Your Shimano shifter needs cleaning, not an adjustment of the derailleur. Easy peasy. 

Reminds me of: "We've got a click on one, a click on two, a click on three and four is binding." ;) Great video, now i know what's wrong with my 2004 Shimano LX shifters.

This is great. I fixed my Shimano shifter immediately with this information. I was making other adjustments not realizing that all I needed to do was fix the shifter issue. Bike shop wanted to sell me new shifters. Thank you for sharing

This totally worked!! I was trying to determine a replacement for my 27 year old Shimano Deore shifter. It only caught once out of every 20 tries. I stumbled onto this. Thank you.

Thanks for taking the time to post this content, It was very helpful to me in correcting my DEORE shifting problem on both the front and rear derailleurs. The only issue that I have is with WD-40. This product was originally formulated for removing water from electronic circuits, and preventing further water contamination. “WD” stands for “Water Dryer” and “40” was the 40th formulation that was tried. WD-40 has a petroleum solvent carrier that DOES do a good job of dissolving old grease and oil. A SECOND part of the formula creates a thin film that helps exclude water from re-entering the circuit. This is where the problem comes in with moving parts. WD-40 gives a quick result of freeing up stuck parts, then over time, that water excluding film gums them back up again, requiring another “fix” of WD-40. The stuff is like heroin or crack cocaine. People used the stuff on stuck padlocks where I used to work, and eventually the locks were useless unless you pulled them apart down to the pins, wiped everything down with solvent, lubricated them with dry graphite and reassembled them. I promised to maim anyone I caught using WD-40 on a lock after I had spent an hour detail stripping it to remove the gunk. That being said, I just serviced my DEORE shifters by removing the port screw, and cleaning them out with carburetor and choke cleaning spray. It softens the old grease, evaporates quickly, and leaves no residue. I followed that up with a couple of quick shots of spray white lithium grease, and I was back in business. I did have to remove the bottom cover for the rear shifter to get it cleaned out. After a few minutes of cycling the shifters up and down they work flawlessly. Again, thanks for the content, get yourself a can of carb cleaner, and save the WD-40 for the electronics it was designed for. Oh, yeah DO NOT USE CHLORINATED BRAKE CLEANER, IT WILL DISSOLVE ALL OF YOUR PLASTIC PARTS.

Thanks! Worked great on my 20 year old Deores.

Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise. Very generous of you.

I have an almost 30 year old mountain bike I hadn't used for about 10 years, the rear shifter wasn't moving and so I basically had 3 gears by using the front shifter. The rear shifter is now fully functional, thanks to your very helpful video. All greased up again with a little lithium grease so hopefully it won't happen again for a while.

this video is exactly what i needed! ran into this issue and was worries about having to take this out at the shop, and it's great knowing there's locals who are active on the biking yt community

Terrific. I have a 2007 Shimano Deore 9-speed trigger shifter that is doing this. Now I now what to look for. Thank you. Yes, I previously took the cap off it, and immediately put it back together again. So glad I did - too many small parts.

Bro u saved my life!! Just applied to my bike and now working fine.

Thank you so much. I was worried I was going to have a big project on my hands but with your video and 10 minutes with the WD-40 doing most of the work the gears are all shifting great again!

This is outstanding. Day before a race I got stuck in my small front ring - this saved my race! Found this video the morning of and it worked. Thank you!

If I could give this a thumbs up twice, I would. Just saved me, what was likely an expensive trip to the bike shop.

Had an old Sora 8 speed shifter that was stuck and wouldn't shift up past 5. Used the method described (didn't disassemble, just found every nook and cranny I could access). Left it for 2 hours and it started moving again! Great advice thank you

Thank you for taking the time to make this video - Very Helpful

This was just the info I was looking for. Explained and demonstrated well. Looking forward to trying this on my problematic shifter!

Thank you so much! I was preparing to have to either figure out the internal mechanism or buy a new shifter! You saved me a huge headache and most likely money for a new shifter! This was like a miracle and it worked in less than 5 minutes! Amazing!

With your help, I brought back to life a neighbor's semi-abandoned Scott Sportster X40 that had been cooking out on his mom's balcony for a long time. Cooked by the sun, the paint on one side is even discolored. It was only shifting between the smallest two gears on the cassette. Giving the rear shifter a WD-40 drench as you've shown fixed this in seconds. Now the gears inside the shifter catch find. I'm able to shift all the way up and down now. Thank you from Miami!

