Shimano SORA problems when cold?

email hidden said:

Hi,

On my morning commute today, my SORA shifter (for the triple front
sprockets) decided that sometimes it wouldn't want to let me shift
from the first (lowest position), ie. I'd pull up to a junction,
changing down as well as normal, but when I pulled off the large lever
(change to larger sprocket) would stick solid, ie. I couldn't shift
up. Try cycling through bath in rush hour with that!

That happens on systems other than SORA, but it's usually more the
cables fault than the derailer's. They tend to freeze up enough to
increase friction beyond what the derailer's springs can overcome. I
can usually (but not always) clear mine by tugging carefully on the
cable at either end.

More to the point, I try to remember to park in a 'useful' gear at
night, so it's ridable in the morning, and not downshift unless I
absolutely have to. It's not like I'm going to be super efficient at
-10C anyway.

I've cycled through showers, but never bath...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

On my morning commute today, my SORA shifter (for the triple front
sprockets) decided that sometimes it wouldn't want to let me shift
from the first (lowest position), ie. I'd pull up to a junction,
changing down as well as normal, but when I pulled off the large lever
(change to larger sprocket) would stick solid, ie. I couldn't shift
up. Try cycling through bath in rush hour with that!
Anyway, I got back ok, was busy for a few hours. It still was acting
up when I cycled it back to my room. I unscrewed the large screw on
the front of the unit (once inside), to see if I could inspect the
innards. Unscrewed it, noting the washer, but couldn't proceed any
furthur for fear of braking the cover off, I think it's clipped on
somehow. I screwed it back together, and since it's been ok (touch
wood!). Now, will my unscrewing have potentially solved it, could the
cold (below freezing) weather have affected the lubricant to such an
extent that the thing gummed up, or is it something else at play?
Ergo, can I fix it, or will it need to go back in for warranty?
In order to get back, I discovered tensioning the cable with my hand
would make the lever click and unstick. I don't want to tighten the
cable excessively, as I guess this would stress the unit even more.
Thanks,

Recently I have had both derailleurs on one bike (Campag) and the front
one on the other (Shimano, even cheaper than Sora-- Acera I think) seize
up I believe because of mud.

They seem to get sprayed with mud which then dries into a sort of clay.

If you squirt them with WD-40 or similar where available, and/or work
the mechanism backwards and forwards with your hand a few times (just
grab it and push/pull in the same direction the cable is supposed to)
that frees them up OK.

You probably should take them apart and clean them with acetone followed
by compressed air before regreasing the pivots and stress-relieving the
circlips but I couldn't be bothered.

This is the "mechs" I'm talking about not the shifters. I haven't known
the shifters themselves to seize up-- they're higher up and out of the
mud-- but the symptom is the same.

Quoted message said:

Recently I have had both derailleurs on one bike (Campag) and the front
one on the other (Shimano, even cheaper than Sora-- Acera I think) seize
up I believe because of mud.

They seem to get sprayed with mud which then dries into a sort of clay.

If you squirt them with WD-40 or similar where available, and/or work
the mechanism backwards and forwards with your hand a few times (just
grab it and push/pull in the same direction the cable is supposed to)
that frees them up OK.

You probably should take them apart and clean them with acetone followed
by compressed air before regreasing the pivots and stress-relieving the
circlips but I couldn't be bothered.

This is the "mechs" I'm talking about not the shifters. I haven't known
the shifters themselves to seize up-- they're higher up and out of the
mud-- but the symptom is the same.

Right, I think I've traced the problem. It appears that during
particularly arduous downshifts, I press the release lever too hard.
and it overtravels, wedging part of the internal system that returns
with a spring past it's designed point. I think the solution will be
to make a stop on the outside of the device, so I can't push the lever
too far. AFAICS the release point is the same across the range, so
putting a stop in will help matters. I'll put pictures up on
photobucket if anyone is interested.

