just a quick question, i have a 2012 giant boulder. i got it for a good deal, it has the shimano tourney ef 40 lever with 3x7 thumb shifters (v-brake). the left side one is broken and my question is do i have to buy those specific brake lever/shifter combo or can i use another? thanks for the help i highly appreciate it. keep on riding.

Any left side Shimano triple shifter should work. You can even get away with a grip shifter or an old school friction thumb shifter if you have to.

Since I'm 99.9% sure the bike has V-brakes, if you get another shifter/brake lever combo make sure the brake lever is for V-brakes. Most are.

would it be better to buy the left shifter alone(link below) or the combo shift/brake lever? i ask that because the brake lever works just fine, it's the shift itself that has broken tooth. shifts 1-2 work it's the 3rd one that is messed up. let me know when u get a chance.

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...400193__400193

When you say the left shifter is broken, is it actually broken, or just not shifting? (Edit: NM, I see it's just not shifting - you need to be more specific with your terminology in this place)

These things have grease in them which goes sticky and stops them working; a judicious squirt of WD40 on a couple of spots inside is usually enough to get them going again. There are two small hair-sprung pawls inside, usually you can undo a couple of small philips-head screws to get the cover off and see them, although one is slightly obscured still. a bit of solvent on the pivots, and work the pawls until they move freely, hey presto.

Or it could be a limit screw or cable that is out of adjusment.

sorry about that i'm a newbie when it comes to bikes and the terminology as well, i'm trying my best to be more specific. thank you.

i took it to a bike store to get it checked out a few days ago, because it had a slightly bent back tire rim, the left brake lever was just too soft as it came up, the break pads needed some adjusting and i also had them check if my gears where working properly. everything came out good, they fixed the bent rim, fixed my left brake lever, adjusted the brake pads, except for the left thumb trigger shifter, i asked the guy if he could fix it right there and then but he said it was none fixable. so i asked him what i needed to do and he said to just buy it new. my question now is, if the thumb shifter is interchangeable itself?

if i bought the shifter alone (link below) can i replace the old shifter with the new thumb shifter, without having to buy the brake lever separately? in other words can i mount the new thumb shifter(link below) on my current brake lever


https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...400193__400193

that which you picture is not including a brake lever , so yes.

I question how you got a Bike back from a Shop repair that was not ready to ride

unless you gave them a restricted Ala Carte , just fix a specific thing and nothing more ..


They did not finish the work order, because you said to not do It?

can i mount the new thumb shifter(link posted) on my current brake lever?

yea i had them fix only the parts that needed fixing nothing more and all was well except the shifter itself. he told me it was broken none fixable and just to buy a new one because they themselves didn't have it in stock.

If the old part is still remaining part of the one piece
consisting of shifter and brake lever that was removed, then NO.

you must go buy another brake lever..

thank you guys so much for your much needed help, i appreciate it tons. stay safe and keep on riding.