Literally searched high and low for a solution to this problem. Thank you so much. Can't even buy a new shifter for love nor money these days, too. Absolute legend.
I can see three *seemingly* separate methods of mending Ultegra shift mechanisms 1) WD40 or other lubricant cleaner, or parts cleaner followed by the same 2) Loosenign a fixing allen key in 6700 or screw 6600, and this 3) Improving the spring tension. I guess that in a sense they are all addressing the same issue. While the grease is new and the spring strong, the ratchet mechanism will turn to allow the ratchet to unwind. As the grease gets old and sticky, it needs to be washed out 6 re-lubricated, the mechanism loosened or the spring strengthened. I have a fifteen year old set of Ultegra 6600 that had hardly ever been used, and they were not downshifting. The nearly new spring is presumably okay but the congealed grease is presumably preventing downshifting. Making the mechanism looser helped (it downshifts about five times) but perhaps I need a stronger spring.
Mine broke, and I didn't even think about bending what's left of it back into shape. Nice one! Unfortunately too much was broken off my spiral spring to fix it. I tried, but it had way too much tension. So close. If I get really bored, maybe I'll look at making a new one by hand? 0.6mm s/s square wire.
Hi. Got simillar issue with tiagra 4700 right shiftet. Im not sure od they build the same way but its looks like It is. I have replaced the shifter once after around 1.5k km but its coming back. the small shiftee lever is not coming back to its main position and its sticking out a bit off the big lever. Pissing me off. But the shifter works well do far.. thanks for tutorial. I will look at the 4700 shifter od they the same kind.
sounds like the return spring may have stretched. unfortunately you've got to dissemble it to replace the spring. it's pretty easy to cut the spring and bend the hook on the end.
I have a bike from 2010 with Ultegra 6700 and when I got it, it did not have many miles on it. Unfortunately, It never shifted/shifts well. Often, I have to give it another half shift to nudge the chain to the next gear. I am wondering if that might be because of the spring in the derailleur, that after so long, it no longer has much tension? Could getting a new spring or engaging the spring into the second plate hole fix this shifting problem or it is something else?
it's more likely that there is something sticking in the cable and housing, it you haven't checked that yet. check for dirt inside the housing, rusted cable or frayed cable at the shifter end.
Recently replaced cables and housing. Second time i swapped for fresh cables/housing. Last time it was when the groupo was on another bike so its not a bike (i crashed and cracked the frame). :/ Weird right?
@@skyscraper5910 I've never had to muck around with derailleur spring tension. Obviously if it loses tension that will cause problems with shifting. I'd be checking more likely sources first. There's a lot of things that can cause poor shifting. A worn guide jockey wheel (the upper one close to the cassette) will do it, as will a worn chain or cassette. Another key one is derailleur cage alignment. Is it straight?
I keep track of chain wear and switch when needed. Ive had bike 2 techs look at the rear deraileur and no onr said it is out of line, but maybe i could as them to check that specifically. The rear deraileur has seen 2-3 different cassetes. Chain still engages front chainrings well, no neglect there either. Has been indexed multiple times. After clean/lube it works better for a 20-30 miles then its back to bing eh
I could get a new set of jockey wheels and ill double check but they should be fine. Max amount of miles on that drive train is… 2k? My other road bike has seen more miles (but not time) than that
My spiral return spring actually broke. If you were to stretch out the broken piece, it's about 2cm long. I'm considering simply bending over the remaining spring end. I tested bending the broken piece. It seems a bit brittle. The corner of the bend seems like it slightly splintered, but didn't break. I guess the only way to know is to try. Anyone know where to get a new spring? I've been looking for a 'used-for parts' shifter for that spring, but that spring will probably be bad, or on it's way out, too. In addition, the internals seem a little loose, or jiggly. Not sure if that's normal. However, it was shifting fine before the spring broke. Any guidance is much appreciated.
You could probably try shortening the spring by one whole spiral. It isn't ideal and it will affect spring tension but most springs in used shifters are well worn anyway, it might work. You may be able to source spiral springs on AliExpress and you can bend the ends to suit. Your best bet is a friendly bike shop, they will have heaps of broken shifters going through them but you'll need to convince them to hand one over. If you have a 6700, then a 5700 and I think 7900 shifter would have the same spring.
Shimano had a Flight Deck feature with those shifters, with which you could connect the shifters to a (Shimano, I assume?) computer and it would detect when you changed gears and I assume - tell you which gear you are in. I've never used it but no one uses Shimano Flight Deck compatible computers anymore so the wiring is pretty useless.
You don't need many tools for this, other than a screwdriver and a hex wrench (allen key). I prefer to use a pick (tinyurl.com/3ctnxmtf). You need a pick with a hook on the end to pull the spring. And perhaps tweezers (tinyurl.com/5n6pud2c).
Literally searched high and low for a solution to this problem. Thank you so much. Can't even buy a new shifter for love nor money these days, too. Absolute legend.
I can see three *seemingly* separate methods of mending Ultegra shift mechanisms 1) WD40 or other lubricant cleaner, or parts cleaner followed by the same 2) Loosenign a fixing allen key in 6700 or screw 6600, and this 3) Improving the spring tension. I guess that in a sense they are all addressing the same issue. While the grease is new and the spring strong, the ratchet mechanism will turn to allow the ratchet to unwind. As the grease gets old and sticky, it needs to be washed out 6 re-lubricated, the mechanism loosened or the spring strengthened.
