How to fix a shimano shifter that won't shift

Basic overview of reviving a Shimano rapid-fire shifter that won't function. The most common issue with non-functioning rapid-fire or STI shifters is the grease or lubricant originally used in the shifter dries out over time. This video shows how to diagnose and resolve the issue.

[bg]

Joey,
My front shifter is doing the exact same thing. Is it the same procedure?

[robertlee]

Joey, I LOVE YOU.. You just saved me more than $40 and lots of headache rewiring my Specialized HardRock. I thought for sure my shifter was broke, but after watching your video, I went out and tried your trick and OMG!!! IT WORKED!!! Genius level stuff right here folks!! THANKS A MILLION!!

[TQAA]

I volunteer for a charity here in the uk that fixes up old bikes, just been given 2 bikes with these shifters, all with the pawls stuck, all now working thanks for taking the time to post your video, made the fix easy and quick!!

[dougwilliams]

Joey ... it's been six years since you posted this video ... and it still came to my rescue. I watched several other presentations, but yours was the only one I saw that addressed this issue as clearly and effectively. I was ready to order a new shifter...but your insights helped me fix the current one...all is well and I am grateful. Thank you!

[obriaind]

I had the exact issue with a 3x9 deore drive train, and this fixed it right up. You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar, and I thank you.

[deepakdongre]

Thank you so so very much. I had tried every adjustment needed and finally being fed up decided to take it to a repair shop which would have easily cost me 500-1000 Indian rupees. Came across your video and as advised I opened up the shifters sprayed WD40 and voila....it's working now. You saved me effort, time and money. Thank you once again.

[mantroid]

I still ride a Gary Fisher '99 Aquila with thumb shift that was not working well, and I misdiagnosed that I would need to adjust cable tension. This was what I needed- worked exactly as shown. Thank you.

[shaunisaac]

Thanks Joey, Selling the wife's Stevens 9S Mtb after leaving in the shed for 5 years. SLX front shifter cleaned with WD40 then light grease. Perfect shifting onto big ring again. Thanks from UK.

[MikeJordanUnCamplicated]

Awesomeness! My exact issue started on my ride yesterday. Free moving lever when I tried to downshift. I figured the shifter was all plastic and would have to get another one. But only one I could find would take a couple of weeks. And I am going out of town with the bike. So Went looking for a fix. Found this vid. Took me 5 minutes. Working perfectly now. Glad no one could ship fast now. This was quick, easy, and free.

[LetMeFixThis]

Thanks so much, Joey. I had guessed that the problem was caused by lengthened cables. Instead I invested 10 minutes and cleaned the shifters of my 20 year old Shimano Deore XT on my old roadbike which I use for Zwift on a trainer since many years, and they work like straight from the factory again. Very much appreciated, particularly the no-nonsense, hands-on approach.

[aloisioleonischmid]

Thanks. It helped me a lot. I had tried three different bicycle repair shops and got the most diverse answers. It took me three and a half minutes to watch your video once, and other 10 minutes to solve the bug.

[djtrm]

Adding to the list of those that just found this video and saved themselves either equipment replacement or a trip to the local shop. I used a little bit of Deep Creep instead of WD40, freed it right up. Blow out with compressed air and some silicone lube and works like new. Thank you!

[rcfixitall]

Great video....well delivered, clear, concise camera angles & lighting...but most importantly, well spoken and explained in an easy to understand manner..
Great job! Thanks

[kwik]

Thank you! Sitting 20 years. 20 minutes later and im as good as new.

[randykelsoe]

Thank you very much for this video. My bike hung in the garage for a few years. The front shifting was fine, bit the rear would only shift 3 gears, then stop. The only penetrating oil I had was WD40, and I did not want to use that. I sprayed some GUNK Silicone Spray inside the shifter and after about 30 minutes, it just started working. Excellent video!!!!

[TOM]

Thanks Joey, I thought my Shimano ST-EF29-8 Speed on my Raleigh Tandem were done as I was out for a ride and they would not shift up to a harder gear, so I only had the front triple chain ring to work with. After getting back home, I thought I would look up this shifter and I would probably have to order another set. Then, like so many other things, I thought i'll just try and see if there is a fix on YouTube and I happened upon your video. I have a lot of experience fixing bikes, but his shifter is a little older and I was unfamiliar with the internal mechanism. Your video made it easy and it did fix my rear shifter, so I also did the same thing to the front shifter. Thank you, you rock!

[kurt]

I didn't have WD-40, so I tried silicone spray. It didn't work. I then reasoned that if the issue is grease, isopropyl alcohol might work, so I put 30 ml of alcohol in a syringe and blasted every hole in the shifter. It worked! I never would have thought of doing that if it weren't for this video.

[kayasper]

I have exactly this model shifter on my bike, with exactly the same failure. In the bike shop they claimed it is "beyond repair" and they sold me some new shifters. Now withouth having to loose nothing, I opened the old ones, cleaned them and slightly relubricated them with a thin oil. Everything works fine again. Just like in your excellent video!
So there was no need at all to buy new shifters.

[JanneOuwerkerk]

Hi, i wished i had seen this video earlier. Many hours dedicated tuning the gears without any progress. And your tip was a direct succes! Very happy with this solution. Thanks! Greetings from the Netherlands.

[nicolaswhitelaw]

Just got my old Kona back that I lent to friend and which he never used in a decade. Had precisely this problem and this video helped me solve it. Cheers from rainy Scotland