Broken left 105 shifter replacement?
 

So I was riding my bike this weekend and my left shifter broke. I guess this is a common problem with 105s, so much that the LBS said it was a defect/design flaw. I can't warranty it cause I got this bike second hand. They were trying to convince me to just replace it for $175, with the same defective model, which I don't understand.

What should i go with? I'm thinking get a ultegra 6600 or dura ace 7700 off ebay, dedicated double to avoid the double/triple flaw in the 105s. Could I replace it with a RIVAL? Those seem a little cheaper, and should be shimano compatible right?

Basically I just want something that won't break!

1) How many speeds
2) You can't replace it with rival

I have a spare Ultegra 6600 that I've listed on eBay right now. It's got a few scratches and a broken nameplate but it's probably going to go for around $50 and it works.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MESELX:IT

The shifter broke how exactly? I've never heard a specific design flaw attributed to 105 and have found them to be long lasting, reliable and almost bomb proof. So chances are you'd be fine with replacing, althoufgh 175 seems a bit steep.

Lots and lots of threads on this board about broken left 105 STI's. It is not so much a design flaw as an operator error and a design that does not tolerate the error.

I have "heard" that the 2010 and later year 2009 versions do not suffer from this problem. I have a 2009 105 STI that has not failed yet, but I don't use the FD much.

Locally, a full set of Ultegra-SL STI's go for about $375 at the LBS, so $175 for a single 105 STI is very steep. Maybe they were selling both? The LBS "claims" that they can not buy just one STI from Shimano.

$275 sounds very cheap for an LBS price for SL levers. You can't get that online right now. I bought a set a few weeks back for $215 on eBay new but no box or brake cables/housing, but even that kind of deal seems to have dried up now. Cheapest I can see on eBay is about $297 (incl shipping) for an OEM set.

Typo, I just corrected it.

I just checked the LBS web site. Brand new 2010 105 STI (ST5600) go for $285 as a set.

Sorry for the confusion.

$175 for just one still seems a bit steep.

Mine are from a 2009 cross bike. The guy at the LBS said made the design flaw claim, which I can understand. It broke because I was trying to shift my front ring, and the shifter was stiff. I put a little extra force into it and it shifted and then wouldn't shift anymore. From what I understand I must have pushed it into the triple position, which destroys the internals. It shouldn't be that easy to break. Spending $50 on Ultegra seems a good choice. I just want something that i dedicated double so I can not have this problem again. It shouldn't be THAT easy to break a shift lever. The guy at the LBS told me if I got 105s again I could expect them to break again, but it would be OK cause I could just get them replaced for free.

Like I said I want a reliable part that won't break.

So, if I understand, you had shifted as far as the derailleur limit screw would allow the derailleur to move and you then tried to push beyond that? Regardless of shifter, if you try and force like that, the shifter is liable to break. Replacing with 105 or Ultegra ought to work fine from function and durability stand points; Good shopping.

Search the forum for this problem. Others have reported that Shimano will waranty the left 105 10-speed shifters because they are defective. Shimano has recently issued some double specific 10-speed 105 shifters. I have no first hand experience with this issue but have read some threads about it.

Al

I see a SL-5600L for sale now on some sites. Is that the double only version? And is it possible to buy just the left?

Not at all really. I was trying to down shift from the big ring, and nothing was happening. So I pressed slightly harder, it shifted, panged, and then wouldn't shift anymore. I coudln't believe it was broken because it seemed way too easy to do this. Perhaps had I know about the problem I would have been paranoid and gentle, but this is a cross bike! It should be able to take a beating and keep on shifting.

Definitely want to go with a dedicated double, so this issue doesn't arise when I drop the bike or get into a crash.

I broke mine by overtensioning the FD cable when trying to adjust the derailer. Tried to shift and it went "poof." I bought a new 105 double left shifter on Ebay for about $75. Works like a charm. I didn't know about the warranty. Maybe I'll check into that.

Wow, the 5600s do sound tetchy. Shouldn't break that easy, no doubt. I have earlier model 9 speed double/triple 5500s which have been great.

I would assume that it is the double/triple problem shifter unless the seller says that it is definitely double only. Someone posted here that the new double specific shifter says "DOUBLE" on the shifter.

Al