I have a fifteen year old set of Ultegra 6600 that had hardly ever been used, and they were not downshifting. The nearly new spring is presumably okay but the congealed grease is presumably preventing downshifting. Making the mechanism looser helped (it downshifts about five times) but perhaps I need a stronger spring.
Bless your heart for making this video. I'll go right out and fix mine now.
Excellent guide! I have this model of shifter that I was hoping to repair. Thank you!
thank you for making this, was having this exact problem.
Mine broke, and I didn't even think about bending what's left of it back into shape. Nice one!
Unfortunately too much was broken off my spiral spring to fix it. I tried, but it had way too much tension. So close.
If I get really bored, maybe I'll look at making a new one by hand? 0.6mm s/s square wire.
I have issue with left hand one, have tried the left hand ? thanks
Hi. Got simillar issue with tiagra 4700 right shiftet. Im not sure od they build the same way but its looks like It is. I have replaced the shifter once after around 1.5k km but its coming back. the small shiftee lever is not coming back to its main position and its sticking out a bit off the big lever. Pissing me off. But the shifter works well do far.. thanks for tutorial. I will look at the 4700 shifter od they the same kind.
sounds like the return spring may have stretched. unfortunately you've got to dissemble it to replace the spring. it's pretty easy to cut the spring and bend the hook on the end.
I have a bike from 2010 with Ultegra 6700 and when I got it, it did not have many miles on it. Unfortunately, It never shifted/shifts well. Often, I have to give it another half shift to nudge the chain to the next gear.
I am wondering if that might be because of the spring in the derailleur, that after so long, it no longer has much tension? Could getting a new spring or engaging the spring into the second plate hole fix this shifting problem or it is something else?
it's more likely that there is something sticking in the cable and housing, it you haven't checked that yet. check for dirt inside the housing, rusted cable or frayed cable at the shifter end.
Recently replaced cables and housing. Second time i swapped for fresh cables/housing. Last time it was when the groupo was on another bike so its not a bike (i crashed and cracked the frame).
:/
Weird right?
@@skyscraper5910 I've never had to muck around with derailleur spring tension. Obviously if it loses tension that will cause problems with shifting. I'd be checking more likely sources first. There's a lot of things that can cause poor shifting. A worn guide jockey wheel (the upper one close to the cassette) will do it, as will a worn chain or cassette. Another key one is derailleur cage alignment. Is it straight?
I keep track of chain wear and switch when needed. Ive had bike 2 techs look at the rear deraileur and no onr said it is out of line, but maybe i could as them to check that specifically. The rear deraileur has seen 2-3 different cassetes. Chain still engages front chainrings well, no neglect there either. Has been indexed multiple times. After clean/lube it works better for a 20-30 miles then its back to bing eh
I could get a new set of jockey wheels and ill double check but they should be fine. Max amount of miles on that drive train is… 2k? My other road bike has seen more miles (but not time) than that
My spiral return spring actually broke. If you were to stretch out the broken piece, it's about 2cm long. I'm considering simply bending over the remaining spring end. I tested bending the broken piece. It seems a bit brittle. The corner of the bend seems like it slightly splintered, but didn't break. I guess the only way to know is to try. Anyone know where to get a new spring? I've been looking for a 'used-for parts' shifter for that spring, but that spring will probably be bad, or on it's way out, too. In addition, the internals seem a little loose, or jiggly. Not sure if that's normal. However, it was shifting fine before the spring broke. Any guidance is much appreciated.
You could probably try shortening the spring by one whole spiral. It isn't ideal and it will affect spring tension but most springs in used shifters are well worn anyway, it might work. You may be able to source spiral springs on AliExpress and you can bend the ends to suit. Your best bet is a friendly bike shop, they will have heaps of broken shifters going through them but you'll need to convince them to hand one over. If you have a 6700, then a 5700 and I think 7900 shifter would have the same spring.
Hi delbified, same problem, nice vide, where can i found that spring?
You can't buy the springs as replacements, unfortunately. Or if you find someone who sells them, let me know! You can modify the spring though.
Is there a way to do it without taking the whole thing apart. I took the bottom half off
To do what I've done in the video you'll need to dissemble what I have unfortunately.
What is the purpose of that electrical flat wire in there?
Shimano had a Flight Deck feature with those shifters, with which you could connect the shifters to a (Shimano, I assume?) computer and it would detect when you changed gears and I assume - tell you which gear you are in. I've never used it but no one uses Shimano Flight Deck compatible computers anymore so the wiring is pretty useless.
Is this also the same problem for 7900?
yes they are a similar design
whats the proper tools for this i have the same problem
i cant understand the other steps bc i have a hardtime understanding english😢😂
You don't need many tools for this, other than a screwdriver and a hex wrench (allen key). I prefer to use a pick (tinyurl.com/3ctnxmtf). You need a pick with a hook on the end to pull the spring. And perhaps tweezers (tinyurl.com/5n6pud2c).
@@delbified okayy ill tryy if i messed up
im gonna go in shop hahaa