Red front shifter not working in the cold.

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Scoops
Posts: 22
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:29 pm

by Scoops

Wow, weird. Heated shifters?? OMG, a bit of a drastic solution!

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mattr
Posts: 4671
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 6:43 pm
Location: The Grim North.

by mattr

How cold? Below freezing?
Might be condensation getting onto the working surfaces of the shifter when you take it out side, then freezing.
Bit of light spray oil to keep the water away?

mattr
Posts: 4671
Joined: Fri May 25, 2007 6:43 pm
Location: The Grim North.

by mattr

Possibly indicative of something that is on it's way out then. Difference between room temp and 8 degrees shouldn't be anywhere near enough to cause problems in a properly set up shifter.

Might just be worth a complete strip down and re-cable, just to see if it is set up properly.

rijndael
Posts: 402
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2011 12:54 pm
Location: Haines, AK - Temporarily

by rijndael

mattr wrote:Might just be worth a complete strip down and re-cable, just to see if it is set up properly.
I agree. I wouldn't be surprised if you found a frayed cable.

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743power
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Location: Colorado

by 743power

Do you have the original red gore cables? If so, I would swap out the inner cable first and check all the ferrules for signs of clogging from the coating that's shredded off the cable.

After that, peel back or remove the hood and check for dirt or debris inside the shifter, particularly towards the bottom. Spray some alcohol or fast disolving solvent like clean streak in there, let it dry and put some grease on the pawls and ratchet gear. Just a dab or two with a q tip is fine.
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theremery
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Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2005 10:56 am
Location: New Zealand

by theremery

I'm gonna guess it's a steel cable, Juan. Just a tiny bit of expansion/contraction of the cable going on? (maybe exacerbated by clingy grease getting a little thicker as it cools). Give it a QUICK SPRAY OUT with crc or similar to reduce internal grit and re-cable it and she'll be back to normal, would be my guess. I'd certainly give it a go! (you'll have to get SOME lube back in there somehow too).
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