road bike shifter flush and lube
10-11-15, 01:13 AM
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road bike shifter flush and lube
My 10 speed 105 right hand shifter is playing up on the down shift, I plan to change the cable + outer this week but know it needs more than this as it is not always clicking on the down-shift. So I will pull back the hood and flush it out then lube. Question...what products should I use, I was planning to flush it with wd-40 and haven't decided on a lube yet my experience with an old shifter tells me they don’t like anything to heavy and gummy in there. Suggestions.......
10-11-15, 06:17 AM
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It doesn't take much. Honestly, I just blow out the WD-40 with an air hose and rely on the residual lubricating properties. It's worked for me.
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10-11-15, 06:36 AM
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I have found that LPS-1 spray works well, it is fairly light and does not seem to gum up significantly. They have heavier LPS-2 and -3 as well. I have used Pro LInk Gold chain lube also seems to work fine.
10-11-15, 07:10 AM
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I've used LPS 1, 2 and 3, and of those LPS 1 would be OK as it's a very light lube.
Pro-Link is lube and solvent in paradichlorobenzene (same as mothballs). This causes it to set up semi solid, which might not be the best for shifters.
10-11-15, 09:34 AM
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After flushing out shifters with a true solvent (I like Clean Streak) I'll blow in first TriFlow then a thicker lube second. I use an air hose to insure the lube has gotten into all the surfaces. Andy.
10-11-15, 09:58 AM
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I think PB Blaster works better than WD-40 for cleaning. I've used both for cleaning air valves that have build up from in line lube systems and the PB Blaster always seems to leave them working a little smoother than when I've used WD-40.
