Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the March Giveaway: Coming Soon 3/24


Rear shifter not connected to tensioned cable?
#1
Hey all, odd problem I've got. I recently bought a used mountian bike with a shimano ST-EF50-8R 22.2 shifter. It shifted fairly well, but I my eagerness to make it perfect i unhooked the cable to adjust the high and low set skrews while following this ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH43OCmArUw&index=2&list=FL3OLIpvvHxxrG9qN3VCg4JA ) video. It went fine, up untill i reconnected the cable. At that point, I notice two things.

One: When i pulled the cable tight, it was around 3/4 of an inch farther back than before, and I couldn't pull it any further (pic will make this clearer).

Two: My rear shifter now will not change gears at all, and pulling the "gear up" trigger does nothing. I uploaded a video to show what I mean:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQzT0kw00Ls
I feel like this is the real culprit, and somehow when I detensioned the cable something came loose in the shifter.

The attatched picture shows the cable at tension, but the clean part showing means that it was previously farther toward the back of the bike, and I can't pull it in any more. Not sure if this matters.

Thank you for your advice!
Ben
  Reply
#2
With the cable looking like that, before riding the bike; I would replace all the cables and housings.

Best guess as to what happened is that when you re-attached the cable to the RD, the shifter was in the lowest gear - it should of been in the highest gear.
Nigel
  Reply
#3
(03-30-2014, 08:25 PM)nfmisso Wrote:  With the cable looking like that, before riding the bike; I would replace all the cables and housings.

Best guess as to what happened is that when you re-attached the cable to the RD, the shifter was in the lowest gear - it should of been in the highest gear.

Yes! I think you are right, when I reattached it it was in the lowest gear, which might also explain why I couldn't pull the cable as far. Unfortunately, I just loosened the cable again, but the shifter still won't move. Have I somehow detached something inside of it you think? Or should I just take it to the local shop at this point?
  Reply
#4
It is possible that something inside was broken during your attempts; a new shifter is probably less expensive than a trip to the shop to tell you that it needs a new shifter.
Nigel
  Reply
#5
You would be well advised to replace cable and housing, but you need to also know how to do the initial securing of the cable. Once the limits are set just pedal the bike until it is in the smallest rear cog. Pull on the cable where it emerges from the housing up front and shift the lever to the 1 (L) position. Then pull firmly on the cable down at the rear derailleur and tighten the clamp.
  Reply
#6
(03-31-2014, 10:43 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  It is possible that something inside was broken during your attempts; a new shifter is probably less expensive than a trip to the shop to tell you that it needs a new shifter.

Thanks Nigel, I think this will end up being my course of action after I try a few more desperate attempts to make it work.
(03-31-2014, 11:34 AM)cny-man Wrote:  You would be well advised to replace cable and housing, but you need to also know how to do the initial securing of the cable. Once the limits are set just pedal the bike until it is in the smallest rear cog. Pull on the cable where it emerges from the housing up front and shift the lever to the 1 (L) position. Then pull firmly on the cable down at the rear derailleur and tighten the clamp.

I will definitely replace the cables and housing, but I was so exited to learn a few things about adjusting it that I just couldn't wait. I did what you describe above when I reattached the cable, but I had it on the largest rear cog, and I think that somehow caused something to come loose in the shifter itself, because when I try and make it gear up, nothing will catch and the cable running into the shifter doesn't move at all (should be seeable from the video I posted).
Thanks for the advice!
Ben
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread
Author
Replies
Views
Last Post
 
2,527
08-02-2021, 07:23 AM
Last Post: Blank.Toogii
 
nmast98
2,232
11-22-2016, 05:49 PM
Last Post: nmast98
 
12,841
11-27-2015, 01:50 PM
Last Post: Painkiller
 
11,312
08-20-2013, 12:25 PM
Last Post: nfmisso

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
What tools have you bought recently?
Yesterday 06:57 PM
Santini fluted frame
Yesterday 06:47 PM
Expensive bikes with crappy wheels
Yesterday 10:15 AM
Where are you from and What is your favo...
03-27-2024 11:43 PM
2007 Trek Pilot S.P.A. 5.2
03-27-2024 07:06 PM
2010 Specialized Hardrock
03-26-2024 09:16 PM
1990 Specialized Rockhopper How to Fluff...
03-25-2024 07:05 PM
Thread busted on right pedal crank
03-24-2024 08:52 PM
Trek domane tyre
03-24-2024 05:48 PM
Modern rims crack at spoke holes
03-24-2024 05:32 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Painkiller
21 posts
no avatar 2. ReapThaWhirlwind
16 posts
no avatar 3. Jesper
15 posts
no avatar 4. GirishH
15 posts
no avatar 5. meamoantonio
15 posts