Sticky gear change, what can I do?

[CoolHands]

My rather vintage now cannondale that I love - the gear change and cables etc are pretty clean. But changing down it s kind of sticky in the thumb action, and mostly doesn t catch ie it s loose if you know what I mean. I have to fiddle about while cycling to get it to catch by half changing up a bit then I can change down.

I don t think it s actual derailleur adjustment. Over the years I ve not really used it that much, it s had an easy life so don t think the components need replacing.

Can the handlebar thumb area be disassembled?

Edit found this video which might help me

Edited by CoolHands on Sunday 12th April 11:20

[James_0541]

Fit new cables, inner and outer!

[smokey mow]

James_0541 said:

Fit new cables, inner and outer!

And make sure they re lubricated with a teflon grease and not just assembled dry.

[deeen]

When was the last time the chain and cogs were replaced? When they wear, it makes it harder for the teeth to pick up the chain when you change gear.

[Badda]

Don t be in large cogs at front and rear!

[frisbee]

I have vague memories of the grease going hard in mine, which stopped the ratchets in the levers working and I cleaned and regreased them.

I don't know if the memories are vague because it was easy or I've repressed them!

[CoolHands]

Badda said:

Don t be in large cogs at front and rear!

If they were working easily I wouldn’t be! Haha

I did replace the chain at one point and only done few hundred miles. It changes fine at that end, it’s the levers are ‘loose’ and not catching. I think probably hard grease as mentioned above, so will disassemble and clean cheers

[w1bbles]

My son's ancient bike had the same problem last week - it was old, hard grease inside the selector mechanism. 10 minute fix.

[gazza285]

Sprockets, not cogs.


Anyway, get some new gear cables, and under no circumstances disassemble the levers, unless you are a mechanical genius. Squirt some lubricant in of your choice though.

This won't help.

Edited by gazza285 on Sunday 12th April 18:27

[JEA1K]

Cables stretch and fray over time ... once this happens, your shifting action will be slow up and down the gears and indexing will be innacurate. Looking atthe pics, those cables looked ancient.

Also, why is the rear quick release on the drive-side?

[Liamjrhodes]

As said, clean all the moving parts and re-lubricate, replace the cables and squirt some lubricant into the shifter

[Steve_H80]

I re-commissioned my old Cannondale recently and had the same issues as you.. I finally replaced the mech and shifter and now it's fine.
Stuff just wears out...