Problem with Shimano Sora rear changer...

[Mo06]

I was out on the bike and my rear gear cable snapped just where it meets the frame...

Anyway, back home, I took off the cable but the end with the nipple was trapped in the lever mechanism.

In the end I had to remove the lever from the mechanism, and got the old cable out.

My problem is this: I am having a lot of difficulty re-assembling the changer.
Specifically, there is a spring behind the brake lever blade, and I cannot figure out how to locate this when reassembling the lever.

I found a video on youtube which is exactly the same model being taken apart and reassembled, but he doesn't cover this bit.


View: https://youtu.be/LG_rFmlWooc


Any advice on how to assemble this correctly ?

I'm a pretty decent bike mechanic and can do most jobs, but this is driving me nuts.

 

[rogerzilla]

You're brave! I thought these were generally regarded as unmaintainable.

 

[Big John]

I wish you luck. I've tried a couple of times over the years and failed miserably ☹️

 

[Mo06]

Thanks, these replies do not fill me with much hope.
I guess I could try and find a second hand changer, or alternatively convert the bike to a single speed (not really practical given that I live in a pretty mountainous part of the world)..

If anyone has reassembled this changer, please comment.

 

[Mo06]

I should have included the model:

Shimano Sora ST-R3300 8s Shifter.

 

[Ajax Bay]

I should have included the model:

Shimano Sora ST-R3300 8s Shifter.

ST-R3300 is 9sp.
If you have 8 sprockets then you need Claris ST-2xxx eg
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203792581527?hash=item2f72fc0397:g:4WAAAOSwEV5h4yOG

 

[Chislenko]

If you are really struggling I have an 8 speed shifter, the old type with the little knub on the top rather than two levers.

I could be persuaded to sell it for considerably less than what people are asking on eBay.

Just as an aside and I realise too late now but the easy way to get the trapped nipple out, is obviously get it in the right gear position, drill a small hole (very soft metal) just where you see the nipple and you should be able to pick it out.

 

[Chislenko]

ST-R3300 is 9sp.
If you have 8 sprockets then you need Claris ST-2xxx eg
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203792581527?hash=item2f72fc0397:g:4WAAAOSwEV5h4yOG

I have Sora 8 speed 3300 on my bike, they were very often used with a triple Ajax, hence the 3300 on a triple, 2300 on a double.

 

[Mo06]

Update - found a replacement shifter and fitted it yesterday.

Great to be back on my bike.

 

[fossyant]

Update - found a replacement shifter and fitted it yesterday.

Great to be back on my bike.

Great.

Lesson, never ever ever pull an STI shifter to bits.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Great that you're back on the bike.

Just a note for others and for future - it's not necessary to remove the lever to access the broken off nipple.

There's a plastic cover underneath which is fixed in place with a very small cross head screw.

Removing the screw allows the cover to be removed and you can then easily take out the frayed end.

Drilling holes in metal as suggested upthread is not necessary either!

TBH I'm not really sure why the cover is there at all, presumably just to minimise dirt and water ingress.

 

[C R]

Great that you're back on the bike.

Just a note for others and for future - it's not necessary to remove the lever to access the broken off nipple.

There's a plastic cover underneath which is fixed in place with a very small cross head screw.

Removing the screw allows the cover to be removed and you can then easily take out the frayed end.

Drilling holes in metal as suggested upthread is not necessary either!

TBH I'm not really sure why the cover is there at all, presumably just to minimise dirt and water ingress.

I think the cover is a recent addition, which older models didn't have. That cover is really handy, yesterday the rear shifting cable of my road bike broke inside the shifter. I was concerned that it would be difficult to get the bits out, but upon opening the cover the broken niple just dropped off. All fixed with new cable in an indexed in under 20 minutes.

 

[Chislenko]

Great that you're back on the bike.

Just a note for others and for future - it's not necessary to remove the lever to access the broken off nipple.

There's a plastic cover underneath which is fixed in place with a very small cross head screw.

Removing the screw allows the cover to be removed and you can then easily take out the frayed end.

Drilling holes in metal as suggested upthread is not necessary either!

TBH I'm not really sure why the cover is there at all, presumably just to minimise dirt and water ingress.

The aforementioned cover is not on the old flight deck shifters, hence the small drill hole.

 

[Mo06]

I did remove the plastic cover, but it was still not possible to remove the trapped cable/nipple. That's why I removed the lever blade.
Oh well, lesson learned.

When the cable snapped on my ride, I didn't immediately realise, and so tried to change down, I guess that's what caused the jam.

 

[si_c]

I did remove the plastic cover, but it was still not possible to remove the trapped cable/nipple. That's why I removed the lever blade.
Oh well, lesson learned.

When the cable snapped on my ride, I didn't immediately realise, and so tried to change down, I guess that's what caused the jam.

It's happened to me before, I used a selection of picks and took my time (longer than I'd anticipated) to maneuver the head out. A tip is to only change the gear when you have the nipple bound against the shifter mechanism - that way you can slowly get it into the position where it will drop out of the side where it's supposed to go, if you randomly shift to try and work it out then it just jams and you're frankly a bit fscked.