The wifes Litespeed has Shimano 600 shifters. They are not working right and I would liek to take them apart and see what's wrong.
Any info out there about them?
Any info out there about them?
Taking apart Shimano 600 shifters?
- Thread starter nat
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What are or aren't they doing?
- Thread starter
- #3
The rear shifter will only downshift, it will intermittently upshift. I thought maybe the cable was sticky in the housing or maybe the derailer was stiff and not pulling on it, so I grabbed the cable and pulled on it while working the shifters..........
......still not working right. Her Litespeed is 15 years old and these shifters have never been replaced, or cleaned inside very much.
Before we consider replacing them, I figured I would try to fix them.
......still not working right. Her Litespeed is 15 years old and these shifters have never been replaced, or cleaned inside very much.
Before we consider replacing them, I figured I would try to fix them.
You might be able to find a parts diagram here: http://techdocs.shimano.com/techdoc...<>ast_id=1408474395181679&bmUID=1233515569459
I usually start with pulling back the hood and spraying lots of WD-40 while working the levers. This procedure can flush crap out of there, but won't fix a broken part.
I usually start with pulling back the hood and spraying lots of WD-40 while working the levers. This procedure can flush crap out of there, but won't fix a broken part.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
They are early index shifter and highly dependent on well lubricated cables. Replace those, lube the shifter body and pivots on the rear derailer and my guess is it will work fine for another 15 years. Is is 7 speed or 8?
I second the WD-40 use. A local mechanic gave me that tip when my mtn bike shifter stopped working. It worked on my stuck shifter.
Spray the crap out that thing and see what happens.
Spray the crap out that thing and see what happens.
Unlike Campy, Shimano components are known for hard-to service. The good news is that they are relatively cheap to replace. However, You might want to confirm whether it is a bad shifter. More than 90% of the shifting problem are actually due to the derailleur, cable and hosing etc. The good quality shifters like Shimano 600 can take years of 'abuses', and when it fell, you should be able to tell, as it will:
(1) Not engage when you try to shift,
(2) Not lock in place when you done shifting, or
(3) Not release when you shifting the other way.
For other problems, such as hesitate to shift, not shifting in right cogs etc, it is more likely due to the cable, derailleur etc. Moreover, more than half of the times, it is simply the cable tension is not adjusted properly. (shift to smallest cog, make sure you don't have any slack in shifter cable, pull it tight if you do), then use the cable adjuster to make sure derailleur line up with the cog. Of course as other suggest, WD-40 on the derailleur will help (in case the spring is rusted). You might also want to replace the cable/housing, if you have not done a tune up for the past two years.
Good luck.
(1) Not engage when you try to shift,
(2) Not lock in place when you done shifting, or
(3) Not release when you shifting the other way.
For other problems, such as hesitate to shift, not shifting in right cogs etc, it is more likely due to the cable, derailleur etc. Moreover, more than half of the times, it is simply the cable tension is not adjusted properly. (shift to smallest cog, make sure you don't have any slack in shifter cable, pull it tight if you do), then use the cable adjuster to make sure derailleur line up with the cog. Of course as other suggest, WD-40 on the derailleur will help (in case the spring is rusted). You might also want to replace the cable/housing, if you have not done a tune up for the past two years.
Good luck.
15 years... Are these the older style S.I.S. shifters with the shift levers mounted on the downtube?
If so, I'd be willing to bet that the indexing teeth within the shift levers are broken/missing. I've gone through two sets of shift levers on my Centurion Ironman daily commuter. Mine had the same symptoms as yours and when I unbolted the shift levers, most of the teeth dropped out into my hand. The teeth are surprisingly thin. Advice from my bike shop was that this is very common for the older Shimano 600 S.I.S.
If these are the brake lever mounted shifters then I'd agree with all of the previous advice.
- Thread starter
- #9
Thanks for all the good advice! These are brake/shifter combo, not downtube.
I removed the pivot pin and junked the old cable and housing. I used WD40, cleaned everything up as best I could and reassembled with new cable and housing. Works mostly normal now
The shifter for the front derailer is still acting weird. It wont shift up until after you have tried once, then it will index. Shifts down just fine.
I removed the pivot pin and junked the old cable and housing. I used WD40, cleaned everything up as best I could and reassembled with new cable and housing. Works mostly normal now
The shifter for the front derailer is still acting weird. It wont shift up until after you have tried once, then it will index. Shifts down just fine.
Thanks for all the good advice! These are brake/shifter combo, not downtube.
I removed the pivot pin and junked the old cable and housing. I used WD40, cleaned everything up as best I could and reassembled with new cable and housing. Works mostly normal now
The shifter for the front derailer is still acting weird. It wont shift up until after you have tried once, then it will index. Shifts down just fine.
Nat, it sounds like you have a Shimano short reach R600 shifter (similar version as regular ultegra but for smaller hand, popular for women bike). Anyway, have you changed the size of chain ring at all? (If you had changed a crankset with larger ring you will have to make adjustment for the front derailleur position). If not, I would WD-40 the front derailleur. You may also have to adjust the front derailleur cable tension (sounds like yours is too tight).
Hose the inside of the shifter out with WD-40 by spraying in though the cable access hole. As others have said, it cleans and softens the old sticky grease that is in there. Work the shifter thought the gears untill it starts working as it should. Rinse it out with another round of WD and blow it out with compressed air. Rinse w/ WD and blow untill dirt no longer comes out. Then lube it with Tri flow by squirting it in through the same cable hole. Make the Triflow treatment part of your routine maintenance.
Do not take it apart. PITA.
Do not take it apart. PITA.
The original grease in these shifters dries out and cakes up. I used a degreaser and then flooded with TriFlow and dissolved the dried grease. I did think of taking the Shimano 600 shifters off one of my late wife's bikes but they have the same problem.