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Date: 15 Jul 2007 09:17:47
From: Peter Headland
Subject: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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It seems like my right 9sp Shimano Tiagra brake/shift lever ("brifter") has finally developed a terminal case of the "floppy lever syndrome" in which the lever doesn't pick up the cable to shift to lower gears. For a while, flushing with WD-40 would cure it, but never for very long. I might curse myself for buying the el-cheapo Tiagra instead of Ultegra, but my impression is that this malady can afflict any Shimano shift levers that get used in the rain or dust. Anyhow, now the question is "what to replace it with"? It seems like there are lots of new (swap-out) 10sp STI lever sets around for reasonable prices on eBay, but new 9sp is becoming rare and expensive. So the obvious choice seemed to be get an new or unused set of 10sp levers and use a JTek adapter (http://www.jtekengineering.com/ shiftmate.htm) to adapt them to my 9sp drivetrain. Unfortunately, I am very fond of Shimano's FlightDeck, and my impression is that I would need a new computer and a new wiring harness. IOW, my 6501 FlightDeck and wiring harness won't work with the 10sp levers, and even if I replace the computer, the 6501 wiring harness won't fit the 10sp levers. 1. Am I right about the FlightDeck compatibility issues? 2. If so, any suggestions where I can get a new or nearly-new set of 9sp levers for a sensible price? I don't want a set that have been heavily used. 3. Should I just bite the bullet and switch to the 10sp levers so that next time one breaks I don't have to worry about finding 9sp levers (which by then will presumably be unobtainable)? 4. On the grounds I might have to buy a new computer, I considered switching to Campag Veloce 10sp levers (again with a JTek adapter) and Campy's Ergobrain, but I have a 12-34 cassette, and it seems like Ergobrain only goes up to 32T sprockets. Is this true? 5. Any other ideas? Just don't tell me that real men don't need gear indicators and hood-mounted buttons; I happen to like them a lot. -- Peter Headland
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Date: 25 Aug 2007 14:17:11
From: Jorg Lueke
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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On Jul 15, 8:43 pm, shayana.kadi...@gmail.com wrote: > On Jul 15, 12:17 pm, Peter Headland <PHeadl...@excite.com> wrote: > > > > > It seems like my right 9sp Shimano Tiagra brake/shift lever > > ("brifter") has finally developed a terminal case of the "floppy lever > > syndrome" in which the lever doesn't pick up the cable to shift to > > lower gears. For a while, flushing with WD-40 would cure it, but never > > for very long. I might curse myself for buying the el-cheapo Tiagra > > instead of Ultegra, but my impression is that this malady can afflict > > any Shimano shift levers that get used in the rain or dust. > > > Anyhow, now the question is "what to replace it with"? It seems like > > there are lots of new (swap-out) 10sp STI lever sets around for > > reasonable prices on eBay, but new 9sp is becoming rare and expensive. > > So the obvious choice seemed to be get an new or unused set of 10sp > > levers and use a JTek adapter (http://www.jtekengineering.com/ > > shiftmate.htm) to adapt them to my 9sp drivetrain. > > > Unfortunately, I am very fond of Shimano's FlightDeck, and my > > impression is that I would need a new computer and a new wiring > > harness. IOW, my 6501 FlightDeck and wiring harness won't work with > > the 10sp levers, and even if I replace the computer, the 6501 wiring > > harness won't fit the 10sp levers. > > > 1. Am I right about the FlightDeck compatibility issues? > > > 2. If so, any suggestions where I can get a new or nearly-new set of > > 9sp levers for a sensible price? I don't want a set that have been > > heavily used. > > > 3. Should I just bite the bullet and switch to the 10sp levers so that > > next time one breaks I don't have to worry about finding 9sp levers > > (which by then will presumably be unobtainable)? > > > 4. On the grounds I might have to buy a new computer, I considered > > switching to Campag Veloce 10sp levers (again with a JTek adapter) and > > Campy's Ergobrain, but I have a 12-34 cassette, and it seems like > > Ergobrain only goes up to 32T sprockets. Is this true? > > > 5. Any other ideas? Just don't tell me that real men don't need gear > > indicators and hood-mounted buttons; I happen to like them a lot. > > > -- > > Peter Headland > > There is a little philips-head screw -- the threads are maybe 8mm > long? -- its head is located near the top of the small (upshift) > lever, just under the brake lever hood -- the head of the screw faces > the back of the bike. It almost looks like it is attaching the small > lever to some part of the larger (brake) lever. > > As this screw gets looser, the larger cogs start to become > unavailable. That is your warning sign to tighten it (preferably with > loctite on the threads). If it falls out, pretty soon the cable jams > inside the shifter and it is dead. > > I've had two start to unscrew only when bike shops shot WD40 into the > shifting mechanism. Rattling sounds from the lever are also often a > warning sign of a loosening screw. > > I have saved one shifter when the screw fell out -- I went into a > nearby bike shop and asked them if they had a dead shifter in the junk > parts pile. They did (of course! it's STI, they die all the time...), > and I cannibalized the screw. (They are short, as I mentioned, and so > they may be hard to find at a hardware store.)--Shayana Kadidal The jammed cable and dead shifter is something I've just experienced although I do still have that screw. Now that the cable is jammed is there an easy way to get it out?