Quoted message said:

On my morning commute today, my SORA shifter (for the triple front
sprockets) decided that sometimes it wouldn't want to let me shift
from the first (lowest position), ie. I'd pull up to a junction,
changing down as well as normal, but when I pulled off the large lever
(change to larger sprocket) would stick solid, ie. I couldn't shift
up. Try cycling through bath in rush hour with that!
Anyway, I got back ok, was busy for a few hours. It still was acting
up when I cycled it back to my room. I unscrewed the large screw on
the front of the unit (once inside), to see if I could inspect the
innards. Unscrewed it, noting the washer, but couldn't proceed any
furthur for fear of braking the cover off, I think it's clipped on
somehow. I screwed it back together, and since it's been ok (touch
wood!). Now, will my unscrewing have potentially solved it, could the
cold (below freezing) weather have affected the lubricant to such an
extent that the thing gummed up, or is it something else at play?
Ergo, can I fix it, or will it need to go back in for warranty?
In order to get back, I discovered tensioning the cable with my hand
would make the lever click and unstick. I don't want to tighten the
cable excessively, as I guess this would stress the unit even more.
PS> I know it's the povvo-spec shifter, but it should work, right?

Quoted message said:

Ergo, can I fix it

Yes an Ergo shifter would fix it.
(...couldn't resist that...)

Try a thorough flush with a light bodied aerosol to clear any dirt,
dried lubricant and little bits of plastic swarf from the mechanism.

If the wire itself is hard to move, slip the casing from it's stop ( or
unscrew the adjuster mount depending on your bike) and wipe the wire
clean followed by a wipe with oil on your fingers. Don't forget to
clean/lube the nylon wire guide under the frame.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Furthur poking about reveals it is mainly operator error, perhaps
coupled with wear. I'll see if I can train myself to use it properly
(only push until release), if not I'll install an end-stop.

A Muzi mused:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On my morning commute today, my SORA shifter (for the triple front
sprockets) decided that sometimes it wouldn't want to let me shift
from the first (lowest position), ie. I'd pull up to a junction,
changing down as well as normal, but when I pulled off the large lever
(change to larger sprocket) would stick solid, ie. I couldn't shift
up. Try cycling through bath in rush hour with that!
Anyway, I got back ok, was busy for a few hours. It still was acting
up when I cycled it back to my room. I unscrewed the large screw on
the front of the unit (once inside), to see if I could inspect the
innards. Unscrewed it, noting the washer, but couldn't proceed any
furthur for fear of braking the cover off, I think it's clipped on
somehow. I screwed it back together, and since it's been ok (touch
wood!). Now, will my unscrewing have potentially solved it, could the
cold (below freezing) weather have affected the lubricant to such an
extent that the thing gummed up, or is it something else at play?
Ergo, can I fix it, or will it need to go back in for warranty?
In order to get back, I discovered tensioning the cable with my hand
would make the lever click and unstick. I don't want to tighten the
cable excessively, as I guess this would stress the unit even more.
PS> I know it's the povvo-spec shifter, but it should work, right?

Quoted message said:

Ergo, can I fix it

Yes an Ergo shifter would fix it.
(...couldn't resist that...)
...

Or even better, a bar-end shifter.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
"And never forget, life ultimately makes failures of all people."
- A. Derleth

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Brian Huntley said:

email hidden said:

Hi,

On my morning commute today, my SORA shifter (for the triple front
sprockets) decided that sometimes it wouldn't want to let me shift
from the first (lowest position), ie. I'd pull up to a junction,
changing down as well as normal, but when I pulled off the large lever
(change to larger sprocket) would stick solid, ie. I couldn't shift
up. Try cycling through bath in rush hour with that!

That happens on systems other than SORA, but it's usually more the
cables fault than the derailer's. They tend to freeze up enough to
increase friction beyond what the derailer's springs can overcome. I
can usually (but not always) clear mine by tugging carefully on the
cable at either end.

More to the point, I try to remember to park in a 'useful' gear at
night, so it's ridable in the morning, and not downshift unless I
absolutely have to. It's not like I'm going to be super efficient at
-10C anyway.

I've cycled through showers, but never bath...

ba-dada-da-BAP

--
Michael Press