Clean, Lube & Repair Shimano Integrated Brake Shifters (Brifters) 

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Thanks! I was just about to spend $150 to replace my shifters. Tried your method and BAM! works perfectly again. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.

Its funny that bike shops i went to they told me that they dont service shifters they suggest get new ones but when i tried this my old shifters were like new again👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

RJ - perfect video 7 years later. Got my shifter working again!

Thank you! This helped me unstick my old Shimano 600 shifters! I was able to leave them on the bike as well, which is a big plus. I'm a big fan of your videos.

I have these exact ones and HAD this exact problem with no idea what to do to fix... THANK YOU. Awesome instructional.

Thanks, RJ, for a very clear and useful video. I am about to do this on a friend's bike that shifts very poorly (along with re-cabling the bike and degreasing the derailleurs). This video helps immensely. I am now a subscriber.

Thanks for saving me 150 bucks! Was getting ready to buy a new set of sora shifters.

Thanks! You saved my shifters (same model as yours)! I followed your advice and they are working again.

Thank you! You're the King of bicycles on RU-vid!

Thanks for the video. Worked well on my bike! didn't even have to remove from bike itself, just flood with WD40 and keep clicking.

I restore vintage bikes. Non-shifting STI shifters from the 90s is very common because, as shown here, the old lube has dirt build up and gummed up from many many years. IMPORTANT: Patience is key. Usually doesn't clear up instantly . WD40 is a great degreaser, but takes some time to break down gummed up dirty grease. Shoot tons of WD40 in there and let it sit for 20-30min and if doesn't work shoot more and let sit for day or two and shoot more in there to clean out. Works every time. It is not necessary to use PBblaster or similar which is too strong and can be damaging to some materials (plastics) and surfaces.

proper methods, well explained, not too rambly. you're doing it right! i love using motorcycle chain lubricant spray after solvent-cleaning mechanics, and on my bicycle drive train. it's a super runny naphta-like solvent that spreads like crazy over any surface, leaving a very thin and superbly long lasting conserving film of semi dry fat, that runs as smoothly as thin oil. it smells a bit, but who cares, it's cheap and works incredibly well! i use it on anything from mechanical typewriters to creaking doors

Just finished cleaning both my Dura Ace 10 speed 7800 shifters. Both failed after about 5 years. Used liquid wrench as degreaser, ran under hot water , the. Rinsed with rubbing alcohol to displace water and used compressed air it blow out and let dry. Ran to bike shop, purchased tri- flow and both shifters operating like new. (Did have to disasemble one, and watched your video on this to)Thanks... Great video and tips . Going to buy all new brake and shift cables now...

So happy I found your video. The only thing I did differently was to soak each lever in a jam jar of white spirit instead of the WD40. Brought 2 pairs of levers back to life. Thank you!

Just cleaned and lubed my Shimano RSX STI per this video. Got my right shifter working again. Thanks Bike Guy!

Wish I'd seen before thing some 105 levers we're shot. Found this worked great on my old Shimano LX thumb shifters too. Thanks.

Thanks to your tips my ultegra 6700 left shifter seems to be working again!! It's been on the blink for a long time, sometimes working properly, sometimes not (it seemed to work better in summer time, now in winter it was a nightmare). After all this piece of equipment needs some maintenance too. Thanks RJ

Thanks, you kept it simple and I appreciate simple...but you were thorough...and I appreciate thorough !

Your finger will never go rusty good job done

It's amazing the things you can fix with a little patience and some cleaning. :)

DUDE! Loved the theory. I have totally different groupsets, but your theory helped me understand that I need to do what you did to my own shifters. And I bet half the shifting problems go away! #STOKED!

Excellent video, thanks. My shifter just started to act up a few days ago, not shifting down. Some liberal sprayings of WD40 lead to much black gunk running out, and eventually the shifter seemed to loosen right up. So far so good.

You nailed my problem. Now I have to return that replacement cable that I was sure must be the problem. Work like new now. BTW, the LBS quoted $220 for a set of replacement Brifters!!!

Exactly what I needed. The old Giant CFR1 rolls on.

