How To Fix Really Old Shimano Rapid-fire Shifters

[@saigashooter]

Just wanted to drop a huge "Thank You!" on this video. I'm fixing up an old Giant Acapulco for my wife and the shifters are amazing now. Before finding this I could never get it to shift the chain ring down from the large ring to the middle it just skipped over it. The pawl in the shifter was bound up and not catching on the down shift. Thanks again!

[@JoeyMesa]

You're very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to leave a detailed response!!!

[@gerryedwards9738]

Thanks, Joey. This has helped enormously. My partner has an old 90s Marin mtb (which she loves and calls Tina). Tina had Shimano GS200 shifters that just didn't want to shift as directed. Took them to our local bike repair shop, where, apparently, the gears weren't shifting properly "coz the shifter's knackered". So he replaced the freewheel cassette (!?) In my ignorance, I paid the guy, but the problem persisted. Eventually decided to replace all the shifter's, like for like... until I saw this on KZbin. Followed your advice and everything works perfectly! Think I'll revisit my bike repair shop and have words. Cheers from the UK.

[@kjstarke]

I would have guessed ONLY solvents would work, were it not for you. Thank you so much. I fixed the exact same set you show in the video.

[@craigreinhart4866]

Your suggestion of soapy warm water was spot on. Thanks

[@JoeyMesa]

You are so welcome

[@SeymourSunshine]

My Goodness! Isn't youtube wonderful? You can find videos on almost everything. This one has saved me a little money and taught me a bit more about bikes. I was a real road warrior back in the 80s and could fix anything. Now I'm just coming back to it (in my retirement) and all this 90s stuff is new to me.

[@JoeyMesa]

Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback, I appreciate it!!

[@sopwerdna]

This did the trick when nothing else would! Spent probably two hours fiddling with it, tried degreaser, wd40, different grease & oil formulas, all sorts of things... I even started to fully disassemble the mechanism before realizing that was basically impossible to do non-destructively. Nothing got that one stubborn pawl unstuck except soaking it in hot soapy water for half an hour! Now it's working like magic. Thank you!!!

[@JoeyMesa]

Great to hear! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@ShaunCullen]

This is awesome, a close friend of mine has a 90's bike with these shifters and are exhibiting the exact thing you show with the palls not engaging. Thanks so much for posting this!

[@JoeyMesa]

Very cool! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback, I really appreciate it!

[@theparalexview785]

Very helpful. I have a Rapidfire ST-M050 set of shifters that quit working a few years ago -- same problem you illustrated. Apparently I didn't give it enough time and cleaning. I just tried some WD-40 and other penetrating lube, but quit after that didn't work. I'll dig 'em out and try again. They were handy.

[@the_only_one1890]

Got the old bike by my grandpa which has the same shifting and even the same problem i know now. Really helpful vid also to quickly understand the shifting mechanics. Thank you;)

[@tommyc741]

Thanks ver,very much. It took some doing, but I kept at it like you said,and finally got the Paw to loosen up. Yes the hot water helped a lot! I had to add boiling hot water and let it soak a couple times. But yes it finally worked with a lot of back and forth with my hand ! It’s really great people like you are willing to take the time to share on KZbin!

[@JoeyMesa]

You're very welcome and I'm glad it helped! I really appreciate you taking the time to leave feedback! If you keep the shifter lubricated, it will last for may more years.

[@Natestock83]

Thanks Joey! This video helped me a lot, and i used your hot water and dish soap method and it helped a lot, but not enough. So I also used my home steam cleaner and blasted out decades of old grease and now my shifters work like a dream!

[@kentv999]

Thanks SO much for making this video. My son has a cool old Schwann MTB with this set and was having a similar problem. Your video gave me the courage to try to repair it and it works great! Not 100% sure it will last, there is a bit too much play in the assembly for some reason. But working great now! Thank you… greatly appreciated!

[@JoeyMesa]

Very welcome! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback!

