Problem with front der shifter (?)
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
Problem with front der shifter (?)
Hello,
I have a problem with my wife's bike; 2007 Trek 1000 w/Sora brifters, approx. 300 miles on the bike. When attempting to shift from the granny to the middle ring, the shifter has "jammed" on many occasions, as in it won't move at all. It's stuck. A gentle tug on the derailleur cable produces a "click" in the shifter, as if it's ratcheting, and then it will function again, but it invariably happens again. I've fiddled with the cable tension but it hasn't eliminated the problem. My wife is still new to the scene and gets very frustrated/panicky when it happens and I'd like to ease her mind. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks -- Eric
I have a problem with my wife's bike; 2007 Trek 1000 w/Sora brifters, approx. 300 miles on the bike. When attempting to shift from the granny to the middle ring, the shifter has "jammed" on many occasions, as in it won't move at all. It's stuck. A gentle tug on the derailleur cable produces a "click" in the shifter, as if it's ratcheting, and then it will function again, but it invariably happens again. I've fiddled with the cable tension but it hasn't eliminated the problem. My wife is still new to the scene and gets very frustrated/panicky when it happens and I'd like to ease her mind. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks -- Eric
#2
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 0
Make sure the shift cable is properly seated in the brifter. Cable tension could appear correct but may not really be the case. If above is Ok, suggest you take it to the LBS and have them look at it, should still be under warranty. Couple of other ideas: is the cable properly attached to the front der? Over the tab not under it. Re-do the cable tension per the Parks Tool web site instructions. New bike from a good mfg and LBS is not always set up properly.
Have never been a fan of Sora triple due to the lack of trim function(which has nothing to do with your post).
Have never been a fan of Sora triple due to the lack of trim function(which has nothing to do with your post).
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,438
Likes: 9
From: Oklahoma
Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50
Good advice above. Also encourage your wife to be assertive when shifting from the smallest chainring to the middle chainring. A good hard shove works best. The same is also true for a shift from the middle ring to the big ring.
Al
Al
#5
Elitist Troglodyte
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 6,926
Likes: 2
From: Dallas
Bikes: 03 Raleigh Professional (steel)
It could be operator error. If one lever is partially moved it will lock out the other lever, making the shifter appear to be jammed. Follow Al's advice re: assertiveness. And tell your wife to operate the other lever if one appears jammed.
__________________
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
- Will Rogers
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
- Will Rogers
#6
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.