EXCELLENT! I just went out, (dark) and did this! Major improvement! Thank you. as a tip WD stands for water dispersment, i should've read first, great chat guys, i love the helpfulness this environment promotes, yeah! hooray

I've been riding for a while without being able to shift to the largest chainring. Wanted to replace the shifter, but refrained since it's a brake lever-shifter combo which forces me to change quite a bit on the other side too. Now I came across your video. Sprayed. And it shifts! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Thanks for posting. After a 2 year hiatus my Shimano Altus 8-speed shifter would not downshift past 5 gear. WD40 solved it! I'm back on the trail in time for spring!

Thank you. Your method worked perfectly and saved me opening up the shifter. Much appreciated.

Thank you so much, My front shifter has not working for a long time, did this last night and it didn't fix it but when I tried it today it worked!!!

I converted my bike to an ebike and wanted to replace the old twist shifter. I bought this model off ebay, got it mounted on my bike and it only had three shifts. Thought I had bought a bad shifter. After watching your video I tried the WD40 thing. After about 4 or 5 tries with copious amounts of the WD40 voilà I now have all nine gears. Thanks!

My brother passed a 20th anniversary Rocky down to me and the front derailleur was not shifting unless I flicked it three or four times. After watching this and using the WD40, I couldn't have asked for a better outcome. Saved me a trip to the shop, and now I'll be following more of your very informative videos!

I spent HOURS over many days adjusting my shimano front derailleur on a Specialized 2006 full suspension bike that was having this problem. I must have watched the Park Tool explanation from Calvin Jones a hundred times which is excellent if ADJUSTMENT is what you need. I even replaced the cable and housing to no avail. I finally realized it might be inside the rapid fire mechanism and this FIXED it within minutes!! Thank you for posting!

Awesome video you just saved me some big bucks. I almost sold my bike for a lot less because the shifting was spongy and I thought something was wrong.

Awesome video, I’m now able to shift into my 3rd ring for the first time in a couple years! Thanks so much. Very well done. I will say, I had just about given into the temptation to remove the big screw that lets everything in the shifter go “boing”, when I heard that beautiful extra “click” and now it’s working.

Thanks... simple to understand and stright to the point, no waffling

Thank you - I smiled when I learned the solution was to 'soak it in WD40...' fixed it right up, and I did all the family's bikes as a preventative thing - Cheers!

Thanks very much for posting this video. My 22 year old, but hardly used, Shimano Deore front shifter was not 'reaching' the top gear click. I had tried many ideas from other RU-vid "adjust your Shimano" videos, but they all seemed to begin at working shifters. Your advice began at the right place for me, and saturating the internals with WD-40 did the trick (and letting it penetrate for 30 mins). Blowing the WD-40 away with compressed air dried it off before applying dry lube. They both work well now. It's hard to realise that the cause was just dried-out or lack of lubricant, when the symptom had convinced me it was mechanical failure. Thanks again.

I was having this same issue and thought the shifter would have to be replaced since it is an older bike. This fix worked perfectly. Thank you for the clear instructions.

Great video, I'm glad I saw this before I took it apart!

WAY helpful, thank you. My local shop charges $30 per shifter for this. I'm on my way out to the garage to try it now.

Worked! I thought something broke inside the shifter, didn't expect the solution to be so easy. Thanks a lot!

Great video. Was concerned I would be replacing both shifters on my old GT i-Drive Comp, but this has solved it and not a single visit to the repair shop. Thanks.

Great video, informative and to the point. Thank you sir.

Worked Great! The Shimano Deore front shifter was not getting to the top gear like some others have said and now works every time. Also,, made the rear shifter work so much smoother. Thanks.

Great video Bike Teacher!! Did everything you suggested and I was able to get full range of shifts on my mtn bike. Easy video to watch and comprehend. Thanks!!!

I have been doing everything to fix my front and rear deraileurs, it just would not go beyond the two front cogs and the 3 rear cogs. I ran into this video by chance, tried your method with the wd40, and low and behold, all my gears are back :-) Thank you so so much.

Thanks for this. Rear shifters have been sticking for months but this sorted the problem in no time - longest part of the job was finding the straw for the WD40!

You saved my front shifter! After enduring for a year of not being able to engage the shifting, the flushing with WD40 absolutely works! A big THANK YOU 😊👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

Lol!!! Watching the video took longer than the actual fix!!! I removed the plastic screw, generously sprayed WD-40, not even a minute, tried it and it worked!!! Awesome!!!

gold! thanks god for this video, I probably would have tried dissassembling it. It looks like a watch in there! I found you can remove the cover safely and blast it better if the first try doesn't work. Thank You!

dude this helped me out so much. instant subscribe!

magic! thanks a lot, your video helped to fix the shifter!

