Problems 2010 Specialized Allez Elite
 

I am a new rider and recently purchased a 2010 Specialized Allez Elite Compact at my LBS. I was talked out of buying the Allez Sport (sora front, tiagra rear) to get the full 105 Elite. Since then I’ve had a number of problems with the front derailleur/ left shifter since buying it.

1.) Continued chain slipping/ not shifting in the front.
2.) Left shifter was stiff, sometimes got stuck and would not shift.
3.) Today I found out my 2010 bike was equipped with a 2009 Left Shimano 105 shifter instead of the 2010 shifter. (I guess the 09 version had a lot of problems)
4.) It was replaced with the new 2010 “double” shifter today and as soon as I took it home and I’ve experienced the same problems with the shifter/ derailleur.

I’ve been to the LBS 3 times in two weeks and am very frustrated. All I want to do is ride! I’m at the point I want to give it back and look for something else. I already feel a bit cheated by the bad 09 shifter on a 2010 bike. Any suggestions?

Thank you

I wonder if you might want to get think about replacement cables/housing for your FD - kinks or constrictions could be responsible for the stiff shifter and poor performance.

Send me all your '10 105 stuff, and I'll pack up all my 2008 and send it to you. Mine works fine. ;)

Seriously though, I remember my FD/shifter being a little stiff at first, like I had to force it sometimes. It got better. I do recommend learning about adjusting your derailleurs and working on it yourself.

Can you describe what you mean by "slipping/not shifting"? Do you mean, gets 1/2 way into a shift and hops in and out of that position noisily? Maybe you're not pushing the lever all the way? (It's kind of a long throw IMO.)

Don't feel jipped about getting some 09 parts on a 10 build unless there has been a useful/important change in that model line. I don't know any difference between 09 and 10 105 shifters, and I haven't heard anything about 09 ones having problems. (Not that I'd know for any reason other than people would ***** endlessly about it here.)

As for the '09 shifter, it is possible Specialized had some '09 shifters left in the "Parts bin" and are being used up. I wouldn't worry about it to much.

Having the cable checked is a great idea!

Chris

It is your bike shops responsibility to insure that your new bike is working 100%. Test ride the bike at the store next time before you take it home to insure the issues are fixed.
I have never heard of a new 105 shifter for 2010 but I have been wrong before.....

Thanks for the quick response. Right now when I push the left break lever to move the chain from the little cog to the big one it does not shift.

I can watch the derailleur move over and hear it click but it does not catch the chain. The chain kind of sits there and rubs up against the derailleur, still on the little cog.

I can't believe I've had so many problems with a new bike! Especially one that just came out of the bike shop today. From now on I'm testing it before I put it in the car. Lesson learned.

Are you sure your pushing the lever enough? The shifter will give one click and move the deraileur just a little then it should go farther and move the deraileur farther out. The first click is called trimming and allows a small movement of the deraileur to help avoid chain rub when cross chaining

Dont give up on it so quick. The Allez Elite compact is a great bike. The problems you are describing just sound like adjustment issues and not defects. Keep going back to the shop and have them fine tune it (they shouldn't be charging you since it's still new).

Even after 2000 miles, I still get some shifting issues with my Tiagra shifters (front chainrings) but it's due to front derailleur issues more so than the shifter.

Just keep at it. It'll work out. :)

Hi. I'm pushing it all the way to the left. It is just not picking up the chain and moving it to the big cog. I'm not sure what to adjust to get it to work correctly.

It is a really simple system. Either the cable is loose or they really messed up the limit screw adjustment....The below link will give you some insight...

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

Now that you mention it...

I haven't been riding my 105-equipped bike much lately, so I forgot about this:

About a year after I bought it new, I had it on the stand for cleaning. I noticed that the FD cable was destroyed, hanging on by a single thread of wire. Strangely, it had been operating like butter for who knows how long in that condition.

I replaced the cable, kept the housing. Problem-free since.

Since the bike is new, definitely have the shop fix it. After warranty is over, you may want to learn how to service your bike. Since you can't get the derailleur to move the chain to the big ring, three possibilities come to mind right off the bat.

1. Too little tension in the cable as mentioned above. Usually this requires shifting to low, loosening the cable lock screw, pulling the cable out a small distance and retightening the lock screw.

This generally can be done by hand, because the cable doesn't have to be tense in low, but if tension is required, a "Fourth Hand" made by Park and others will exert the tension needed, and hold it while you rescrew the locking screw.

The locking screw may not have been tight enough, so maybe it shifted okay at first, but then the cable gradually slipped. If it's been kind of flattened-mangled, a new cable may be called for, but shop shouldn't charge for their installation error if replacement is needed.

2. The hi-stop limit screw sets the rightward distance the derailleur cage can travel. If the derailleur moves rightward when you push the brake lever, but settles back over the small ring when you release, and if cable tension is good, you need to turn the limit screw until the derailleur "holds" over the big ring when you release pressure on the lever.

Then, once you can make the shift, fine adjustment of the limit screw is required to enable cross-chaining to whatever specs the derailleur is designed for, such as big ring + 1st cog, with trim, or 2nd or 3rd, without the chain rubbing on the derailleur inner (left) cage plate, and of course big ring +10th cog without chain rubbing on the outer (right) cage plate.

3. The FD may be out of alignment. Generally the cage plates should be parallel to the chain rings, when looking down at them, unless mfr specifies otherwise. An out-of-alignment derailleur will usually shift, perhaps balkily, unless it is really off and doesn't shift, but will announce itself by causing audible chain rub with quasi-cross-chaining such as big ring and 3rd cog or small ring and 7th cog even after trim adjustment.

If the shop lets you watch them fix it, it's a good learning opportunity.

Bingo (It's not the bike).

I bought a 2009 Specialized Allez Elite 4 months ago, and had the exact same issue with the left 105 shifter (would not shift, felt like it was stuck). LBS said it was defective (had a hairline crack internally) and sent it back to Shimano for a warranty replacement.

>I can't believe I've had so many problems with a new bike!<

So far you've listed all of two problems:

1.) Continued chain slipping/ not shifting in the front.
2.) Left shifter was stiff, sometimes got stuck and would not shift.

Your numbers 3 and 4 aren't problems. So remain calm.

Desmodici may be onto something.

>From now on I'm testing it before I put it in the car. Lesson learned.<

+1 to that.

The mechanic probably didn't set up your shifters and their tension up properly.