tie. Thanks!

ritorito

Thanks for the twist-tie tip. It made me invent an even easier method:
Take a piece of sewing thread and make a loop around the end of the spring.
While replacing the black cap pull the thread gently to lift the spring.
When replaced, pull hard to break the sewing thread.
It is much easier than you can imagine!

wunderkind

great opportunity to upgrade to a Tiagra or R500 shifter.