Fixing SRAM Grip Shift Shifter That Won't Click/Stay In Gear

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

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[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@Presto Rodrigues Shrug. There are different kinds of cranks, for different kinds of bottom brackets. There is no such thing as a "normal" mtb. Never even heard of a HERCULES ULTIMA DX. You are just going to have to figure out what you have, and what you need, and go from there.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@Presto Rodrigues Just realized you double posted this same thing on two different videos. That's a no.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

If there any easy possible way to switch/convert a 3 speed hub from a standard right side chain/sprocket drive to the left side for a motorized bike build? Many people try to use jackshaft kits so they have a few extra gears but it's more trouble than it's worth.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@michaelbrinks8089 Buy a new wheel.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

@@RJTheBikeGuy My question is.....Do they make a left hand drive 3 speed hub/wheel ? If no, could a 3 speed hub be modified and converted into a left side drive 3 speed hub/wheel?

[@dankpatrol]

Hey RJ! I don't have these shifters or anything, but was just sitting in my workshop which is now full of all manner of obscure tools after so many years of getting deeper and deeper into the mechanic life, and thought about how much of my knowledge can be traced back to you specifically. So I decided to drop in and say thanks. Interesting how a stranger far away can change your life so much without ever even meeting you. Your videos were the catalyst that took me from just riding bikes to truly understanding them-- now I take any chance I get to pass on what I have learned from you to the cyclists in my own life. Of all the slickly produced high budget videos out there, nobody breaks down every little step so clearly the same way you do. Thanks again for all the work you do with this channel, you are right up there with Sheldon Brown in the hall of fame of legendary mechanics. Respect!!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I have learned a lot from Sheldon, other sources, or just taking stuff apart and figuring it out.

[@andrewkaufmann2451]

Totally agree. Thanks RJ, you've taught me so much about bikes:)

[@poekoelan75]

RJ, First let me say that I've never been a very mechanically inclined person. But over the past year I rebuilt two old 80's road bikes, a Trek and a Schwinn. I found the process for both bikes to be relatively painless and enjoyable. The reason of course is because of your excellent videos. I found them to be super helpful and very informative. Thank you! Austin

[@davidodonnell8723]

My friend you don’t no how valuable this 5 minute video was to me with the spring showing me saved my sanity thanks a million

[@Geoffrey150]

I'm a bike mechanic in the Netherlands. We had this problem with a customer's bike a few months ago. We ended up replacing the whole shifter... Woops, if only! You're awesome!! Thanks for sharing

[@tomekch]

you are idiots

[@samguan5236]

I find RJ’s video much better than Park Tool’s. Park Tool’s are professional quality I get it but their videos are too long. RJ’s videos are to the point and just long enough. Anyone else?

[@jaman5735]

i like both, parktool vids are more modern and up to date. rj is more regular joe, find away, diy, practical guy. iam an army vet 1982-1986, who lives in germany. after a burnout in 2014, i went to fulltime school for 2 years to become a certified bicycle mechanic. i was disappointed to learn that 99% of the time, parts aren't repaired, they get replaced with new parts. iam more old school, so rj is more perfered.

[@nohandleforme....]

Grip shifters are my favorite type because I ride year round and other types of shifters are harder to use while wearing big, bulky gloves or mittens. Even though they are inexpensive to replace, I still like to maintain them and get as much use out of them as possible.

[@Exgrmbl]

SRAM you can at least work on and they can feel good shifting. Shimano Revoshi(f)t on the other hand are a complete abomination and should be replaced if you find them on your bike ASAP.

[@Kkoolant]

My parents got me a used mountain bike, and it had this issue. Thank you so much! I was able to fix it with ease.

[@aayush7645]

I recently saw your video on removing freewheels and I saw what you look like. You Sir sound a lot younger than you look. However the real genius is in your knowledge of cycles. I am in India and we are a country where cycles are used a lot. However nobody here is dedicated to repair work like you are. Your videos are amazing. Super helpful in the pandemic when we don't have access to cycle shops.

[@Oscarbear007]

Just bought my 7 year old a bike off Facebook, realized when I got home, the shifters (front and back) did this (11 speed, also didn't realize this until I got home). Watched your video and within 1 minutes, both were working like new(ish). Thank you so much for these videos.

[@pyro323]

Hmmm interesting I use a Roadmaster bike and I have the same issue the twist shifter free spins and doesn't click. I'll have to see if the index spring fell out. Thank you for the video!

