I have Campy Chorus 9-speed Ergo brifters, circa 99', the right brifter does not index when climbing the cassette, does index when descending. What's the problem and where can I get the parts?

thanks,

Brian

I assume you mean it does index, but doesn't trim correctly. Otherwise please explain better with more specific description of exactly what it's doing.

I suspect the issue may be friction in the housings. When you downshift vis the paddle, the RD overshifts slightly, then is supposed to settle into trim (all Campag downshifting (to larger end of cassette) is based on overshift and return to trim). Cable friction, and sometimes gummy action within the lever, causes it to stick in the overshifted position so the trim is off.

My favorite diagnostic for this is to shift, then pluck the bare wire away from the frame like a guitar string. If that corrects trim, you know it's a simple friction issue. Field strip the cables and clean and lube, ot more likely given the age, replace the cables and housings with new.

Frank might be right, but at 15 years old, it may be time to rebuild the shifters. Branford Bikes used to have instructions online and parts, I don't know if they still do (Campagnolo stopped making spare parts for those old shifters a year or two back). It might be best to have someone rebuild the shifter, replacing all the worn parts; the labor cost would be cheaper than the third or fourth minimum S&H fee.

G-springs and carriers are readily available.

$11 + $4 shipping for two sets of G-springs
Amazon.com: Campagnolo Ergolever Right Index Spring 4-Pack: Sports & Outdoors

$6 with free shipping for one carrier
Amazon.com: Campagnolo Ergo Right Hand Index Spring Carrier 98-06 Accepts 04-06 Record Ultra: Sports & Outdoors

or $21 + $4 shipping for a convenient 5-pack
Amazon.com : Campagnolo Ergo Right Hand Index Spring Carrier 98-06, Pack of 5 : Bike Shifters And Parts : Sports & Outdoors

Stocking up would be prudent - Campagnolo discontinued the small parts for the earlier pointy-hood ergo levers, and eventually the thumb + front return + paddle springs fatigue and fail.

Re-taping your handle bar is the most difficult part of the rebuild and I wouldn't bother with sending or taking them some place.

Is the rear derailleur of the same vintage as the shifters? Campy changed the derailleur's actuation ratio in 2001.
My interpretation of post #1 is that the OP is having indexing problems while downshifting because the statment is: "does not index when climbing the cassette". This sounds to me as if he means the problem is when shifting toward bigger cogs, though this is actually downshifting. If this is correct the problem may be with the shifters, or possibly a bent derailleur hanger, or a problem with cable routing at the rear derailleur. A problem that I've seen recently was caused by the pinch bolt washer tab pushed up against the cable effectively changing the actuation ratio slightly.

Nope, no indexing, acts like a friction shifter. The upshift takes a ton of travel to to get the chain to move, I mean way over towards the stem, no "crispness" at all. Downshifts index, up no. Pulling the cable along the dt shifts about like brifter does, except with better feel(!). I will pull the cable and clean, see if that helps. The cables and housing are not the originals, 4yrs +- on them.

Drew, thanks for the links, I'll buy the parts while I can still get them, best to have some spares regardless.


AL1943
"Is the rear derailleur of the same vintage as the shifters? Campy changed the derailleur's actuation ratio in 2001."

yes, same year

My interpretation of post #1 is that the OP is having indexing problems while downshifting because the statment is: "does not index when climbing the cassette". This sounds to me as if he means the problem is when shifting toward bigger cogs, though this is actually downshifting.

correct

If this is correct the problem may be with the shifters, or possibly a bent derailleur hanger, or a problem with cable routing at the rear derailleur. A problem that I've seen recently was caused by the pinch bolt washer tab pushed up against the cable effectively changing the actuation ratio slightly.

interesting.

always appreciative of input,
Brian

You should be able to shift three cogs larger in one motion.

If the shifter isn't engaging soon enough for that to happen there's something wrong with the front paddle assembly - sometimes the spring which holds it forwards against the brake lever and engages the pawl breaks, some people have broken the metal bit which holds everything together.

If it is moving the index cam and drum three cogs bigger but just not holding when you get to a gear it's worn/broken G-springs and/or the carrier.

The Campagnolo G-spring mechanism is really simple (basically they turned their down-tube shifter inside out, dropped from three to two springs, and added ratchets for up and down) so it shouldn't be hard to see what's going on.

I was initially disappointed by the Mirage 9s levers on my Shimergo bike; the overshift made for a crappy-feeling delay before the click which was different from what I remembered from two sets of 1st-gen levers, and shifted like crap because it'd overshift too far and catch the next cog.

So I tore into the right lever (it's only on the right) and locked it out with a couple of ziptie offcuts popped in the side of the slots the carrier pegs would rotate to. Felt so, so much better, and worked a treat.

What I could never work out though, was why this catching the next cog business wouldn't be an issue on all-Campy bikes too, since the Shimano RD geometry and cassette spacing should look like Campy gear to the shifters, because Shiftmate.

What am I missing here?

Yeah, I should grab some spares...

Wait, what? If you were only talking about about 1st gen, I'd agree except for having to know about the left-hand thread... but this is 9s, what about the damn clock spring? If there's a trick, it's as if I always instantly forget it when I finally figure it out. Kinda like knots, I suck at those.

Can you point me to a good vid for that?

Well crap, both links/vendors state carrier part is unavailable. Oops, google search shows still available from

https://www.bikesonline.com/campagnol...FSho7Aod9lgAYA


Kimmo: "Can you point me to a good vid for that?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSAnAmBXYSY This for the ten, I assume the 9 is similar.


Brian

Googling around I found Branford Bike has a lot of campy brifter parts + schematic :Ergo Levers - Branford Bike - Seattle/Bellevue - Campagnolo Pro Shop

Brian