Ultegra brifter problem
 

Finally decided to get myself out of the 1970's and catch up on some of the technology that's passed me by over the last 30 years. Picked up an '03 Fuji Finest frame and built it up using just about complete Shimano 9-speed Ultegra components. Running the dual chainwheels on the crank, long arm rear derailleur, and 27-speed brifters.

First times out on the bike were fine, then the right brifter started acting up: Hitting the small button to go into a higher gear, the lever hangs up in the last little bit of travel and I have to hook my finger under it and physically pull it back into the start position. Of course, the derailleur won't shift onto the new (smaller) cog until I've got it back all the way. Pushing on the brake lever to go back up the cog works just fine.

Anyone have any ideas on this? I originally suspected friction in the cable, but came to the conclusion that it's not the problem after replacing the cable with a teflon coated one.

Syke
Deranged Few M/C

There is a screw in the back of the brifter that needs to be tightened. Some of the other wrenches here can eloborate.

Assuming it's not cable friction, it sounds like too much cable tension or a weak derailler return spring.

Couple of ideas:

The first is the infamous screw. It's easier to see if you turn your bike upside down. If that itty bitty screw is loose or missing, fix it.

The second is to give the innerds a spritz of WD40 and follow up with a blast of compressed air. Often that alone does wonders.

By "infamous screw" I assume you mean the one that needs a 2mm hex wrench? Tightened it down, it seemed to work ok on the hangers, tried to get it out on the road but ran into rain two miles from home. Ended up doing one hell of a sprint right in front of the rain.

Just out of curiosity, what is that screw for?

Syke
Deranged Few M/C