[@alansmart6588]

Great videos! I could watch them all day. I've messed with Grip Shifts a lot. I find it's best to remove them with the shifter in low gear (or even a tiny bit beyond) and replace them with high gear lined up. There is a thing inside your model of Grip Shift that Sram calls the "diving board." It helps me to remember that you put the long end of the spring "under" the "diving board." Keep up the great work!

[@johnphillips9061]

Thanks for this vid, RJ. It's precisely what's happening to my wife's bike and your info is a huge help to getting this fixed. Awesome alcohol/grip removal technique, by the way. Keep up the good work!

[@Friska_Rexie]

My bike just developed this exact problem on my commute and is now back to working condition thanks to your video showing me where that spring is supposed to be. Saved me a headache and money I really didn't have, so thank you very much!

[@stevedrake3725]

Thanks r j, I never knew how these really worked. No new videos lately I noticed, have you slowed down or just running out of ideas? Your videos over the years have been a real lifesaver and very helpful 🤗

[@BruceChastain]

hey RJ, good to see you again. Thanks for the video, I'll keep it in mind if I run across this issue.

[@ps3gamer259]

tysm you really helped me out!!! Someone pulled out my bike gears and all thanks to you I got them back in!!!!!!!😀😀😀😀😀😃😃😃😆😆

[@bikeguyhk]

I just want to click into your channel and say thank you that RJ your videos are practical, easy to follow, humble and down-to-earth. It helped me a lot and inspired me to start my own videos (in Cantonese though, a dialect of Chinese) Thanks RJ🙏🏼👍🏼

[@jeffreypotter3605]

I enjoy your videos. They are easy to follow, and I appreciate that you use resources that are "readily available" to most people (like the alcohol!). Thanks for all you do!

[@octavio9648]

Thank you so much! The indexing spring fell out when I was working on a shifter and your video was just what was needed to figure it out! Thanks!🚲

[@JustinEskesen]

Hey Thanks for this, it totally solved my problem. A note to make it even easier: you don't need to take the handlebar grip all the way off. Mine slid about half way fairly easily (no lubrication necessary)... then I had enough space to pop off the cover, find the spring, get it out w/ tweezers and get it back in place. The tweezers were the only tool I used.

[@erikwiseman1702]

Well, this is a lifesaver! I just did some adjustments on my sister-in-laws bike and a grip shifter stopped clicking and holding position. I'm hoping that it's a case of the spring mysteriously popping out of place rather than breaking.

[@bobdole1977]

@RJ The Bike Guy thank you for the videos. I have a 21 year old Trek bike and thanks to your videos I've been able to keep it serviced myself and fix any little issue that pops up. Thanks for helping keep my bike going!

[@lukemoll2521]

this exactly fixed my issue! thought I'd have to find a shop that opened early, but 1 minute's work and good as new! thank you so much, very clearly explained

[@bezfifti3980]

Great shifters !I use this for several years already, it works properly , there are no breakdowns and failures, too.

[@samuelhelderman]

This video Helped me fix my new to me bike I got from the dumpster a year ago. Now I can shift and it’s great!

[@garethbriggs1176]

Weirdly I had this same fix to work out last night!!! Then a day later you posted this video!! Good to verify that I got it right!!!!

[@grannysvids]

Thanks mate, helped a lot. The metal spring bit on my grip shift came out and I couldn't see where it went back into. Sorted it now, cheers.

[@lonzosmith7618]

thanks RJ to your tutorials i became a bike mechanic in my city

[@Subideable]

Always a great day to have a new RJ vid!

[@frostakathetruth]

Thank you for the video 1st time working on a bike shifter. Found out both sides were missing the spring parts ordered!

[@BleakVision]

What I like about RJ is that he won‘t pontificate how this is a low end part and that nothing other than XT components is beneath him. I actually quite enjoy the grip shift on my old MTB and there is nothing wrong with it. For kids they also make a lot of sense.

[@bob-ny6kn]

Separating the two halves is a pain. Haven't got the hang of it after years. I do recognize the twist grip as the most likely shifter on the bikes coming into the co-op. Gotta win this one some day.

[@gabrielgomescunha]

Yes there is a problem with gripshifters, they are the problem my fix is to toss them in the bin and replace them by almost anything else. Don't worry I still much appreciate your videos

[@weezie044]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. This really helped me.:)

[@silver7931]

Great video. Very useful. Clearly explained the issue I was having and how to fix it. Thank you RJ.

