Gear changing failure - choice to make

[BrumJim]

There should be another post about this coming soon, but the gear changer on my bike has failed - will only go up, not down, so now I'm stuck in 8th gear.

Selector is a Shimano 2300. You may have to ask someone older what that is, but essentially a fore-runner to Claris.
I can get a replacement for about £150, but then needs fitting.

Or

I can get a new Tiagra groupset free with some sweets from Haribo for about £220, or For 105, about £250 in the sale - about 45% off. The frame is a Specialized Allez with lifetime guarantee, so essentially I would be getting a £700 bike second hand for £250 plus fitting. Which sounds good. But is still £100 more than I need to spend, and might stop me getting a new bike for a good few years.

So, which should I go for?

 

[Milkfloat]

Where are you getting £150 for a shifter from? That is more than double the price of a pair. In fact it is 3 times the price if you are willing to wait for them to arrive from abroad.

Or if you want just the one shifter how does £25 sound?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Shima...nd-Side-STI-Shifter-Brake-Lever-/272349111794


If you go new Tiagra or 105 will your wheels be compatible?

 

[RoubaixCube]

The thing with the new 105s is that you will need 11 speed compatible wheels. Depending on what you have either the 105 or the tiagra might be the best option. If you enjoy riding the bike and cant afford something new bike then splash the cash some and enjoy the ride

 

[raleighnut]

I'd go 105 but try to find a 10spd that's being flogged off cheap.

 

[BrumJim]

Where are you getting £150 for a shifter from? That is more than double the price of a pair. In fact it is 3 times the price if you are willing to wait for them to arrive from abroad.

Or if you want just the one shifter how does £25 sound?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Shima...nd-Side-STI-Shifter-Brake-Lever-/272349111794


If you go new Tiagra or 105 will your wheels be compatible?

I have new wheels in the garage waiting to be fitted. Must check if they are 11-speed compatible.

 

[ColinJ]

Work out what is wrong with it, buy the spare parts for a few quid, scour YouTube for the inevitable 'How To', and fix it!

I did that for a Campagnolo Chorus shifter recently and I am not a mechanic.

 

[mjr]

And if you can't fix it, switch to friction shifters. Compatible with everything and £30 or so for a pretty band-on pair.

 

[davidphilips]

agree with colin, why not try a bit of wd40 if it starts working then it will need some fresh grease.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MyQGB1gudw

 

[BrumJim]

agree with colin, why not try a bit of wd40 if it starts working then it will need some fresh grease.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MyQGB1gudw

As per other thread. I've tried a lot of WD-40, and it got better briefly, and then back to worse than ever. Never got back to good.

 

[Tim Hall]

Work out what is wrong with it, buy the spare parts for a few quid, scour YouTube for the inevitable 'How To', and fix it!

I did that for a Campagnolo Chorus shifter recently and I am not a mechanic.

Campag shifters are relatively easy to get spareparts for. Shimano ones much less so,verging on impossible, or so I understand.

 

[cyberknight]

It depends on what you use the bike for and if you can justify the expense, i would just replace the shifter or maybe upgrade to claris as the budget option .If you can afford it and have compatible wheels, rear mech , cassette and chain and want to bling up our bike then go for it but dont expect it to go any faster.

Im running claris on the commuter/ winter bike and its fine even compared to the sram on my "nice " bike .

 

[rrarider]

I was shocked to see the kind of money that you are considering spending on an indexed lever. As I still ride my old-school 531 bike with its 6 speed freewheel, Shimano 600 derailleur and friction shifters, I'm doubly amazed. I note from the YouTube link that the device has screws on it and can therefore be dismantled. This document si.shimano.com/php/download.php?file=pdf/dm/DM-ST0001-03-ENG.pdf has a section on how to do it..
If you are thinking of replacing it anyway, you have nothing to lose. I can't see how flooding something with WD40 is a proper engineering repair. It might be OK for a squeaking bolt on the side gate but a precision part needs a bit more care I would say.

Good luck with your attempts.

 

[lutonloony]

nothing silly like a manky/frayed inner cable?

 

[BrumJim]

nothing silly like a manky/frayed inner cable?

No, sadly.

 

[BrumJim]

It depends on what you use the bike for and if you can justify the expense, i would just replace the shifter or maybe upgrade to claris as the budget option .If you can afford it and have compatible wheels, rear mech , cassette and chain and want to bling up our bike then go for it but dont expect it to go any faster.

Im running claris on the commuter/ winter bike and its fine even compared to the sram on my "nice " bike .

Of the two, its currently my Best Bike. Used for dry days, Sportives and Audaxes when not trying to sandbag myself.