Shimano Sti's. Why do they break?

[RABUBI]

I remember in the good old days on the hub of Shimano vs. Campaq fights there was a quote:

 

"Shimano wears out, Campaq wears in"

 

I was a staunch Shimano fan, mainly beacause the first bike I bought came out with Shimano, and I did not bother to try anything elsem becuase it worked 100%, allways.

 

I moved over to more riding mtb a few years ago,so maybe use the roadbike about once a month.

 

Problem:

It seems that if you do not use the shifters often, the internal gears tend to become either stuck slightly or brittle, and then if you do ride, the teath break off.

 

You shift about 2-3 times, then it seems that they shift, then after a few shifts, your in the "dead spot" again, then you shift 5 or 6 times, then it shifts a few times.

 

And as far as I know, you cannot fix/open them

 

Current score:

- My Wife's Ulltegra Shifters - totally broke

- replaced with 2nd hand Dura-ace - also lately seem to have the same problem

- My Dura ace shifters - Moertoe.

 

Spoke to a friend who stopped Cycling about 4 years ago, his Dura ace on his bike is also totally worn out/Fcked.

 

All these are Dura ace 7800, and the Ulltegra with the same look that came out in the same series.

 

No way I will buy new Dura ace to replace it with, do not use the bike that often, and will not take the chance on 2nd hand Dura ace again.

 

Reckon I will buy Acura Shifters, seems they are compatible with Shimano.

 

Seems the Campaq supporters was right after all.

Edited July 16, 2012 by RABUBI

[RABUBI]

Oh, and for Big H. The fishing reels still work OK, even though I use them once a year as well....

[Azonic]

Why do they break?

 

So that you have to buy new ones.

 

Capitalism

[Azonic]

...and for the same reason tech toys also break 2 days after the warranty expires.

[RABUBI]

Yup, seems I need to go SS.

[RockCoach]

I broke the Ultegra top cap when it hit the tar at 67km/h. But it still works perfectly. Me, not so much...

 

 

 

edit: Ultegra circa 2001 and has only been ridden about 20 times since 2005.

Edited July 16, 2012 by slick

[BMXER]

Never broken mine, 21 000 on the same set of Ultegra.

 

You must replace cables and housings often or the units will take strain and wear.

[GLuvsMtb]

I've been on the same set of Tiagra's for about 6 years now. Only required 2 cable changes to date. Admittedly I've done much more road riding in the first 3 years, but in the last, I end up taking the old road bike for a spin maybe 3 to 4 times a year and in winter it rests on the IDT for particularly wet days.

Regardless of how often I ride the road bike I clean it regularly and service the BB, hubs and headset every year.

[Eldron]

My DA shifters have got about 40,000km on them with no issues whatsoever - same cables and housings too.

 

Same cassette, chain and rings also.

 

People will bang on about how you need to replace your chain and cassette every second Sunday but as long as you keep the drive train clean and lubed it will pretty much last forever.

[NotSoBigBen]

I have never replaced a road chainring, cluster, chain or BB because it 'wore' out. Headset I have .... Shifters never missed a shift! A ride a fair amount I would say ....

 

MTB on the other hand

[scotty]

Iv'e had Dura Ace St'i's on my road bike for about 6 years and they are still in good shape, unlike me.

[TheV]

RABUBI, just out of interest, where do you store your bikes... ?

 

Maybe it has something to do with your bad luck.

[Fujioso]

I have done more than 20K km on my Dura-Ace 7800, which I bought 2nd hand. They work just as well as the day I bought them even after two heavy crashes and being caught in the rain a few times.

 

I cannot say anything about the standing-idle-then-breaking-bit as I ride often.

[Cav']

Why do they break? Mmm cause its not campy...

It might be the way you washed your bike or stored it outside for a few nights?

Edited July 16, 2012 by Cavendish

[Stretched@Birth]

Because at some point in group set development, the clever designers integrated the shifters with the brake levers, oh, sorry, that's brake, not break, ignore me...

[The_Break]

Check your cables are not busy breaking inside your shifters. This is a common problem with the 7800, 6600, 5600 shifters. You dont notice till the cable snaps.

 

Your shifter gears will not simply break as they are made of metal and are pretty corrosion resistant. If you are having to apply forces big enough to break your internal gears then your cables are probably all jammed up inside the housing. Clean/replace them and try again.

 

You can open up the shifters. They had to be assembled and thus can also be dis-assembled, I had done it on a 7800 myself. But be carefully to note how you took it apart and do it very carefully. Bike shops will not do this for you, they want to sell you a new set.

 

Good luck!