[@connicrow9463]

You are the best thanks for detailed video! Is it possible to service the Grip Shifter w/o cutting the cables? They're so time consuming to replace

[@lr5397]

Happy Labor Day RJ! :)

many thanks for showing precisely at 2'47'' the place for the metal piece ! that's exactly what i was looking for ;-)

[@buggybuggz]

thank you for this, my gears had started slipping and i wasnt sure why but didnt think much of it - new to riding a bike that wasnt damaged - but then i managed to accidentally pull the shifter out while riding 😅 i had tried to just push it back on but to no avail, turns out that the spring bit had come away with the shifter but stayed stuck due to the lube used. basically, thank you for this video, got it fixed as easy as pie as soon as i figured out the spring was in the wrong place lol

[@otb.e1881]

RIP Rj

[@tacticalceo685]

Great video RJ that’s seem like a very easy fix take care and stay safe.

[@KaytieBabooah]

I finally found a video that has the exact shifters but I cannot figure out how to get the wire through the shifter, I found the secret hole under the rubber but am I supposed to Loop it around and stick it through the shifter again? Confused

[@LplusSduo]

Just mash it and play with it, it will bind together like normal. Make sure to check your gears are working

[@johonnyquinatoa5011]

Que bueno verte amigo. Aprendi toda la mecánica de bicicletas gracias a ti. Saludos desde Ecuador.

[@gamecourage5225]

i just bought a bike yesterday and i got ran off the road and it was doing the same thing as that shifter this helped so much!

[@pje8244]

This is a very helpful video. Thanks for the clear and straight forward instructions.

[@acekhalifa410]

It's funny I was messing with my bike the other day with grip shifters exactly like this with very same problem and today I accidentally came across this video :dddd Now I know the solution

[@borisvolegov9110]

Thanks a lot. This was exactly my problem and I was able to fix it in a minute!!!

[@keithschrack]

Thanks for the tutorial. I like the idea of grip shifters, but I despise their lack of durability.

[@robhibbard]

Thank you for this video. Fixed an issue with my bike today.

[@Silverbuzz]

Thank you for this video…I can’t see where the cable attaches in the twist grip in your video…any chance of getting some information on its location?

[@john-di1bn]

Hey Rj have you ever tried repacking or replacing the bearings of an external bottom bracket?

[@anthonydiaz835]

Thanks this video really helped me out with my mountain bike.

[@BenitoAndito]

@RJ What do you do with all these bikes you tune up? Resell them? Donate them? N+1?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

www.rjthebikeguy.com/faq/

[@BenitoAndito]

@@RJTheBikeGuy I read the FAQ in your voice. You're like Morgan Freeman in that regard

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@BenitoAndito LOL

[@MrPhotodoc]

Darn. Installing the shift cable was what I needed.

[@wooj82]

Thanks for the handy video. Is the part that's being described even a spring? It looks like a clip! I think springs are usually spirals or helical shapes.

[@mxs439]

Is it necessary to clip the cable or is there another work around? Thanks for the informative videos!

[@johnhanley9946]

I like these kind of shifters, they simple, reliable and very durable.

[@rafedewar4701]

Brilliant thank you I fixed my kid's bike with ease 👍

[@einufo]

Perfectly explained, as always! Perfekt erklärt, wie immer! Gruß Tino

[@duaneamostuazon8515]

You're a life saver and I love you Edit: And we have simmilar bikes tooooOOoO

[@scottbramley1778]

RJ - Love your informative videos. Do you have any videos about converting a steel frame bike from 5 speed(27" wheel) to 15 speed (700C wheel) covering any problems & how to overcome them, like cog spacers, wheel centering etc? Thanks for all the info so far.

[@rhatsphyyt4651]

Im planning to put a Grip shifter on a dropbar,any recommendations on where part to put it?thank you for answers😊

[@bigmangozg2677]

Thanks a lot! Fixed it in under 5 minutes!

[@TanveerAhmed-gl5jk]

Fantastic video .love it very infomative .thanks for sharing these videos.👍👍👍

[@meganwalder]

Hello I was wondering if you knew how to fix a bike that is stuck on one gear. I was using my bike and one day it got stuck on gear 6 so now I am unable to use it. Would appreciate it if you could give some help or some advice. Thanks

[@johnbuxton3841]

To remove h'bar grips I find window cleaning spray is easy to get under the grip and works perfectly.