Thank you for sharing, worked perfectly on my old trek!

Thanks for the video. I have two 20 year old Schwinns that now shift like new. I had to take the bottom covers off and soak them with PB Blaster but now they're shifter better than they have in years.

I had a Shimano ST-CT15 Shifter that would not do anything at all and I was all set to tear it apart and replace it with some cheap shifter. I took the advice of the video and filled it with wd40 and after working with it for a few minutes and then riding around the block a dozen times, it was working perfectly!

Excellent video. Took my mountain bike out of the garage where it had been sitting for 25 years and one of the shifters would not engage.. The guy at the bike shop said that he took it apart and I needed a new one. He would call me when he found one. I brought the bike home and checked out this video and with one good spray of PB blaster it was fixed. Thanks for saving me a very costly repair.

I have a vintage mountain bike whose Deore XT trigger shifters started missing clicks. I was going to replace them but they aren't available anymore. I was resigned to downgrading to Altus or Microshift until I found your video. In less than 5 seconds, both shifters work again!

THANK YOU! I was getting ready to take it apart. Or maybe, just buy a brand new set of shift levers. What a great deal. My vintage Schwinn Mesa is now fully mission capable again!

Thankyou! Lubed as illustrated with fogging oil and it now works perfectly.

Thanks! I just picked up an old bike and when I brought it home saw that it only I only got 3 clicks out of the 8 speed. Your video helped me fix this, I was about to buy a new set of shifters.

Just did this today, thanks much for this tip! Now my Trigger shifters are working fine! Whooooo!

I'm glad I found your video. I have a 2011 mountain bike with the rapid fire shifters. I usually only ride when its warm outside, and go to the gym in the winter time. With the local gyms closed due to the pandemic this winter, I'm now riding in the colder temperatures. I noticed my left shifter started failing when the temps went below 40 degrees F. I thought perhaps it had reached the end of its useful service life (the bike does have 14K miles on it), but thought I'd see if it could be repaired before buying a replacement. That's when I came across your video and the tips for a failing shifter. Apparently, that old Shimano grease does not like real cold weather. So, I soaked the internal works with WD40 today, I'll see how it does on my next real cold weather ride. Fingers crossed. Good to know I can hopefully get a few more miles out of this shifter. My new bike is arriving in March 2021, so I don't want to spend any more money on this old bike if I don't have to. Wish me luck! Thanks again for this helpful shifter tip! 👍

Awww yessss. i just did this on my 2013 xt Q shifters and now they are back!! thanks!

Awesome save. With the pandemic and shortage of parts I haven't been able to find a replacement XTR ANYWHERE. Glad i googled before taking it to the shop!

I thought my shifters were "tampered with" since I had not touched the deraileur front screws at all and never had this problem with any bikes! I hope the wd40 works beautifully as it has for you. GOD BLESS YOU😉 I'm hoping that's all it was and It'll shift like it did 10 years ago!!!

Thanks, just fixed my old m770 derailleur.

This worked great. Thanks for making the video!

Lifesaver, worked a treat, back on the road!

I have the Shimano XT Rapid Fire from 15-20 years ago. the bike sat for years. the front derailleur shifter wouldn't catch. I did exactly what you said, found the small port and unscrewed it, doused it with W D, and they freed up and started shifting again, and all is good. thank you.

It took three times but it worked for both the front and rear - thank you very much!!!

Thanks! This works on my Shimano DEORE XT SL-M750 and I now have full range. Picked up another chainwheel an 5 more sprockets.

Worked great for my Shimano thumb shifter!

Best video on this topic. The others have you opening up the shifter, which is a bit risky.

Thanks for the tip on the screw cap. Made it a lot easier to spray the inside of the shifter. I was trying to spray through the gaps and wasn't sure if it was getting everything. It is all clickey now.

Thank you so much. You just saved me $150. Thanks.

Thank you,helping me saving money

Picked up an older Specialized Enduro Expert that hadn't been ridden in years, both shifters didn't work. Didn't have WD40, but I did have a can of PB Blaster, and it worked like a charm. Thanks for the video.

Wow! This worked like a charm in seconds. Thank you :)

Thank you! Did the trick on a very old bike!

Thank you, absolutely perfect. 5 Stars to Shimano for have such an awesome and simple lubrication port, 10 stars to you for showing us how to use it! (I thought that was just another adjsutment screw!).

