Shimano Ultegra shifter investigation and fix - couldn't change gear!

[@kingabunyip]

That's been bugging for months! You sir, have made a dull middle aged man very happy. Great video with great explanation and close ups.

[@grahamtooze5185]

Spent hours trying to work out why my R8000 wouldn't trim up on the big ring. Tried everything, and tried this fix...worked straight away.

[@cervelott]

That was it, fixed it in about 10 seconds, you are the man! Thanks for taking the time to post this video. Gotta love KZbin and this community.

[@richardrobbins539]

Well it's all been said below but full of admiration for the fix, worked on my R8000 after similar symptoms and period of puzzlement. Mine wasn't just increased resistance, it just *wouldn't* shift until an arbitrary amount or playing around with both levers finally yielded the 'click'. And I only started looking for how to change a paddle (inner paddle broke on another bike with R8020 after a fall) and somehow I got here. Shame YT didn't send me here the first time I looked around. Anyway you're a star, thanks again.

[@ebolarnator1794]

Finally a bike video tutorial on how to fix something that is an actual problem that occurs and isn't some workshop purpose made problem that is "fixed" in 2 seconds. Keep making videos like this! 💯

[@toddderbyshire7037]

Wow! That is such a simple fix for a very persistent problem. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to explore the problem, and gargantuan chapeau for figuring it out 👍🏼👊🏼

[@REMBicycleAndFitness]

Thanks for the video! Shimano techs that I talked to didn't have a solution and recommended replacing shifter. Works great!

[@Roelf3]

Amazing, thanks for that. Saved me a lot of frustration and potentially buying a whole new shifter!

[@stephanelouvet1113]

Typical for this shifter ! 3 people around me had to replace it because of this issue. To me, the root cause comes from a lack of sliding in the front mech cable. They then start to force on the lever and they damage it somewhere. My advice now, ALWAYS replace the front cable and cable housing when it become difficult. Don't wait

[@djspark4]

Another happy viewer here :D Both a new ultegra shifter set, then went to search for a 'how to' video and found this solution. You're the man!

[@TheSoulBanana]

I cannot believe it.... Thank you for this fix. I went to replace the shifting cable and that whole process was new and incredibly frustrating to me and still it didn't work. I am so mad that the fix was this simple, thank you for discovering it.

[@Clarole]

Hey brother, you are my superhero. I had a problem with the STI for months and no mechanic was able to eliminate the problem. Thank you for giving us all this brilliant solution. Congratulations from a friend from Brazil. : )

[@skinheads]

Are you kidding me? My Sora shifter had same issue, I was really close of buying new unit and I took off that rubber piece mentioned. Shifter works better than ever now! Easiest fix on a bike ever, thank you so much

[@wavedesign8291]

Thanks a lot! this solved my front derailleur shifter problem. I usually fix all issues on my bikes but this one was hard to figure out what the problem was, after hours trying different things without success looked for help and found your video, it worked perfectly and just took few minutes, man you really saved me a trip to my local shop, really appreciate it!

[@CallumYoungson]

Still can't work out quite why removing this little bit of rubber makes such a difference (or why Shimano add it to the shifter in the first place) but it does! So grateful that this has been posted. I'd spent ages and ages mucking about with cable tension and adjusting the limit screws - all to no avail. Now fixed in 10 seconds! Wonderful!!!

[@oranjid]

I have been looking everywhere and could not figure this out. So happy, this fixed it and I can not believe it. Thank you so much!!! The Design of Shimpanso STI leavers is still a mistery to me.

[@ShamanMick]

This also worked for me on 105. 3 hours of spraying with lubricant and playing with the tolerances got me nowhere, and then KZbin recommended this video to me and it worked as soon as I took the rubber off!

[@fredjohnson492]

Great video and it solved my problem with my left shifter. I had an accident and came off my bike and the shifter hasn't worked since then. I tried all sorts and then came across your video. A simple five minute job and it was shifting up and down like new. Thanks for your help.

[@livings118]

I just bought a new shifter because of this same issue 😑. You're a wizard! Thank you. Going to see the other shifter now 😂

[@douye]

Genius! I've been messing with my shifter for days now and just had a long walk home because it completely stuck.