[@davidgregory9003]

Really helpful. I had tried wd40 and disc brake cleaner with no luck but then tried near boiling hot water with washing up liquid and it worked straight away. Brilliant

[@JoeyMesa]

Glad to hear you got the shifter functioning again! I appreciate you taking the time to leave feedback!

[@scottsprojects658]

Could you please make a video of the left shifter for the front derailleur? The casting on 2 of the ones I have broke and I need help putting the spring and plates back together. It would help to have a zoomed in video of the shifter and how it works

[@brianmerryman6743]

Joe, you can also use spray brake cleaner too, just don't breath it..does wonder on getting rid of old grease.

[@-Slinger-]

Thanks to this video I was able to put a shifter like this back together, bc my dumb ass forgot to take notes on how to put it back together when I was taking it apart 😥 Thank you!

[@JoeyMesa]

Sweet! You're welcome and thanks for commenting!

[@johnnasta]

Thanks for the video. I soaked my shifter overnight in soapy water and it's already working pretty well. Just one note. Inside the barrel adjuster is a spring and a special cannulated bolt that can fly out when you take the adjuster off. Luckily I found them. Otherwise I would not have been happy.

[@4x7layout]

Thanks! I'm replacing my rear one per your other video, but I now have the confidence and knowledge to maybe fix my wife's front 3-speed levers which are totally non functional.

[@JoeyMesa]

Excellent!

[@andrean_7725]

Toothbrush and hot soapy water worked like a charm making the teeth snap in again!

[@JoeyMesa]

Nice!

[@plugus_maximus]

Thanks for this vid! I spent ages trying to find the model of my shifter (Shimano 200GS) and discovered its what you have here! No amount of WD40 was shifting it and your hot water worked a treat!

[@JoeyMesa]

You're welcome and thanks for taking the time to leave feedback!

[@grumpy_ken]

really helpful vid, thanks! I'm going through a 92 Schwinn High Plains and it uses these shifters as part of the 200GS groupset and they really need some cleaning

[@rcmoeur]

I used to do this, ut discovered in many cases they'd eventually gum up again. The only long-term solution is to get all the old gummy grease out - WD-40 or Clean Streak will temporarily soften it, but it'll eventually gum up again. I put the shifter assemblies in a ziplock filled with citrus cleaner, then run them through an ultrasonic cleaner filled with water on high heat using 7-10 minute cycles, opening the bags & working the pawls & mechanism every cycle. After everything is moving again, I'll run it for 4-5 more cycles just to make sure all the old gummy grease is flushed out, and then lube with a low-residue lube like moly disulfide. Using this method, I've had nearly 100% long-term success, with shifters still working great years later. Road brifters are harder, as you can't access the pawls or innards. For these, it's just many cycles in cleaner solution & heat in the ultrasonic cleaner. So far, good success.

[@SBinVancouver]

Thanks for this. First video I found for this old relic. Others have covers that can be removed without taking the cable out... this one can't!

[@JoeyMesa]

Glad I could help and thanks for taking the time to leave feedback!

[@nathanlustgarten6264]

Thanks so much for this video! I bought an old Panasonic mc3500 with these exact shifters but they were sticky, and now they're like new!

[@JoeyMesa]

Glad it helped! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback!

[@mikebugby1550]

Fantastic, thanks for showing me how to do this!

[@herbaden]

Great Video, Thank you so much for this. Clear explanation and detail. I had the exact same problem and this vid taught me exactly how to fix it. Especially the tip with washing in hot soap water was helpful. Tried WD40 at first but that didn't cure it. Thorough soaking/washing in hot water with dish washing soap and some additional brushing with an old toothbush did the trick.

[@JoeyMesa]

Awesome! Glad you got it worked out and I appreciate you taking the time to leave feedback!