A friend had a cable break on a century ride. I was able to tie off the cable and she got home. The Ultegra shifter mechanism seemed all messed up when i tried to replace the cable and was wishing she had a Campy, which i've rebuilt. I'm sure the gummed up shifters caused the cable to wear out over time. Found your video, got out the WD-40 and 20 minutes later the bike was shifting perfectly. Thanks!

Can't wait to try this with an old pair of Shimano 105's I got on a very dirty Raleigh Technium. They're doing exactly the same thing as this pair was in the beginning.

thankyou for sharing this, ur video safed my bike! I just pump WD40 into my 1980 105STI and shift d levers numerous times and wala.

That trick worked nicely for shifters that was unused for 12-15 years

Hey, thanks very much for that advice. It saved my day. I had exact the same problem with my 20 years old muesing race bike. I thought the shifters are completely broken. With your help they work again!

Thank you, I was having issues shifting with my Ultegra's. This video should help me fix the problem.

Garrett Oster, this happens on mountain bike trigger shifters as well. It happens on indexed shifters with pawls in them.

Great video! I'm glad someone is showing people how to free up shifters. My experience is that Tri-Flow is an even better penetrant and solvent than WD-40. Try it on an old gummed up bolt or other part and you'll see that Tri-Flow cleans it right up!

Thanks! Six years ago, but just what I needed

glad you are around I got a 98 trek that Ben stored for a long time it was ridden hard before it got stored I'm trying to make it run good again it's going well ! the shifters were similar to those they worked ok but I did this anyways and they work alot better than before!

Damn, bro. I was always told that you just have to buy new ones. I got a couple I can fix right up. Thanks

Thanks a lot for posting this video; you are a national treasure!

Thanks for the video. I just started using STI shifters, and this info will help me to take care of them.

Hey, thanks for this video. I had these exact shifters and thought they were broken and was looking to buy new shifters. I used my Deep Creep oil after watching and got the old ones working again.

Great Video, Will really help me with my 600 brifters. Have watched many of your vids, and always been impressed. Keep up the good work

Please wear latex or neoprene gloves when handling wd-40, lubricants, and rubbing alcohol. All of these will have some kind of penetration into your skin and blood stream. Even if it is a trace, but especially if you have a cut or scrape.

I have a cannondale t400. Bike mechanic just told me to get rid of it because shifters were all gummed up. Can I leave the shifters on the bike and clean it like you did in the video?

rj you are the best! thank you so much for your content you helped me out many times

Thk U very much, you save my 6400 STI today

Hi love your videos. I have a right hand Dura Ace 7700 with an issue. When I move the small lever it drags the large leaver across slightly and it doesn't shift. If i hold the large leaver in place the small leaver will work . I've tried the wd40 to no avail, any suggestions would be appreciated

Great video and very helpful. I have found using a hot hairdryer melts the gunk inside and the shifter begins to work. Usually I will follow up with tri flow after the hairdryer.

obrigado me ajudou muito meu sti 600 e rsx100 estão funcionando de novo

FYI everyone tried using WD-40 on the left brifter. Soaked it several times but wasn't getting any movement. Then I tried one solid squirt of PB Blaster and within seconds got all the clicks/trim back. No more cross-chaining so the drive train lasts that much longer.

Muchas gracias. Me sirvió para reparar mis Shimano 600.

Great video, quick fix for my shifters

Nice - going to try that on my Shimano 105 shifters

Hi, got these shifters. RH will shift up full 7 clicks smoothly, but is rough shifting down. What could that be? Cheers

hello could you make a video disassemble it and assemble it again it¨s the same shifters on the front derailleur side, thanks

Will WD40 react to the plastic parts inside the STI or just the rubber?

I can't get the damn cable out! I tried WD-40 to get the gear catching which help them back to life, great. But this cable is still stuck. Using STI RX100 right shifter. Any tips apart from disassemble??? THX

I did the same procedure on my shimano 600 shifters and it worked. I doubt I 'll be using them , they are quiet heavy .

I've read before that WD-40 can actually gum up over time if it's used as a lubricant. I should buy a can of Tri-Flow, reading about it I think it'd definitely be useful to me. I actually got myself my first tube of Super Lube because I've seen you use it so often, I'll start using that instead of just regular grease when I service my tools.

Great video! I'm got two Shimano rsx brifters working (when I got them, they weren't shifting at all). The one however shifts 2-3 gears at one time (just the one way). Any ideas why??

