Front Mech siezed - any ideas?

[Wayne]

Hi, I've got a rockhopper thats about 9 mths old. I've been using it to travel to work for the last
few weeks and everything was fine. Then I went to change up on the front mech and the lever was
solid, I couldn't change up. I have taken it off the bike this weekend to see what is wrong and find
that its really stiff. The spring does not return it the lower ring setting, I've tried cleaning it
and spraying it with wd-40 and working it loose but it's still stiff. I think its broken but
wondered if anyone else has had this problem. Its a Shimano Deore. Is it possible to fix and if not,
any recommendations on a replacement please? Thanks in advance.

Wayne.

 

[Dave]

"wayne" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hi, I've got a rockhopper thats about 9 mths old. I've been using it to travel to work for the
> last few weeks and everything was fine. Then I went to change up on the front mech and the lever
> was solid, I couldn't change up. I have taken it off the bike this weekend to see what is wrong
> and find that its really stiff. The spring does not return it the lower ring setting, I've tried
> cleaning it and spraying it with wd-40 and working it loose but it's still stiff. I think its
> broken but wondered if anyone else has had this problem. Its a Shimano Deore. Is it possible to
> fix and if not, any recommendations on a replacement please? Thanks in advance.
>
> Wayne.

This is exactly what happened to my much older Shimano Fr Mech. I just sprayed it with GT-85
(similar to WD-40) and kept working it back and forth, I even soaked a rag in GT-85 and wrapped
it around the mech to keep it soaked in the stuff overnight. It's still not 100%, but it's
getting there.

Dave.

 

[Peter B]

"wayne" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Hi, I've got a rockhopper thats about 9 mths old. I've been using it to travel to work for the
> last few weeks and everything was fine. Then I went to change up on the front mech and the lever
> was solid, I couldn't change up. I have taken it off the bike this weekend to see what is wrong
> and find that its really stiff. The spring does not return it the lower ring setting, I've tried
> cleaning it and spraying it with wd-40 and working it loose but it's still stiff. I think its
> broken but wondered if anyone else has had this problem. Its a Shimano Deore. Is it possible to
> fix and if not, any recommendations on a replacement please? Thanks in advance.

Me, I'd replace it with another Deore. This is perfectly adequate for the job if maintained ;-)

The only way to get the old one working, short of disassembley, is to keep working it manually with
loads of WD then when it eventually becomes free apply some light oil.

Pete

 

[Just Zis Guy]

On Sun, 26 Jan 2003 11:07:12 -0000, "Dave" <[email protected]> wrote:

>This is exactly what happened to my much older Shimano Fr Mech. I just sprayed it with GT-85
>(similar to WD-40) and kept working it back and forth, I even soaked a rag in GT-85 and wrapped
>it around the mech to keep it soaked in the stuff overnight. It's still not 100%, but it's
>getting there.

How can it get that bad, I wonder? I've never had a front mech sieze, and I'm responsible for
maintaining at least half a dozen in my bike shed alone. They're not exactly a complex mechanism,
after all!

If one did sieze, I would suggest dismantling it as far as possible and doing the "Sheldon Shake"
with the bits to wash out the crud, then reassemble and lube it with a wax-based lubricant which
doesn't turn dirt into well-adhering grinding paste. But of course that's my solution to just about
anything to do with drivetrains

I would also check the cables and guides, especially if they go under the BB. If they get gritty the
levers are going to struggle.

Guy
===
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dynamic DNS permitting)
NOTE: BT Openworld have now blocked port 25 (without notice), so old mail addresses may no longer
work. Apologies.

 

[Wayne]

Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
> On Sun, 26 Jan 2003 11:07:12 -0000, "Dave" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>This is exactly what happened to my much older Shimano Fr Mech. I just sprayed it with GT-85
>>(similar to WD-40) and kept working it back and forth, I even soaked a rag in GT-85 and wrapped
>>it around the mech to keep it soaked in the stuff overnight. It's still not 100%, but it's
>>getting there.
>
>
> How can it get that bad, I wonder? I've never had a front mech sieze, and I'm responsible for
> maintaining at least half a dozen in my bike shed alone. They're not exactly a complex mechanism,
> after all!
>
> If one did sieze, I would suggest dismantling it as far as possible and doing the "Sheldon Shake"
> with the bits to wash out the crud, then reassemble and lube it with a wax-based lubricant which
> doesn't turn dirt into well-adhering grinding paste. But of course that's my solution to just
> about anything to do with drivetrains
>
> I would also check the cables and guides, especially if they go under the BB. If they get gritty
> the levers are going to struggle.
>
> Guy

I just dont understand how I can use it one day and the very next it's solid! Anyway thanks for the
replies, I have tried working it loose but it's not free enough to shift properly. I guess I will
have to buy another one!

Regards Wayne.

 

[David Damerell]

Just zis Guy, you know? <[email protected]> wrote:
>How can it get that bad, I wonder? I've never had a front mech sieze,

It gets that bad by living in Cambridge. It is so flat that when I was living there I would not
necessarily use the front mech in a given year - then of course it seizes.
--
David Damerell <[email protected]> flcl?