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My ultegra front shifter has stopped downshifting. The lever moves, but no click and nothing happens. It seems to be stuck in the big ring position.
It's not the mech or cable (I've undone the cable and it makes no difference) .
Has anyone tried taking STI shifter/levers apart, or fixed a similar problem? Any tips?
DO NOT take those STI's apart. You will regret it. Somebody out there can but it won't be pretty.
Having said that they usually work again when lubricated.
I had a set that did the same as yours and I started to take them apart, assuming that like Campag, it was a good idea.
Wrong.
Once they were finally back in one piece I soaked them in contact cleaner to (in theory)break up the old sticky grease and gunge. Then I soaked them in WD40. With some wiggling they worked fine.Its resh lube they need.
Might I suggest a look at the CTC forum for more advice but its basically what I have said.
Yup, I'm told they explode like a swiss clock if you open them
Lube them and see if it helps...
It might still be the cable stuck in the STI - if it gets even slightly out of kilter or kinked where it leaves the unit, the whole lever will seize.
Have you had the whole cable out of the lever or just undone it at the mech end?
Otherwise as mattsccm said...
Also...they sometimes need the tension from the cable to downshift.
Have you had the whole cable out of the lever or just undone it at the mech end?
I can't get the cable out as it need to be in the small ring position for the cable end to line up with the hole....
Also...they sometimes need the tension from the cable to downshift.
Doesn't seem to matter whether it's attached to the mech for tension or not.
I've tried filling it with wd40, but perhaps give it a bit more....
I had exactly the same problem on my old Ultegra levers a few days ago.
I put the bike upside down and soaked the sti internals with GT85 (WD40 will be fine too) then left it for 20 mins or so. I then tried moving the lever to change to the big ring several times but it still didnt shift back down. I kept wiggling the smaller lever rocking it back and forth to ease the lube in and it suddenly shifted down. I tried shifting up then down again but it too a few attempts. After that it started working like new.
I left it on its back for an hour after and its working perfectly now. It just needed soaking through.
Thats why I cleaned things out with contact cleaner.
It "melts" the old gunge first. Keep with it and it will work.
Or sell them to me for scrap value!