I switched from downtube shifters to a stem shifter on my Matsuri. Took it to my LBS for adjustment of the shifters. Bad news! Even though I sorta toyed around with shifter before installing it, the rear deraileur wont hold. It keeps slipping. Has anyone overhauled a stem shifter. It has click stops when going from the big cogs to the small cogs, but the click stops aren't strong enough to hold the gear. It worked fine with the down tube shifter. Am I ebay bound to find a working shifter?

Is there any way to increase the friction?

The LBS said he tightened it as tight as he could. I think it is only friction when going to the big cogs. The click stops are supposed to work when going back to the smaller cogs. Probably needs to be taken apart and cleaned. Just need encouragement from someone who has had the same problem and fixed it, if possible.

Is it a power ratchet, which clicks on downshifts? You may be able to disassemble, clean, and reassemble it successfully. If it were my bike, I would replace the stem shifters with barcons, but that's admittedly a personal bias ...

Post a pic of our shifters so we know what type they are. Also, what deraileurs are you running?

Take 'em apart and check the springs and metal parts that "click". I had a similar issue and one of the interior parts was broken. Scavenged a part from a rusted up set and it worked fine. ALSO, check the screws that tighten the actual lever to the stem mount. If those are too lose, the lever will not hold and check if the washer is intact, you may not be getting it as tight as it can be if the washer is broken or missing.

I'm thinking either a friction washer is missing, or the little flat bit of spring steel that serves as the ratchet is broken or partially dislodged.

Sometimes the ratchet drum gets put back in the wrong way 'round, too.

I agree with John. Maybe a cleaning will do the trick but if not and before you head to ebay, post a pic. I have several Suntour clicky stemies from the dump and I might have what you need for the cost postage or a friendly trade.

+ + on the barend shifters, John. I took my first shakedown ride on the Paramount on Wednesday. It is great not to have to reach to that down tube on a 25 inch frame to shift! I picked up another set on ebay last winter and when I retape the bars on the Traveler this winter, barends will be installed.

Let me know if you can't salvage your shifter. I have a couple of stem shifters (Sun Tour and Shimano if memory serves correctly). I know I'll never use them.

Thanks for all the info.
It is a power shifter, long shifter thingys. It was pretty clean when I took it off a bike. so someone may have had it apart. It comes off this weekend and I'll see what it looks like inside. I have no idea what sequence the parts are supposed to be in . It's the click portion which seems to not working correctly. The deraileurs are suntour BL or blue line. History says the they were 1 step below the cyclone II.
I may have to work out something with you Pastorbob!!

++1 for John's suggestion. Email andrew at yellow jersey, they have a nice resource of suntour repair manuals, etc. They are big on Suntour. That should give you the info you need and he gets back to you quick.

Mike, you were right on! The ratchet drum was in backwards, turned it over, reassembled the shifter and rode it, everything worked as it should. Didn't even have to take the shifters off the stem. Took me all of 15 minutes to fix it. Just need a bit of encouragement. Thanks to all who responded, you guys are great. I have a whole bunch of schwinn approved parts. email me if interested. Oglala@npgcable.com

Glad the stem shifters worked again for you!