Chapeau !! Thanks Ted

Yep. All problems fixed with a quick squirt of WD40. Earned my instant like and subscribe. Many thanks.

Thanks ... local bike shop wanted to charge me $400 to replace both shifters (and the brakes, since my brake levers are incorporated in the shifter and the new ones wouldn't work with my older brakes). .25 worth of WD40 did the trick!

Thanks for your video very handy on an old bike I found …

Instant fix, in a "crisis" with old Shimano Deore LX -- Thank you! No one should have to ride a poorly-adjusted bicycle!

THANK YOU! info I was looking for.

Thank you for the video!

The first time this happened to me, I took it to my local bike mechanic, and he told me he had to clean it out. He did it for free. This time I followed your instructions, and voila!!!

I have an old Ellsworth Truth with an XT kit. Passed it on to my wife and just recently told me it wouldn't down shift all the way. Awwhhh! I gotta search for a replacement 9spd xt shifter!? How much will it cost, I thought... Upon searching, I found there's nothing available out there anywhere! Now what? Can these shifters be overhauled? I throw in a search and this video shows up. As I watched, I realized my shifter was doing the exact same -- down shifting partway and not catching beyond that. My eyes widened as I watch the results of flooding the housing and running it through and 'walah' it's fixed. I just tried this outside and bam! No longer need to shop for a 9spd derailleur! You might wanna post this video url on ebay under the guise of selling 9spd shifter repair, haha! Thank you for sharing. I'm subscribed and liked!

Thanks Mr Bike Teacher for this demonstration and explanation. after opening up the shimano shifter casing on my aging mtn bike, I came looking for a source to replace a tiny spring that appeared to have lost its ... spring? well, fortunately i somehow stumbled upon your video to reveal the REAL cause of the shifter missing, not engaging the teeth, and the simple fix. dirty gunked up lubricant grease. WD40 - the duck / duct tape of lubricants ie not always the most appropriate, but always handy. it helped clean out the sticky white gear grease and everything moved far more freely. cleaned up and lightly sprayed liquid wrench silicone lube. everything now clicks positively .... until next time, when i will follow chuck wards advice below .... which i only just read while typing this. doh! and yeah. nasa. water displacement. 40 ingredients.

Thanks.. This worked perfectly.

Liked and Sub'd!! I pulled my bike out for the first time in 2 years and could not get either front or rear to shift reliably into lower gears. It would go up no problem but I'd have to work and work to get it to finally 'catch' and shift down both front and rear. Major pita when you come to an uphill and don't have time to screw with it for 60 seconds. This absolutely worked. I knew it was the shifters but thought I might have to get new shifters. BTW, these are Shimano Rapid Rise XT shifters. Thanks man! I'm in San Jose too!

Sweet that's exactly what it was you saw my problem thank you so much

Dude how did this work thank you sooo much

Worked very well!

Bingo. Good as new. Many Thanks!

THANK YOU!!!! I'm embarased to say how long I have spent on this before realising it has to be the lever. I hadn't used the bike for so long and had forgotten if the lever was meant to return and offer up tension again. At least I now know how to adjsut the rear derailer like a pro, haha

Awesome! Thanks so much!

Best fix ever😊 just some wd 40, shifters started working immediately

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH. I was pulling my hair off, new cable, new housing, took apart my derailleur and clean it. Never thought about the shifter clogging up. Only wish I had seen your video before all the mayhem.

Thanks! This worked quickly to fix a 2020 XT 12spd shifter that suddenly developed an inability to downshift on a ride this morning. I washed the bike late yesterday afternoon and it was quite cold overnight, so maybe some water remained in the shifter housing, causing my problem this morning.

Hi, love your tutorial. Help me a lot. Now I know more about my bike. By any chance, you can make a video, how to repair, service Shimano SLX M7000 & XT M8000 - GS 11 Speed shifter trigger. TQ

Thank u so much bro. You save me

Thank you!

Excellent advice. What is happening inside the shifter that is causing it to not operate, is, little pawls are frozen onto their pivot shafts due to dried grease. The pawls need to operate freely. So...WD40 squirt, soak. Squirt. Soak. Operate shifter. Squirt. Soak. Operate. Be patient. Squirt soak operate.. Keep doing that over and over and over and it will eventually free up.

I wish i had of found this video two hours ago. Every other video had you taking off the cover and digging around the gears. I only wish I had of tried this screw trick first. Ended breaking the threaded bolt that holds all the gears together. Now I'm buying new shifters.... I've subscribed now because your channel seems to offer common sense solutions first before getting into more detailed maintenance and repairs