Mixing shifters

Mattvg67 said:

I have a 7 x 3 setup on my Cannondale. The right shifter/brake mechanism on the Shimano RSX no longers downshifts from left to right (7 gears) and the shifter has no tension whatsoever. I have some questions I love some advice on:

1. Anyone know how to fix this issue?
2. Can I have two different shifter manuafcturers? If so, can I use an 8 speed instead

Basically I'm looking for a low cost alternative. Thanks in advance.

I'm pretty sure that you can still get an individual 7-speed Sora rear 'brifter'. That wouldn't match your left shifter but.... Here's the bad news: regular retail will run about $80.00.

Switching to barcon shifters (run 'em in friction mode) will save you some money on the shifters but you'll pay it back on brake levers so the total cost will be about the same. You'll have all new shifters, though and the barcons will be more reliable and probably last forever.

Before spending any money, try this: Pull your brake lever partially down and spray a generous amount of WD40 into the innerds. If you have access to an air compressor, follow that up with a blast of compressed air. Most of the time that'll fix the kind of problem you are having.

I tried the WD 40 trick but that only worked the first time. Is it possible to use an 8 speed shifter? I think the spacing should be pretty close. Anyone?😄

Mattvg67 said:

I tried the WD 40 trick but that only worked the first time. Is it possible to use an 8 speed shifter? I think the spacing should be pretty close. Anyone?😄

An 8s is close enough that it will usually work even though the spacing is technically 0.2mm difference (5.0mm for 7s vs 4.8mm for 8s). On my wife's bike we have an 8s bar-con shifting a 7s rear without difficulty in a 7 X 3 drivetrain. There is enough play in the system to make it work acceptably.

As was suggested another alternative is to use a downtube shifter (or as suggested a bar-con ) and to use your broken right brifter as a brake lever only.