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 14:04:51
From: Peter Headland
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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Peter Headland wrote: > it seems like Ergobrain only goes up to 32T sprockets. Is this true? Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote: > 29t for Campagnolo. Nope - the manual says 31t: Ingranaggi: 30 - 56 Pignoni: 9speed: 7 combinazioni memorizzate; 10speed: 5 combinazioni memorizzate; free: 11 - 31 manualmente My question was whether this is the true limit, or will it auto-sense other combinations? It seems foolish for Campy to impose such tight limits - what would be the harm of being more permissive? Plenty of folk like a 28t chain ring, for example. What they have achieved by this is to limit their sales (it certainly stopped me from considering switching in the case at hand). -- Peter Headland
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 12:54:20
From: Peter Headland
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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landotter wrote: > Tiagra right lever is ~100 bucks at your choice of online stores. My Googling skills must be inadequate - can you provide a link? -- Peter Headland
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 07:13:34
From: Wayne
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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On Jul 15, 11:17 am, Peter Headland <PHeadl...@excite.com > wrote: > It seems like my right 9sp Shimano Tiagra brake/shift lever > ("brifter") has finally developed a terminal case of the "floppy lever > syndrome" in which the lever doesn't pick up the cable to shift to > lower gears. For a while, flushing with WD-40 would cure it, but never > for very long. I might curse myself for buying the el-cheapo Tiagra > instead of Ultegra, but my impression is that this malady can afflict > any Shimano shift levers that get used in the rain or dust. > > Anyhow, now the question is "what to replace it with"? It seems like > there are lots of new (swap-out) 10sp STI lever sets around for > reasonable prices on eBay, but new 9sp is becoming rare and expensive. > So the obvious choice seemed to be get an new or unused set of 10sp > levers and use a JTek adapter (http://www.jtekengineering.com/ > shiftmate.htm) to adapt them to my 9sp drivetrain. > > Unfortunately, I am very fond of Shimano's FlightDeck, and my > impression is that I would need a new computer and a new wiring > harness. IOW, my 6501 FlightDeck and wiring harness won't work with > the 10sp levers, and even if I replace the computer, the 6501 wiring > harness won't fit the 10sp levers. > > 1. Am I right about the FlightDeck compatibility issues? > > 2. If so, any suggestions where I can get a new or nearly-new set of > 9sp levers for a sensible price? I don't want a set that have been > heavily used. > > 3. Should I just bite the bullet and switch to the 10sp levers so that > next time one breaks I don't have to worry about finding 9sp levers > (which by then will presumably be unobtainable)? > > 4. On the grounds I might have to buy a new computer, I considered > switching to Campag Veloce 10sp levers (again with a JTek adapter) and > Campy's Ergobrain, but I have a 12-34 cassette, and it seems like > Ergobrain only goes up to 32T sprockets. Is this true? > > 5. Any other ideas? Just don't tell me that real men don't need gear > indicators and hood-mounted buttons; I happen to like them a lot. > > -- > Peter Headland No ergobrain option: My wifes uses 2006 Campoy Veloce 10 speed shifters work well with Shimano 9 speed cogs and campy rear long cage rd without Jtek. This would allow you to use Shimano Mountain cogs. I have used it with a 9 speed Shimano chain which is ok but a slightly narrower 10 speed Shimano chain works perfectly. I understand the 2007 version of Veloce not as good and you may need to go to Chorus to get same functionaloity as 2006 Veloce. If you need a ergobbrain go campy rear cogs. If you want to upgrade to 10speed shimano rear cogs later then add Jtek for that application. I have this on my bike and it works great.
