Deore LX shifter not working

[karin]

If you do decide to take it apart I've found atboy's videos on YouTube to be helpful - see

and/or

.

 

[Ippikin]

Disconect the cable at the rear mech and then pull on the cable as you activate the gear lever, you can vary how hard you pull and should be able to feel it come back to life, whilst doing this keep flushing with Wd40 Gt85 etc. Once working spray with white grease. Good luck!

 

[sefton1275gt]

Thanks but no luck.

Took the cover off and had a good look.

I think the spring is too weak to push the paw down onto the gears. If I push it down with a screw driver it engages the gears and clicks.

Without pushing it down it just passed over the gears

 

[Markybeau]

The bike looks like it's never been used (no wear on blocks or rims. I wonder if the shifter failed and they never fixed it and thus rode it?

Will try wd.

I suspect paws because I pulled tension on the cable and that didn't do anything while I attempted to change through the gears

It's very unlikely the shifter has failed, given the condition. It's an easy fix. Start with GT85 in the gaps, cable entries and anywhere else you can force it in. Let it soak for a while (maybe half an hour or more), and then work the shifter up and down it's range.
You might need to help it with a pick until the pawl can move on it's own. The pawl is the problem - it'sgummed up. I've had several do this and with a bit of perseverance and patience got them all working again.

 

[MR OX]

That needs two runs in an ultrasonic cleaner with some hot water, then re-greasing

 

[sefton1275gt]

Thanks. Will try today.

Thing is, I'm planning to use this bike to bikepack to Cape Wrath. So reliability is my main concern.

 

[bikeworkshop]

Symptoms do indeed sound like gum.
An unused sti or rf+ will always do this.

You've found one pawl that isn't moving - get waggling!

If the grease is 25 years old it can really solidify - you will probably need to rinse it out with solvent 1st.
Soak it in petrol or similar - no smoking!

 

[shepp]

Thanks but no luck.

Took the cover off and had a good look.

I think the spring is too weak to push the paw down onto the gears. If I push it down with a screw driver it engages the gears and clicks.

Without pushing it down it just passed over the gears View attachment 952760

Spray with WD40 and get a tiny screw driver under the part circles and raise/lower it. Even better if you can spray it at the same time. Just did mine yesterday. It definitely isn’t broken.

That looks a lovely bike, had one when new, it’s a springy frame and light wheels so it flys!!! Tyres look good but ride awful in my opinion.

 

[winjohn]

I am 99% sure this is just hardened grease. If you think about it, the spring does not have to be very strong at all to push that little pawl forward but the solidfied grease is making it too hard for the spring to do its job. These shifters are super reliable. I had a road bike wall hanger with DuraAce shifters, hardly ever been used but they did the same thing, it's well documented. If you are worried before your ride, just put some thumb shifters on...not much to go wrong then. If and when you get these working though, the more you use them the less chance of a problem.

 

[sefton1275gt]

Thanks guys! Great help.