Downtube Shifter Maintenance
08-22-09, 06:15 AM
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Downtube Shifter Maintenance
Does anyone have any tips or ideas when it comes to working with downtube shifters? What kind of maintenance is required? Specifically, the problem at hand involves a downtube shifter (connected to the rear derailleur if that matters) wanting to slide forward, and ultimately wanting to put the bike into a higher gear. There's a thumb screw on the side and I've tried to tighten that, but it doesn't make any difference.
This gets even worse if you are in any other gear than first - ultimately it makes it so all there is is 1st gear and 5th gear.
Any ideas or things I need to know to work on these? Thanks.
This gets even worse if you are in any other gear than first - ultimately it makes it so all there is is 1st gear and 5th gear.
Any ideas or things I need to know to work on these? Thanks.
08-22-09, 06:16 AM
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Does anyone have any tips or ideas when it comes to working with downtube shifters? What kind of maintenance is required? Specifically, the problem at hand involves a downtube shifter (connected to the rear derailleur if that matters) wanting to slide forward, and ultimately wanting to put the bike into a higher gear. There's a thumb screw on the side and I've tried to tighten that, but it doesn't make any difference.
This gets even worse if you are in any other gear than first - ultimately it makes it so all there is is 1st gear and 5th gear.
Any ideas or things I need to know to work on these? Thanks.
This gets even worse if you are in any other gear than first - ultimately it makes it so all there is is 1st gear and 5th gear.
Any ideas or things I need to know to work on these? Thanks.
If it wants to go forward, it sounds like your cable tension might be just a bit too tight.
08-22-09, 06:34 AM
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Hello Glenn. I gather this is a friction shifting system? Campi? what kind of shifter, how old? I suspect it is just dirty and needs cleaning.
I would start by taking the shifter apart and cleaning it. there is the screw that holds it together on the bike and adjust it. a flat metal washer then a convex nylon washer, the shifter and then another flat nylon one. I just use whatever is close, a bit of windex or dishsoap. clean and dry everything and reassemble. put a little grease on the boss where the shifter goes and on the screw threads.
provided everything is not really worn this should work.
I would start by taking the shifter apart and cleaning it. there is the screw that holds it together on the bike and adjust it. a flat metal washer then a convex nylon washer, the shifter and then another flat nylon one. I just use whatever is close, a bit of windex or dishsoap. clean and dry everything and reassemble. put a little grease on the boss where the shifter goes and on the screw threads.
provided everything is not really worn this should work.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
09-12-09, 11:10 PM
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I was having a similar issue with the rear shifter (a Sunrace 8-speed, don't know the model off the top of my head), and in my case the solution was to tighten the actual bolt that holds it on. I don't know if it's the same as what you have, but on mine there was a ring you can adjust by hand (which allows you to change from friction/indexed shifting), and the 5mm bolt holding the shifter on. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to clean the shifter as Bianchigirll mentioned, and to adjust the cable tension as Skones mentioned. If you do decide to adjust the cable tension, you probably want to make sure the derailer is tuned up as well, I used the guide here: https://parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=64
09-13-09, 01:50 PM
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Although it may sound counter-intuitive, a squirt of lubricant may also help. Friction shifters rely on a compressible plastic washer (very old ones might use a spring steel dome instead) to provide the variable friction; if there is too much friction elsewhere in the system it is difficult to set the lever such that it holds in gear properly without either being too tight to move or too loose to prevent spurious shifts.