[@KarlosEPM]

Didn't give the video a like cuz it's at exactly 420 ( _blaze it_ ). Thank you very much! I have a nearly identical model which worked but returned very slowly. Got it up and running 💪🔧

[@JoeyMesa]

Glad it helped

[@grenetghost]

Interesting video. It seems I have an older version of this shifter, and I am not able to open it. I've looked on the web and they mention a sort of "notch" in my version in which I am supposed to insert a flat screwdriver. But to no avail. I'm pretty sure the left shifter has the frozen grease issue... The right shifter looks more suspicious.

[@keanermitano477]

Hello Joey. I am having trouble assembling the disassembled 1990 Shimano ST-M050 Rapid Fire shifter. I couldn't find a parts diagram online. I hope you can help me with the situation I'm on, instead of buying another 1990 Shimano ST-M050 just to keep the GroupSet complete. Thank you

[@giacomofaraglia6321]

Did u managed to assemble it back up?

[@sam-qv4vr]

this video saved me from buying new shifters bless

[@nivek29]

Thanks for the video. I have a similar set of shifters, but when I take them apart, I only see one pawl. Does this make sense? Am I missing something? These are 7 speed Shimano STI from a 1990 Trek 7000. I have freed up the pawl that I'm seeing, so that part moves well, but the other way not so much. Any thoughts you have about this would be greatly appreciated.

[@italianboy4027]

I have to replace a broken 7v gearbox, I think it's an STX (mounted on a Shimano total integration mountain bike from the 90s) with what current can I do it? Thank you

[@davidwayneprins]

My mountain bike has Shimano 100GS and I cannot get the cable barrel to separate. Front shifter is jammed.

[@motorrad2]

I'm here because mine function great off the bike, without cable, but when I have them mounted, the front down-shift completes (slackening cable), the thumb-lever doesn't snap back unless I pull it back. Also can get an "all or nothing" shift on occasion. Weren't these first-generation? I remember them being a 1990 thing, and by the next year they were being replaced by next generation, modern "trigger" style and early twist shifters.

[@zfear6959]

This is great stuff... but i too got one apart and didn't do as good a job of taking notes. If you still have this piece around, could you snap some stills from the sides? Top and bottom aren't needed. Thanks in advance if you can help!

[@deepstate8474]

Sounds like most of my tear downs. Did ya ever get it back together?

[@santiagobenites]

I'm working on a bike with these exact same shifters. I managed to free the front one using lots of WD40, a small brush, and a pick tool. The rear shifter was another story. One of the pawls was seized to the point that I had to completely disassemble the shifter, which I absolutely didn't want to do. No amount of WD40, degreaser, soaking, or scrubbing could get it to budge, though. Now, I'm trying to piece it back together, without the help of an assemble manual, as that doesn't seem to exist.

[@JoeyMesa]

These shifters (as well as all Shimano shifters) are not designed to be disassembled. If the tips in this video are not working, You should probably replace them. They don't last forever...

[@JogBird]

could you use an ultrasonic cleaner on this??

[@JoeyMesa]

Yes! That probably would have cut the time in half using an ultrasonic cleaner.

[@denis_roy_7]

Very useful as usual. Thank you! Any idea on how to service a Fulcrum Sport wheel freehub body? The pawls need cleaning and lubrication. How do we access them?

[@JoeyMesa]

I haven't had one apart in a while, at least not recent enough to remember that system. I believe you just remove the end cap and pull the free hub body off. If I see one in the near future, I'll get some video footage.

[@denis_roy_7]

Joey Mesa Thank you! Please continue to teach us stuff. (I finally took it apart using the Shimano freehub tool. Cleaned, relubed and reassembled.)

[@ivanmagan2567]

Thank you sir, after watching the video you made my day!

[@JoeyMesa]

Glad to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback!

[@francescocerchio6011]

Thank you, same problem, tomorrow I will give a try!

[@JoeyMesa]

Good luck!

[@francescocerchio6011]

@@JoeyMesa went out as your video, many thanks!!