Thank You very much, great and helpful video!! I had exactly the same problem and resolved with your help :-) !

Will something like pb blaster silicone based spray lube work?

Thanks! Exactly what I was looking for!

could I also soak them in paint thinner followed by the air compressor and some chain lubricant? (just thinking out load with the things i have at my disposal)

Cool, I didn't know it could be such an easy fix. Now I understand why people don't recommend WD-40 as chain lube.

hola porque no haces un video desarmar y armar ese mismo shifter

Thanks a million...!!! I just had my shifters malfunction...

Wow! Thanks for teaching us noobs 🙏🙏🙏

Thanks for posting this. Just help my buddy buy a Trek 2300, great bike BUT, the Shifters don't click. So I hope this fix the problem. The cables and chain are gummed up with White Lightning so hoping this will fix the shifting problem. Bike bike is older and has been sitting in a garage for years it sounded like from the owner. Crossing my fingers.

Thank you! Awesome help!

Please, do a video instructional on how to repair current iteration Ultegra shifters (R8020) that don't engage the gearwheel when shifting, because the pawl that is supposed to catch the notches on the gearwheel, is loose. I don't see how it can be tightened.

So don't replace the old grease with new grease just use a very light lube?

Hi RJ, wonderful video. Was wondering though if this method can be done on more recent versions of Shimano STIs, like say, 5700, 5800 models. Thanks!

Is this a common problem on road bike shifters? I just got my first road bike, I've had plenty of mountain bikes and never had shifter problems

Thank you! The front shift works perfectly now!

"Itll slide right on HNNNNNGHHHHHHH"

And if I used 2 big cans of WD-40 and it still doesn't click? New shifters or should I try some more?

HI RJ, just to say this didn't work for my Ultegra (6800) shifter. It seems that while I got the clicking working again, it doesn't seem to affect the rear derailleur cable tension. Can you suggest a further step to check that the gear cable is being properly effected please? Love your vids btw. cheers & peace.

Shifting is not the problem on my 7801 Dura Ace, the brake lever don't go back...thanks for your help

extremely helpful!

Thank you. I took my bike to the shop and they told me I needed to buy new shift levers. I'll do this instead.

You are the man! Any chance you use these on a Kestrel 200 sci? cheers.

Hi there. Thanks for video. Do u know if this would work on ultegra 6700 shifters too?

if in any case this rubber hood was in bad shape like cracked or just incomplete, is there any replacement for it?

Would you recommend any further grease after the tri flow? I'm seeing some other people using Buzzy's Slick Honey after a few shots of spray lube. I think that is what my bike came with. After 20 years it was like wax. I would prefer to save money and just use tri flow. The slick honey is on the expensive side. Thanks RJ! ~RJ

Great advice, thank's a lot! keep up the good work! :-)

Hey, I'm from Brazil and we don't have triflow lubricants over here. Do you know if spray grease is a good option besides triflow?

awesome!

I`m under the impression lithium spray grease is best since it dries and bonds as where the tri flow spray is more sticky ????

Is there an alternative to WD40 that is more specific to the task? Because this product sounds like a bit like a 'Jack of all trades' to me.

very cool thanks. I've been racing around an a Dahon Matrix and finally added a road bike with Shimano 600 all around. This really helps. I'll send you one million in cash. Small bills ok? - JOKE

After cleaning, will white lithium spray lube work?

would finish line chain lube or multipurpose grease work?

Thanks for the informative vid, i have a different shifter and cant find a vid anywhere :(

Hey there, do you have a pair of this to sell? I've been looking for a pair to install in my old road bicycle but those are pretty expensive everywhere

Thanks RJ, will try this on my st 5500. P.s any chance that you would know where to get new hoods for st 5500? absolutely impossible to get them anywhere. Thanks!

Pb blaster works even faster, if you happen to already have some

I have tried to use this method on a shimano rx 100 shifter that didn't Work properly. Now it sheem like it is shifter up 2 gears instead of one. Do you know how i can fix this problem?

Thanks you save me

Interesting

How can I install the cables in the shifter!!!!????

ve io ho un shimano rx100 che non cambia marcia perchè il meccanico dice che è consumato lo posso fare questo ? grazie