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Lubricating a Shimano shifters

by Nixster
Fri, May 06, 2016 22:30
7

What's the stuff to use? I've been using GT85 but now they've got sticky on both brakes and up shifts. I've got the polymer cables installed and am hoping they don't react badly to GT85! Help appreciated!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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Nixster | 8 years ago
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Thanks for this, this is pretty much what I did but initially it didn't seem to work. Over a few days though the lever movement has improved I guess as the grease worked its way to the right places. 

Thanks all for the helpful suggestions. yes

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TypeVertigo | 8 years ago
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The main thing with STI levers is their internal grease tends to gum up over time. That causes the pawls in the mechanism to stop engaging as they should, and you don't get full shifts any more.

Take off the rubber brake hoods. Spray the STI lever insides with WD40, then work it into the mechanism by clicking gears up and down. The WD40 will clean out the old grease, and at this step you should be able to feel some improvement already. Leave it for a few minutes for the solvent in the WD40 to evaporate from within.

Once done, take some grease (regular Shimano works great, in my experience) and apply it to as much exposed shifter mechanism as possible. That should be good for a year or so

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Nixster | 8 years ago
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Thanks guys. Cables are recent (and expensive) Dura Ace. Mechs are fine, shifting down the cassette is crisp as you like, provided the lever has returned fully from a previous up shift. Which is the issue, they aren't keen to return fully after an up shift or using the front brake. Up shifts go through fine to the mech but the lever return is lazy and sometime stops before the last 5-10 degrees are completed, which is enough to stop the downshift engaging.

I've liberally applied spray grease and the right shifter was fairly functional on a long ride today but nowhere near as snappy on the return as it should be, especially for small movements of the lever. Is it dead?!

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StraelGuy | 8 years ago
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Cheers huntswheelers, That stuff looks awesome. I've just sent them an email enquiry to verify it's safe for use on plastics. If they confirm, I'm buying a can!

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huntswheelers | 8 years ago
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XCP Lubricate & Protect for the shifters....but also check the cables at the mech's and the routing to the mech's

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allanj | 8 years ago
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How old are the cables?  I'd have thought it was more likely to be them that was the issue than the shifters themselves with what you describe

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bikebot | 8 years ago
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White lithium grease.

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