Ultegra shifter problem

murf85

I dropped my bike into the LBS yesterday for two new gear cables.

When they attempted to change the front derailer cable, they were unable to remove it from it's housing in the shifter. It seems like the cable end has become jammed inside in the shifter in it's housing and no amount of pushing or wiggling of the cable will free it or push it through.

Has anybody come across this before? And if so, what did ye do?

LBS are saying new shifters are needed...but I'm very reluctant in handing over so much cash...

Any ideas?

Cheers

bcmf

murf85 wrote: »

Any ideas?

Yes. Campagnolo.


Seriosly it is fixable but you may need to remove the shifter and maybe the cover off the the top of the lever to try and wiggle it out.
There is also the option of stripping the shifter. Not for the faint hearted b ut its been done.
LBS wont do it as they are not made for stripping.

jiffybag

The best tool for removing the broken piece of cable is ......patience. It can be done , remove the lever from the handle bars and get a long pointed piece of metal . I normally use a metal scribber , shift the lever into a higher gear setting for clearance and try to wiggle the piece out using the scribber. It may take a while but it will eventually dislodge itself and drop out.
STI levers are way too expensive to put in the bin for this minor issue.

Good luck.

murf85

jiffybag wrote: »

The best tool for removing the broken piece of cable is ......patience. It can be done , remove the lever from the handle bars and get a long pointed piece of metal . I normally use a metal scribber , shift the lever into a higher gear setting for clearance and try to wiggle the piece out using the scribber. It may take a while but it will eventually dislodge itself and drop out.
STI levers are way too expensive to put in the bin for this minor issue.

Good luck.

Cheers guys...I must admit patience is running very thin at the moment with it, just short of trying to drill it out!!!

endacl

murf85 wrote: »

jiffybag wrote: »

The best tool for removing the broken piece of cable is ......patience. It can be done , remove the lever from the handle bars and get a long pointed piece of metal . I normally use a metal scribber , shift the lever into a higher gear setting for clearance and try to wiggle the piece out using the scribber. It may take a while but it will eventually dislodge itself and drop out.
STI levers are way too expensive to put in the bin for this minor issue.

Good luck.

Cheers guys...I must admit patience is running very thin at the moment with it, just short of trying to drill it out!!!

No drill!!!!!! Have you tried heat? Heat the cable, not the shifter, using a paint stripper type heat gun or a hefty soldering iron, close to where it enters the housing. Expansion/contraction may help it get loose.

victorcarrera

Seems like some strands of the cable are broken and causing it to jam. The cable stub can only be removed in one direction so cut the cable inner as short as you can. Unravel the strands and pull out the ones that are broken. The cable end can then be poked out with a similar piece of cable. Ensure the shifter is set to low gear position before you start.

victorcarrera

jiffybag wrote: »

... shift the lever into a higher gear setting for clearance .

His problem is with the left shifter.