Ultegra Shifters - What have I done wrong?

[mattjg01]

Just got a set of Ultegra ST6800 shifters to replace some old shifters. On install I've threaded new brake cables and gear shift cables into place, without any issues. Brakes are set up and working fine. However, the shifters don't seem to engage - I get no click from either side either to shift up or down. The fact both shifters are showing no sign of action makes me suspect I've done something wrong. I have threaded the gear cable through the small hole on the outside of the shifter, with cable seated as per the attached picture.

Any suggestions for what might be going wrong gratefully received.

 

[alicat]

Do they click with the cables disconnected?

 

[alicat]

Is that cable in the pic seated correctly? It looks to be loose to my untrained eye?

 

[Alex321]

That cable doesn't look to be seated correctly. The end piece should be entirely below the surface.

Once you get to the end of the cable, it needs to be fed into the large hole, not the narrower channel below that.

 

[Domus]

I agree with Alex

 

[Grant Fondo]

 

[Big John]

View: https://youtu.be/_4Nn05NMfec

 

[Cycleops]

You need to pull the cables through from the derailleur end (with a plier) so they seat properly. Then all will be well.

Just watch @Big John ’s video.

 

[C R]

What @alicat said.

 

[Venod]

Pull the cable back out and operate the shifter, if you look close at the mechanism you will see the barrel that moves the cable, your cable needs to be seated in the recess provided for it on the circumference of the barrel, from your pic it's not seated anywhere and you may have put it through the wrong hole.

 

[T4tomo]

Do they click with the cables disconnected?

this, take the cable out and see if they click up and down. If not they are knackered, they only last hope is a big spray of GT85.

If they work then set about threading the properly which can only be done with the shifter in its "smallest cog/ring" position, i.e clcik the little lever on both until it clicks no more, then look for the hole to thread it into.

Into conjecture now, but you may well have tried to thread it midway through its travel, and the incorrectly located cable is blocking the shift action.

 

[alicat]

One last thought since we haven't seen @mattjg01 since yesterday. I've found Shimano's Technical Service Manual to be very useful. When all else fails, rtfm. Print off and tick off step by step. Don't forget to put the hyphen in "ST6800" when you google it.

 

[Paulus]

I wonder if the shifter was not on the lowest setting before attaching the cable, so there is no where for the lever to pull the cable.

 

[mattjg01]

Thanks all for some great responses. Been busy all day but now about to have a go at reseating the cables 🤞

 

[mattjg01]

With fresh eyes and taking things a bit slower, just reseated everything and all working fine now. Thanks all for great advice 👍🏻