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 12:08:57
From: Qui si parla Campagnolo
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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On Jul 15, 10:17 am, Peter Headland <PHeadl...@excite.com > wrote: > It seems like my right 9sp Shimano Tiagra brake/shift lever > ("brifter") has finally developed a terminal case of the "floppy lever > syndrome" in which the lever doesn't pick up the cable to shift to > lower gears. For a while, flushing with WD-40 would cure it, but never > for very long. I might curse myself for buying the el-cheapo Tiagra > instead of Ultegra, but my impression is that this malady can afflict > any Shimano shift levers that get used in the rain or dust. > > Anyhow, now the question is "what to replace it with"? It seems like > there are lots of new (swap-out) 10sp STI lever sets around for > reasonable prices on eBay, but new 9sp is becoming rare and expensive. > So the obvious choice seemed to be get an new or unused set of 10sp > levers and use a JTek adapter (http://www.jtekengineering.com/ > shiftmate.htm) to adapt them to my 9sp drivetrain. > > Unfortunately, I am very fond of Shimano's FlightDeck, and my > impression is that I would need a new computer and a new wiring > harness. IOW, my 6501 FlightDeck and wiring harness won't work with > the 10sp levers, and even if I replace the computer, the 6501 wiring > harness won't fit the 10sp levers. > > 1. Am I right about the FlightDeck compatibility issues? Yes you are. > > 2. If so, any suggestions where I can get a new or nearly-new set of > 9sp levers for a sensible price? I don't want a set that have been > heavily used. Ebay > > 3. Should I just bite the bullet and switch to the 10sp levers so that > next time one breaks I don't have to worry about finding 9sp levers > (which by then will presumably be unobtainable)? Might look at Campagnolo..no more busted shifter syndrome(they can be fixed). > > 4. On the grounds I might have to buy a new computer, I considered > switching to Campag Veloce 10sp levers (again with a JTek adapter) and > Campy's Ergobrain, but I have a 12-34 cassette, and it seems like > Ergobrain only goes up to 32T sprockets. Is this true? 29t for Campagnolo. > > 5. Any other ideas? Just don't tell me that real men don't need gear > indicators and hood-mounted buttons; I happen to like them a lot. > > -- > Peter Headland
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Date: 16 Jul 2007 01:43:49
From:
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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On Jul 15, 12:17 pm, Peter Headland <PHeadl...@excite.com > wrote: > It seems like my right 9sp Shimano Tiagra brake/shift lever > ("brifter") has finally developed a terminal case of the "floppy lever > syndrome" in which the lever doesn't pick up the cable to shift to > lower gears. For a while, flushing with WD-40 would cure it, but never > for very long. I might curse myself for buying the el-cheapo Tiagra > instead of Ultegra, but my impression is that this malady can afflict > any Shimano shift levers that get used in the rain or dust. > > Anyhow, now the question is "what to replace it with"? It seems like > there are lots of new (swap-out) 10sp STI lever sets around for > reasonable prices on eBay, but new 9sp is becoming rare and expensive. > So the obvious choice seemed to be get an new or unused set of 10sp > levers and use a JTek adapter (http://www.jtekengineering.com/ > shiftmate.htm) to adapt them to my 9sp drivetrain. > > Unfortunately, I am very fond of Shimano's FlightDeck, and my > impression is that I would need a new computer and a new wiring > harness. IOW, my 6501 FlightDeck and wiring harness won't work with > the 10sp levers, and even if I replace the computer, the 6501 wiring > harness won't fit the 10sp levers. > > 1. Am I right about the FlightDeck compatibility issues? > > 2. If so, any suggestions where I can get a new or nearly-new set of > 9sp levers for a sensible price? I don't want a set that have been > heavily used. > > 3. Should I just bite the bullet and switch to the 10sp levers so that > next time one breaks I don't have to worry about finding 9sp levers > (which by then will presumably be unobtainable)? > > 4. On the grounds I might have to buy a new computer, I considered > switching to Campag Veloce 10sp levers (again with a JTek adapter) and > Campy's Ergobrain, but I have a 12-34 cassette, and it seems like > Ergobrain only goes up to 32T sprockets. Is this true? > > 5. Any other ideas? Just don't tell me that real men don't need gear > indicators and hood-mounted buttons; I happen to like them a lot. > > -- > Peter Headland There is a little philips-head screw -- the threads are maybe 8mm long? -- its head is located near the top of the small (upshift) lever, just under the brake lever hood -- the head of the screw faces the back of the bike. It almost looks like it is attaching the small lever to some part of the larger (brake) lever. As this screw gets looser, the larger cogs start to become unavailable. That is your warning sign to tighten it (preferably with loctite on the threads). If it falls out, pretty soon the cable jams inside the shifter and it is dead. I've had two start to unscrew only when bike shops shot WD40 into the shifting mechanism. Rattling sounds from the lever are also often a warning sign of a loosening screw. I have saved one shifter when the screw fell out -- I went into a nearby bike shop and asked them if they had a dead shifter in the junk parts pile. They did (of course! it's STI, they die all the time...), and I cannibalized the screw. (They are short, as I mentioned, and so they may be hard to find at a hardware store.)--Shayana Kadidal
