Campagnolo Veloce 9 speed multiple downshifts

[was8v]

I have picked up a bike with Veloce 9 speed

Now bear in mind I'm used to shimano.

The shifting is terrible, the worst is down shift, you have to tap the thumb paddle with just the right amount of pressure, and the right amount of pressure is different for each gear or it does multiple downshifts.

Its best to stab at it with force but dont go too far

Upshift takes way more pressure than shimano.

I rinsed the insides with wd40 and lubed the cable and it improved it slightly.

Is the shifter toast?

 

[pigman]

One thing ive found with campag v shimano is that campag is far more clunky but far more defined between shifts. If yours isnt well defined, i'd say something is wrong.
Upshift will take more pressure than shimano, the latter having a lighter touch, but it shouldnt be an effort.

My first port of call would be to investigate if theres a sticking cable - that would make upshifts hard and on downshifts wouldnt release the mech properly

 

[was8v]

I will try a new cable. When I had the hood back I was surprised to see the plastic thumb paddle directly pushed the metal toothed ring around! surely not great having plastic on metal(!)

 

[hamster]

Campag shifters are very rebuildable, so the shifter is very rarely toast.

FIrst point of call is cables. Campag runs with slightly thinner gear cables (IIRC 1.5mm instead of 1.6), so if somebody has run Shimano inners through Campag outers it's going to be sticky.
It also might have a snapped G-spring. They will work with one spring (in a get-you-home kind of way) but indeed it gets tetchy. Springs are £5 or so fron Sigma Sports.

What shifters are they? Pointy top, pre-2001 round top, post-01 round top?

 

[hamster]

When I had the hood back I was surprised to see the plastic thumb paddle directly pushed the metal toothed ring around! surely not great having plastic on metal(!)

That's not right. The paddle attaches to a metal pawl arrangement. What generation shifters are they? The latest Veloce have plastic innards but IIRC the ratchet ring is plastic too.

The last generation of round top have cruddy insides and are distinguishable by the upshift paddle poking through a hole in the rubber hood instead of a slot. Chorus & Record keep the old type insides.

 

[JoeH]

Put a pic up of it.

How does the left shifter compare in feel, as they typically get less wear.

 

[was8v]

Here you go. See plastic lever acting on the metal toothed ring!

 

[JoeH]

Yep that is normal looking

From my experience the hoods and general condition look like they need servicing I.e. New g spring. This is enough educated guess based on the visual condition. Obviously ymmv.

I'm sure someone will recommend a firm.

Assume a new cable inner and outer didnt make a difference.

Also how does it compare to left lever always a good benchmark?

 

[JoeH]

Any progress on this interesting thread?

 

[konacarl]

Its a worn ratchet mechanism that you cant buy without replacing the whole lever body complete.
Ive had it on my 10 speed for years and I found that a slight amount of pressure on the upshift lever as you downshift stops the overshifting downwards. By applying a little pressure on the upshift lever it helps seat the ratchet mechanism.