Cap'n Crunch

I just installed new shifter cables on a dual chainring front derailer and suddenly the shifter lever behaves as if I had a compact (i.e. giving me an empty gear in the lever that's really annoying when downshifting, or upshifting from the empty one). Any thoughts?

rwortman

If you have 105 shifters there is are trim positions that are kind of like half shifts for moving the FD just a bit when you are on the rear cluster extremes. If you have a triple compatible shifter (mine is) you can adjust the cable length for a phantom shift at the bottom or pull it in so the phantom shift is at the top and runs into the derailler stop first so it is effectively removed. this is what Shimano recommends although the drawback is you someone pushes to hard on the shifter they can break it. BTW I don't know what any of this has to do with "behaving like a compact". A compact double shifts just like any other double.

Cap'n Crunch

Thanks. I never realized that the briefter was triple/compact compatible. My problem, as you say, was that i set the cable length too long (i.e. using the upper two gears, rather than lower two). I have loosed the cable and (again as you said) the upper limit took care of the phantom/empty gear. Thank you again.

dsbrantjr

Cap'n: I would set it up so that the "phantom" shift is at the bottom (small chainwheel.) My rationale is that this way you are shifting an already slack cable looser. Having it at the top will enable you to shift against an already taut cable which could, if you are forgetful/careless, allow you to jam the mechanism against the high limit stop and be unable release the ratchet to downshift out of it. I am surprised Shimano recommends this, maybe it is a ploy to increase sales of replacement shifters.

rwortman

I have mine set up for the phantom gear on the slack side for the reasons mentioned above. It's personal preference I guess. I think Shimano recommends the other way because now the shifter acts like a double shifter with no extra clicks to confuse a prospective rider.

ultraman6970

Easy to fix, just use campagnolo.

oldbobcat

If you're going to troll, at least give us something we haven't heard already.

This problem has been discussed ad-infinitum and it still catches newbies. No problem, though, especially when the newbie catches on quickly. Nice work, Cap'n.