[@1carusjohn32]

Just had the same problem with one of mine. Looks like the spring loaded black paw, the little bit in the vid that either grabs the cam or should float over it, was the issue in my case. At the end of it there is both a rounded bit for sliding over the cam and a flat bit for engaging it. It is really small to see. The flat and the round meet to form an edge, this edge had developed a slight sharp burr over time, I think this is what is actually causing the issue. I used a flat needle file to flatten/soften the burr. This allowed shifting again. The paw is driven by a tiny coiled hair spring, I displaced this when I was using the file. It was very difficult to get back in place so be very careful if taking a file to it. That along with this fix worked great. Would not have spotted the issue if it was not for this video. 10/10 for posting this one.

[@ivankrajacic9020]

That was the answer to my problem, you saved me 160 euros, thank you...

[@NikolaiStoikof]

@lolbubs11111 I had the same issue, tried what the video recommended but no luck. I then removed the mechanism and saw that the white cable guide was broken inside and interfering with the turning of the mechanism. Problem solved, it works perfectly without the cable guide. Now I just have to fine a replacement cable guide, easier said than done when you live in South Africa. The white cable guide is situated underneath the transparent cover, it may be possible but I'm not sure if you can remove it with a long nose plier without removing the mechanism. If you need to remove the mechanism, it's quite simple: there is a pin covering the bolt, pull this pin out with a long nose plier, the bolt is reverse thread so it turns out clockwise. Once the bolt is out, the mechanism comes out in one piece quite easily. You don't have to worry about springs coming out, it comes out as a unit.

[@Morbinhu]

Also had to bought a new shifter. After watching this video, I have now one spare :-) Thanks for this video.

[@jasperviel2240]

First or all thanks a lot for your video. If removing the rubber on the handle helped, check if the main lever support is still in tack as mentioned in a previous comment. It's a tiny plastic spacer that breaks frequently and causes the whole problem. It's mentioned in a previous comment 8 months ago so it might be to far down for people to see

[@robvtec]

You just saved me a new shifter. Thankyou.

[@Sam_qr8pk5bw1x]

Thank you so much. Crazy that you were able to fix this issue so cleverly. So much nicer to ride without this frustration.

[@R8JimBob88]

It’s taken me 2 years to get to the bottom of my shifting issues. I’ve literally just solved it today…. And then found this video afterwards 😅

[@HumbleWolves]

You absolute legend!! Works like a charm!❤

[@SEBDISTEF]

Incredible after dismounting all the shifter (105 not ultegra) I found this video and... Waaaah magically it runs !

[@cervelott]

Amazing, i’m having that exact issue. Going to see if that is my issue….will check back.

[@jonathancauchon]

Dude thanks so much for this, you made my day!

[@jedy90]

Thanks for sharing, My shifter also troubled me with doing this kind of stuff from time to time. Some days it's working some days it is giving the same issue. I was not able to figure out what caused that lock yet but now I have something to work with before I got to exchange the whole lever

[@krisphen5408]

After watching I went to my bike and remove that small piece of rubber and it works (test on a bike stand) 105 10sp group set 👍

[@harrytopham8905]

Top man Yes removing the rubber did help however the small inside lever which releases the mechanism to change to the small ring was not returning to start position this is probably a weak spring issue which is solved by tying the inside small lever to the large lever using a small cable tie if that makes since

[@TrentAlexander-qn9rp]

This guy needs a raise

[@edwardhaslam3820]

Just fixed mine with this vid saved me a few pounds 👌

[@danielrobertson3071]

Thanks for the recommendation it worked right away for me

[@michaeljlr8646]

i had the same problem, i tighten the shifting mechanism to the shifter body with a pin spanner, it worked also. need to remove shifter from the clamp and you will see the nut.

[@petesun49]

Thank you so much!!!! I was about to buy a new shifter, then I tryed your fix and it worked. But dont you think that it will be a problem later when the small things inside is further worn down? Great video!!!!

[@rolandcolavizza5368]

I have the same issue with my durace shifter , will try this out and hopefully my troubles will be gone

[@nigelmcclean4166]

Same issue I'm having...will try this and hopefully it gets rid of my issue as well

[@yakazoko3856]

I had this issue from the left shifter for months and I bought a new right shifter because I felt and it was destroyed, after installing the right one I tried it with the cable in and guess what... same issue that in the video (it's brand new from Shimano)... I thought your video would solve my issue, but even without this plastif part it doesn't change anything. :/

[@GTFB66]

Worked! You’re a genius!!

