Bicycle Exchange Tech Tip: Freeing up Stuck Shifters / Brifters

Have you found a bike with a set of shifters or brifters that just don’t shift like they once did? We have come across countless sets of shifters and brifters (also called trigger shifters, Shimano Rapidfire shifters, and Shimano STI shifters) that get stuck and cannot reach the full range of gears at the shop.

The Problem

What typically happens is that the grease that lubricates the internal gears, pawls, and springs hardens over time, gumming up the shifter's ability to release and engage in all gears.

The Hot Water Solution

This sticky problem showed up again recently on a homework bike whose brifters couldn’t make it to the third gear. An alternative method has been circulating in the cycling community. Rather than using harsh chemical lubricants (or just throwing away the shifters in frustration), a simple and effective solution is near-boiling water. Much less messy without the smells and stains? Skeptical, but hopeful, we decided to give this a chance.

The Submersion Method

1. Preparation: Place the brifter into a bucket or sink.
2. Boil Water: Bring water to a near-boil (the steam should be rising).
3. Pour: Carefully pour about 1 liter of hot water over the brifter. If it does not submerge, boil and add another half-liter.
4. Wait and Test: After a few minutes, pour out the water and attempt to shift. The stuck gear should easily click past and shift into its intended position.
5. Re-lube: After the shifter has cooled, apply a little spray of Triflow, WD40, or a light oil, and the shifter is ready for a new life of many miles of shifting.

The On-Bike Method

This hot water technique can also be used while the shifter is still on the bike:

• Pouring: Pour hot water using a coffee pot (a narrow spout helps) into all the openings of the shifter.
• Target: The cable port on trigger shifters is often the perfect place to flood the shifter with hot water.

Another upside to hot water instead of harsh chemicals, beyond the environmental impact, is that the hot water is gentler on grips, handlebar tape, tires, and your bike's finish.

So next time you find yourself with a shifter that just will not budge, try some hot water to release the gears inside rather than making a mess with Kroil or ditching the shifters completely. Happy Wrenching!

Thanks to Christian at Menlo Velo Bicycles, the original source for this tip.