Replacement Options
 

I saved a Giant Nutra (hybrid 700c ) from the dump and Im going to build it up for a winter commuter. It came from the factory with 7 speed shimano alivio trigger shifters. What would be a good replacement? The right one I have is broken (broken mounting). I am looking for a cheap trigger shifter replacement as I dont want to spend much as I got it for cheap.

Edit. 7 speed rear 3 speed triple

Excellent for $18.
https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-SL-TX.../dp/B0055W6IHC

If you want something even cheaper, this Sunrace friction thumbie works quite well and has a ratcheting action. $9 for a pair. Just put one on a vintage MTB/city bike build.

SunRace friction thumbies - Amazon

Here's the bike with the shifter:

https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5456/3...d519bea6_b.jpg

Does that work for index?

Never mind, looked at the description and it listed 7 speed- SIS. Thanks. Is there anyway to buy them as a pair, instead of buying the right side and let side individually? Id like to have them match,.

Since SIS stands for Shimano Index System, I'd be surprised if it didn't.

This. Thumbies are bulletproof. Trigger shifters are notoriously finnicky and fragile.

Non-indexed thumbies all the way! (I run my 7-speed SunTour in friction mode, which let me convert painlessly to 8 speeds last year.) I am part of a team which repairs donated bicycles every year to donate to needy families, and replacing malfunctioning triggers with thumbies is my standard quick-and-clean/reliable repair. I stocked up on a bunch of thumbies at about $10/pair on eBay.

The Amazon link is for a pair; $18.95 buys both the left and right levers.

And just to give you a few more options:
Amazon sells Shimano Revoshift twist shifters for $22.99/pair.
Amazon sells Shimano SL-M310 trigger shifters for $33.99/pair.

Oh snap! That looks like it will be the option I go. Cant beat 18 for the pair! Thanks all for your help!

Can anyone explain how the the ratcheting mechanism works and feels on thumbies? Not sure i've ever used them before

The ratcheting is in very fine increments, similar in feel to running a fingernail down the teeth of a comb. It's actually "friction" shifting and not "indexing" shifting but has a clicking feel; it just does not move one shifting position per click.

Ok, here's a weird thing. I realized that the RD is a Suntour unit, and the shifters are shimano. Does that make a difference? Will it still index as long as everything is 7 speed?

SunTour derailleurs weren't designed to work with Shimano indexed shifters. With that said, some of them do coincidentally have a cable pull ratio that may be similar enough to work.

Hmm, looks like PO replaced some parts.

Is there a suntour capatable trigger shifter than can work for the suntour xc?

I could be completely wrong on all this. Looks like most of it is suntour.

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/...b.jpg~original
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/...5.jpg~original
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http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/...g.jpg~original

The suntour may index to a suntour pull which had a different cassette spacing on some of the cogs. To be honest, your best bet would be to

A) ensure your cassette/freewheel is shimano standard spacing. If it is a suntour cassette you may have issues
B) either find index shifters for suntour or shimano depending on the cassette or replace the rear derailleur with a shimano unit. If you can't find a decent 7 speed rear derailleur for less than $20 new or $10 used I'd be surprised.

Looks like I'll just do the ratchet friction thumbies and be done with it