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I've just had to abandon a ride because my rear shifter won't release. It goes up the cogs OK but the inner release lever does nothing and doesn't even feel connected to the mechanism.
Before I spend god knows how much on a replacement is there any hope of taking one apart, finding all the springs and bits that pop out over the floor and then putting it back together so it actually works? (2014 vintage 11 speed if that makes any difference). Or maybe I just need a new bike.
Ta
Dodgy cable? Try replacing if not releasing back down the gears, squirt some GT85/WD40 down the outers first (checking these too aren't kinked/split or rough edges where they end). Also squirt some of the same stuff up in the lever mech and work back and forwards a few times on both paddles. Try these before thinking of taking the lever apart or replacing. Might free things up.
New bike seems the obvious solution
Check if the gear cable has frayed inside the lever. They usually go at the nipple and it only takes a few strands to jam things up.
Thanks all - I'll check the cable but it was only replaced a couple of months ago so should be OK. I learned the hard way that these shifters can eat cables quite quickly.
Bit of a long shot but make sure that nothing is fouling the main lever.. If the main lever is even slightly pushed over then the inner lever is disengaged and will feel as you describe.
I quite often find when I am replacing cables or bartape and have the hoods pulled forward that when i push them back if they aren't quite in the right place then it interferes with the return of the main lever and causes you exact symptoms until the main lever is allowed to fully return, note the main lever will shift just fine but the inner lever isn't re-engaged until the main lever fully returns..
Like I said a bit of a long shot but worth checking before the credit card takes a hammering.
Yes, the first series of 105 STis with the under tape gear cabling are notorious for chewing cables - sharp edge on the cable seat. Release / remove the cables and it might come free. One fix is to use a Campagnolo inner cable - it is slightly thinner / more flexible. Also check whether bar tape / hoods aren't interfering. Plenty of replacement levers on eBay - you can just replace the 'module' but only the truly afflicted would want to take one apart and expect to repair it.
I quite often find when I am replacing cables or bartape and have the hoods pulled forward that when i push them back if they aren’t quite in the right place then it interferes with the return of the main lever and causes you exact symptoms
I did precisely that when I was setting up my new bike a couple of weeks ago. Only realised what the problem was after I'd removed the, (internally routed) cable. 😒
I did precisely that when I was setting up my new bike a couple of weeks ago. Only realised what the problem was after I’d removed the, (internally routed) cable.
Not just me then..
Hmmm I pulled the hoods off when I was checking the problem last night and it didn't make any difference but given the above I'll have a poke around to make sure nothings fouling the lever.
for time / effort to replace cable I'd do that - will probably see problem when extract old cable if not I'd be pulling on the new cable before connecting to mech whilst changing up down to feel if lever pulling / releasing correctly ....and if you've a lifetime to spare ...try this...from Aus' forum how to take apart and rebuild 105 STI's
[url] https://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=62492 [/url]
impressed by content but not sure if anyone other than original gifted author comes out alive
missed this bit "I’ve just had to abandon a ride because my rear shifter won’t release...."
might need a photo of fence/lawn/patio all a bit slack? 🙂
I had an issue with a 105 front lever. If you changed down to the small ring then hit the down lever again it wouldn't come back up to the big ring unless you got off the bike and pushed the derailleur over while shifting. The bike had to go back for a warranty frame replacement before I'd even looked at fixing the issue. It came back working perfectly and the only thing that was different is that it had been re cabled.
Last week the front started playing up, only shifting across the middle of the block. It turned out to be a frayed cable. There is a an access point under the lever to remove any bits of debris and strands that have wound themselves into the mech. Don't do what I did and only find out about this after putting the new cable in and routing it all through the frame 🙂
And yes as above the bloody rubber hoods get in the way and stop the lever working properly, easiest to take the lever off it's mount then remove them while you work on it
Sorted! I dropped the lever off the mounts and pulled off all the covers, released the cable and pulled the stop end out of the shifter a bit to see if it was frayed (nooel, pulled the cable back through and it started clicking away again. So I expect something small and annoying lodged in their somewhere and giving it enough space to move did the trick. I was looking forward to a new bike too 🙁
Glad you got it fixed. I don't think it take a lot to cause a problem with them.