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 17:06:22
From: Michael Press
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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In article <1184516267.321675.246220@g37g2000prf.googlegroups.com > , Peter Headland <PHeadland@excite.com > wrote: > It seems like my right 9sp Shimano Tiagra brake/shift lever > ("brifter") has finally developed a terminal case of the "floppy lever > syndrome" in which the lever doesn't pick up the cable to shift to > lower gears. For a while, flushing with WD-40 would cure it, but never > for very long. There's yer problem. WD-crap is not a lubricant, it is glue in a penetrating vehicle. Use a real penetrating lubricant, such as LPS-2 and get back to us. -- Michael Press
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 12:02:57
From: landotter
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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On Jul 15, 11:17 am, Peter Headland <PHeadl...@excite.com > wrote: > It seems like my right 9sp Shimano Tiagra brake/shift lever > ("brifter") has finally developed a terminal case of the "floppy lever > syndrome" in which the lever doesn't pick up the cable to shift to > lower gears. For a while, flushing with WD-40 would cure it, but never > for very long. I might curse myself for buying the el-cheapo Tiagra > instead of Ultegra, but my impression is that this malady can afflict > any Shimano shift levers that get used in the rain or dust. > Tiagra right lever is ~100 bucks at your choice of online stores.
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Date: 15 Jul 2007 10:06:41
From:
Subject: Re: Replacing dead Shimano 9sp STI levers (brifters)
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On Jul 15, 12:17 pm, Peter Headland <PHeadl...@excite.com > wrote: > It seems like my right 9sp Shimano Tiagra brake/shift lever > ("brifter") has finally developed a terminal case of the "floppy lever > syndrome" in which the lever doesn't pick up the cable to shift to > lower gears. For a while, flushing with WD-40 would cure it, but never > for very long. I might curse myself for buying the el-cheapo Tiagra > instead of Ultegra, but my impression is that this malady can afflict > any Shimano shift levers that get used in the rain or dust. > > Anyhow, now the question is "what to replace it with"? It seems like > there are lots of new (swap-out) 10sp STI lever sets around for > reasonable prices on eBay, but new 9sp is becoming rare and expensive. > So the obvious choice seemed to be get an new or unused set of 10sp > levers and use a JTek adapter (http://www.jtekengineering.com/ > shiftmate.htm) to adapt them to my 9sp drivetrain. > > Unfortunately, I am very fond of Shimano's FlightDeck, and my > impression is that I would need a new computer and a new wiring > harness. IOW, my 6501 FlightDeck and wiring harness won't work with > the 10sp levers, and even if I replace the computer, the 6501 wiring > harness won't fit the 10sp levers. > > 1. Am I right about the FlightDeck compatibility issues? > > 2. If so, any suggestions where I can get a new or nearly-new set of > 9sp levers for a sensible price? I don't want a set that have been > heavily used. > > 3. Should I just bite the bullet and switch to the 10sp levers so that > next time one breaks I don't have to worry about finding 9sp levers > (which by then will presumably be unobtainable)? > > 4. On the grounds I might have to buy a new computer, I considered > switching to Campag Veloce 10sp levers (again with a JTek adapter) and > Campy's Ergobrain, but I have a 12-34 cassette, and it seems like > Ergobrain only goes up to 32T sprockets. Is this true? > > 5. Any other ideas? Just don't tell me that real men don't need gear > indicators and hood-mounted buttons; I happen to like them a lot. > > -- > Peter Headland My personal opinion would be for you to bite the bullet and go 10spd; the only reson is the parts supply issues you are having will magnify in time. You only have so many years before your cycling wains or whatever, you might as well enjoy them as much as you can. On a value per dollar scale consider how long your new purchases will last and still be good compared to a car or laptop; after 5 years what's the resale value of your car ? how much would your laptop be worth ? And your bike, if you maintain it properly, will continue to give you many miles and hours of enjoyment.
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