SRAM X7 Shifters - DIY Repairable?

[Tom B]

One of my bikes is equipped with these shifters.

The front Mech shifter has developed a problem that when half of the time when i shift 2 -3 the shefter jamms solid, releasing the pressure and trying again will eventually get the shift.

It is like there is bit of something inside the shifter that is jamming it up.

Are these repairable.... i.e. is it wise to take them apart and am i likely able to get it back together without the need for 10 hands and special tools/jigs?

 

[fossyant]

X7 is SRAM

 

[gbb]

While i have no experience of Sram, what i'd do first is...
Disconnect the cable from the FD and make sure the FD does indeed swing freely. Sora FDs for instance were prone to siezing at the mech pivot bolt, slacken the bolt, squirt some WD in, work it free then re-tighten bolt. The X7 may be completely different, but you have to localise the problem, shifters, FD or maybe even cables.
Then i'd get some lube down the cables in case theyre sticky.
Trouble is, once youve disconnected the cable from the FD, you need to reconnect in the right way once you're finished...and right now, i can't remember the sequence.

 

[Litchards]

I would be wary when taking apart a SRAM shifter, in my experience they are normally tightly compacted and have lots of components inside that spring out. Shimano shifters are much more simplistic and generally can be opened without worry that lots of bits will pop out. I would trace the cable and make sure it has not been caught anywhere such as the outer cable being jarred on the shifter barrel.

If there are no snags anywhere I would replace the inner cable and spray GT-85 down the outer cable to make sure it is clear of dirt etc and also apply a thicker lube to make sure the cable runs smoothly. There is normally a small rubber screw under the bottom shifter which when undone you can feed the old cable out. I would spray GT-85 and add a thicker lube to the spring of the front mech as the spring may be seizing up, if there is any rust maybe soak in GT - 85 first as this product is great for removing rust and freeing parts up.Once you have reset the front mech back up with the cable tightened in the right place hopefully this will have solved the problem.

If this does not work I would Youtube SRAM X7 shifter repair, but I personally would not like to try as there are just so many small components I would say even with a video this will be difficult to put back to how it should be.

 

[Tom B]

X7 is SRAM

Cheers the markings have long since worn off, I had to ID it by looking at images on google.


Thansk for the ideas, cable is fine, the sto feels like it is directly in the lever mech, there is not give whatsover. You cannot feel any movement at all on the cable, its as if the stop is before the ratchet mech engages the cable winder.

I might "let it develop".

 

[fossyant]

New shifter off ebay. cheap