[@PeterSurovcik]

!! Do not cut rubber, try to lube before!! Before cuting.. - clean mechanism with degreaser and air pressure. Lube it and try to move mechanism. After several moves lube begin works and mechanism starts shifting up and down (for me). Nice and detailed video about dissasembling cover and it helps me understand how it works.

[@oranjid]

nothing is cut here. you can just remove that rubber spacer and put it back on. It is not damaging anything and just fixing a minor leaver adjustment problem that does not make the hook disengage. This is not a lubrication issue.

[@richardclarke8857]

Great solution thanks for posting this has fixed my issue.

[@suersu3963]

Amazing advice. Works great! Thank you thank you thank you!

[@steveh9254]

Saved me hours, thank you.

[@abogdanov]

That is brilliant! I just removed it and that is it

[@stantonlloyd242]

Amazing find

[@jupitermu2621]

Thank you so much saving my money 🎉

[@davesmith7024]

Well worked out!

[@lolbubs11111]

My brifter has a similar seeming problem, but this solution didn't work for me, unfortunately.

[@NikolaiStoikof]

I had the same issue, tried what the video recommended but no luck. I then removed the mechanism and saw that the white cable guide was broken inside and interfering with the turning of the mechanism. Problem solved, it works perfectly without the cable guide. Now I just have to fine a replacement cable guide, easier said than done when you live in South Africa. The white cable guide is situated underneath the transparent cover, it may be possible but I'm not sure if you can remove it with a long nose plier without removing the mechanism. If you need to remove the mechanism, it's quite simple: there is a pin covering the bolt, pull this pin out with a long nose plier, the bolt is reverse thread so it turns out clockwise. Once the bolt is out, the mechanism comes out in one piece quite easily. You don't have to worry about springs coming out, it comes out as a unit.

[@rosallin]

Hi, I have slight correction. Problem is caused by the "spacer". I have GRX group-set and it has same mechanism. In my case bike fell down and lever fell on stone. Lever broke the "spacer" and in one moment I wasn't able to shift. In your case that spacer is just worn out too much. Replace it and everything will be OK. Part number: Y63X80000, EAN: 4524667988694. The rubber spacer down there is against rattling. The "bottom leg" must be pushed first to shift on bigger sprocket. I'm still not able to understand WHY Shimano used 3x6 plastic component that is crucial for shifting? And GRX should be designed for offroad .. one hit and you are out of race/trip. Also in Europe this part is not in stock ... sooo only option probably will be design it and 3D print it myself. :(

[@Isaac-Draper]

That part is called the main lever support by Shimano, I bought five spares a few weeks ago as they keep snapping on my shifter. I've seen an example of someone 3D printing an oversized one to fix this issue. Seems like a really weird design choice on Shimano's part

[@rosallin]

@@Isaac-Draper Fascinating is that Shimano used this part in all these components: - Dura-Ace ST-R9120, ST-R9100, ST-9001 - Ultegra ST-R8025, ST-R8020, ST-R8000, ST-6800 - 105 ST-R7025, ST-R7020, ST-R7000, ST-5800 - Tiagra ST-4725, ST-4720, ST-4703, ST-4700 - GRX ST-RX810-LA, ST-RX810, ST-RX600, ST-RX400 - ST-RS685 Insane! This part will wear out literally in no time even by normal use. On top it is impossible to buy at Shimano dealers. Such a little cheap part can ruin your pricy TOP component and your ride. And let you without shifting many kilometers from home. 3D printers saved the world again.

[@stuartfrew7202]

Hey do you have a link to the 3d file please?❤

[@rossroessler5159]

Ahhh thank you so much! This video kinda worked for me but not really (the lever didn't seem to be "far enough over") but now that you posted this comment and I looked up the part I realize that this is exactly the problem and what I need. Amazing!

[@rosallin]

It is small. So print a few for yourself. Also there for left and right lever the part is oposite. So mirror it in slicer.

[@SevanDonikian]

Doing Gods work

[@gregclarke4742]

You bloody legend. nice one!!

[@julesleseur1870]

Fucking Legend !!!! works on a tigra 4700 just as well, but the small lever fall behind the big one if your not carefull , migth cut a bit off of it so that it doest get stuck

[@SuperDodoe]

Thank you!

[@outtatrex]

L.I.F.E.S.A.F.E.R. !!!!

[@MdBoj-n2v]

Like a car engine 😅

[@morisesaba1061]

Literally worst video and terrible explanation