[@elviscrespo1008]

do you have a recommendation for a tool for adjusting bottom bracket on a huffy cruiser?

[@ankurchoudhary17]

You just saved my 50 bucks ..fixed it by my self ..

[@brad1oregon]

Thanks!

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Thank you very much!

[@ricksaunders3889]

Thank you. Another excellent video.

[@callmemumar6590]

I hope my comment will be noticed. I have that grip shift shifter with 1 to 8. Is it okay if my sprocket is Shimano Deore 7 speed? I used my bike for a long time with what I have mentioned. Or do I need to change either the grip or the sprocket?

[@peterpeter3536]

Thank you so much you made my day! Fixed!!

[@davidhannan2911]

Thanks this helped me out a lot. 👍

[@333donutboy]

Thanks for posting this. I was able to fix my daughter shifter.

[@freelovefree]

Very nice work👍

[@MikeWiner-n9r]

Hey RJ - I can't find these index springs online anywhere! I'm missing one from a used bike I bought, don't want to replace the whole shifter. Can you let me know where I can get one (or a pack)?

[@GoodTimeBikes]

Very nice demonstration

[@Erik-pf7gm]

Can you do a video of the different steel that has been used over the years? Looking at gravel and the difference of hi-ten and chromoly and how there is a lot of difference of each.

[@Bikeops2021]

Good info, always worth a watch & keep in the memory bank... 👍🏼

[@harryjohnson9215]

Mine doesn't move at all

[@Vortex_1124]

Sammmee

[@gleff3345]

Thanks, imay have been that the shift was coming apart (held in place by the handle) but I saw the spring.

[@elviscrespo1008]

Hi, any recommendations for moderately priced bike work stand with a clamp for home user that would work with say a cruiser or mountain bike?

[@samrietti9848]

Hey RJ I’m a big fan I love your videos very well explained I was just wondering if you could do a video about hydraulic brake bleeding

[@naturandmor]

I did not find any info, but what are you doing with all these cool bikes? Sell them may be? Thanks.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

www.rjthebikeguy.com/faq/

[@naturandmor]

@@RJTheBikeGuy thank you 😉

[@morganwilliams2597]

Thanks for all the useful tips! Do you have a shop I can send a bike to for repair?

[@garrethammond7082]

Can you do a fork overhaul video for the XCE 28 fork? Thanks!

[@thealvaco]

Nice man. Saves you a shifter!

[@MysteriousNightsIndia]

Really love your videos friend....one thing I wanted to ask you....i have a vintage road bike (single speed) wheel size is 27" , but unfortunately it's tyres and tubes are no longer available in the market.....so can you please tell me that whether I can install 28" tyre on a 27" rim ??

[@nikova3725]

Where can i buy those exact metal clips??

[@LplusSduo]

Did you find them I can’t find them online?

[@redriver4423]

Hi rj, I know it's off topic but I really need your insight on this. I have a shimano slx 11 speed rear derailleur that has an issue with the tension spring there is no tension. What do you think the issue is?

[@lr5397]

Great video!! Is there a specific mountain bike brand you could recommend for durability and long life? :)

[@secretariatgirl4249]

Just got a used TREK with this sort of shifter. The pedal gear shifter seems to have trouble finding it's spot...sometimes fall short sometimes I can get it to be on the number exactly. This, of course, can make the chain bump on part of the gear ...not sure if the cables need adjusting or the shifter may need to be cleaned out. (The cables are internally mounted through the frame, unfortunately.) I was told by Trek to use Teflon to lube it....I'm not expert, but that probably means a trip to a repair shop....maybe I'll pull it off and see if it's dirty and try to clean it up...any alternatives to the Teflon spray???

[@tomd720]

Thanks, I needed this info.

[@garrettgreen242]

You’re the best, thanks!

[@martinwild8424]

Good video 👍

[@rman176]

Thanks, easy fix after watching your video

[@mrbill6724]

Thanks for the help!

[@92061134]

I do love the channel and do learn lot from u. i just got one thing in my head and really wanted to ask this. have u ever tried to convert 26er to 27.5 on rim brake frame?

[@aayush7645]

Works if your frame has clearance. I did this once but had to change my brake pads to a different sleeker kind.

[@hayiko69]

Thanks for the tutorial