Bluetrane2028

I'm having an annoying problem with my rear Deore shifter. The thumb paddle (to move from a smaller to a larger cog) will not spring back on its own after being pressed. If you give it a slight nudge it will spring back into place. If you use the finger trigger (to move to a smaller cog) it also makes the thumb spring back into place.

LBS said to lube it, and I did thoroughly, with the lube they recommended.

I'm about to throw out this thing, it's been finicky for a couple months. Never crashed...

Any ideas?

kycycler

The lube is a good idea. I think that you should clean the pod mechanism first than relube. You can use something like carburetor cleaner.

HillRider

Carb cleaner can be too agressive for the plastic parts. I'd soak it in Odorless Mineral Spirits with a lot of agitation. Then shake or air-blow it dry and relube with Tri-Flow or similar light lube. This technique has resurected a lot of STI brifters and should work on MTB shifters too.

jgedwa

Those shifters are very prone to that.

I have had good luck dosing the heck out of it with WD-40. Might even require taking the shifter off the bars so you can really get it in there. It will dissolve all the grease that is now gunked up. Frankly, given the lightness of the pawls in there, the kind of grease they put in in the factory is too heavy. So, without grease, it make require hitting periodically with WD-40 to provide some minimal lubrication. And I think minimal lubrication is just what those shifters need.

jim

Bluetrane2028

I guess I'll pick up a can of WD-40 on my way home. I had used a different brand spray lube, but I guess that's not enough.

jgedwa

The thing about WD-40 in this application is that it is mostly functioning as a cleaner (it dissolves old grease really, really well) and only marginally as a lubricant. In my opinion, this is just what is needed. WD-40 is not magic; really all it is a petroleum degreaser that happens to come in a handy spray can.

jim

Bluetrane2028

Success.

I hosed it down with so much WD-40 that it will probably still be dripping some in a month... but it works like it should.

I'll use the LBS's lube the next time it starts to act up. I originally avoided WD-40 because I knew already that it is more of a solvent than anything else. Turns out (at least) just this once it was what the Doctor ordered.

Thanks for your help everyone!

MikeWinVA

A good thing about WD-40 is that it is fairly inert to most plastics and usually won't soften or etch them. Because it is an aerosol with a straw, you can get it in places you otherwise couldn't without removing the component and dipping it or tearing it down.