[@brrrt6666]

I just take it out and soak em in some sort of solvent, after soaking over night I work them a little, put some oil in and reinstall. There's a channel called atboy that has tons of videos on proper rebuilds, mostly the higher end ones though, they're all quite specific.

[@ernst-w.langhoff4480]

very helpful, thank`s from germany

[@JoeyMesa]

You are welcome!

[@redstar956]

Very helpful, thank you 👍

[@oreocarlton3343]

What lube would you use for caliper bearings? Caliper rebuild video in future?

[@JoeyMesa]

What type of caliper are we talking about?

[@oreocarlton3343]

@@JoeyMesa single pivot, I dissasembled one shimano and it had a small weird bearing

[@raphaelferreira1046]

Super vidéo qui m'a bien aidé à réparer ce vieux Coucou de Shimano. Merci beaucoup Thanks a lot

[@JoeyMesa]

You're welcome!

[@hamadysack3157]

Thanks. Nice and clear.

[@2010pinmaster]

I'm thinking of replacing the cables, will any cable fit those?

[@JoeyMesa]

Yes, any modern shift cable will fit.

[@samuelcheung3614]

Hi Joey, thanks for sharing the video, I am trying restore my 30 years old bike and it came with the st-m010 ( which is the first gen I guess), I will give it a 2nd try to after watching your video. I may need to replace the cable too and my next challenge would be the front derailleur. Hopefully you have a video to cover that topic too ( I just found you by google but haven’t gone through your video list as yet)!

[@tomwk196]

Is there any way to do this without removing the cable?

[@JoeyMesa]

You can spray or drip penetrating oil inside the shifter without removing the cables, but it you want to remove the cover without damaging the cables, it's best to remove them.

[@jeffaley2895]

@@JoeyMesa I'm a beginner, and I don't know how to remove the cables. The cables are in good condition, so I don't want to cut them or anything. I think I just need to unstick the pawl.

[@victoriansword]

@@jeffaley2895 I’m also a beginner and would like to try to fix my shifters without cutting the cable if that’s possible. Did you figure this out?

[@mauricecatapano9724]

Thanks, but it would be nice if someone could include how to get the gs100 off the handle bar...

[@Gevinel_K]

I've got as same as like you've got in there... It listed 7 speed... But why that thing only shift 6 speed... I afraid to screw it up when i want to open those component How is that possible..?

[@zfear6959]

Does it only click 6 speeds or does it click 7 and simply not shift? In the latter case it's an adjustment at the derailleur that's needed.

[@unclefester610]

On those really old, rusty ones you have to just pry the pawl back and forth maybe 30 times. You showed us how the pawls start to move the more you pry them back and forth. Hit it with some lube, and keep prying it back and forth. There's no clip to slide the pawl off. That's the spring that keeps the pawl engaged with the ratchet wheel. Don't try to fiddle with the spring. Otherwise, good video.

[@Radnally]

Ive got an ancient deore rear derailluer that id like to get working again. Soaking it in blaster right now.

[@JoeyMesa]

Nice!

[@ridinglacs]

Great video

[@JoeyMesa]

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time t leave feedback!

[@AchieveSafetyLtd]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@JoeyMesa]

You are welcome!

[@dnchgcyclist]

I have Same shifters on my 90s city bike

[@Izya__]

Thank you!!!!

[@deepstate8474]

This video is almost the same as RJ The Bike Guys from 4 years ago as of '21.

[@JoeyMesa]

Who's RJ the bike guy?

[@deepstate8474]

@@JoeyMesa just some guy with a small channel. But hey. I have a problem. I tore down the m050 and am having trouble with reassembly. Ever tear one down?

[@jordanchastain4258]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/nafdpHSMp9GEg68 This is close to the model shown. Pretty detailed reassembly.

[@ErrybodyGetTypsy]

I have a similar pair of shifters off an old giant Sedona, half a can of break cleaner and then some lube and I’m golden!!

[@ГеннадийРутковский]

чудесно хоть и не понял язык -- браво но следующий раз давай на русском .