Fixing a shimano shifter.....

[bobbys beard]

Hi, my shimano shifter stick has become very loose, which is affecting the gear shifting. There is a bolt that holds the unit together, but i can't tighten it fully with a wrench or pliers because it's housed with a partial cover. Has anyone had this problem or know how to fix it? 

[DaveB]

Hi, my shimano shifter stick has become very loose, which is affecting the gear shifting. There is a bolt that holds the unit together, but i can't tighten it fully with a wrench or pliers because it's housed with a partial cover. Has anyone had this problem or know how to fix it?

What type and model is it?  Brifter?  Downtube?  Barend?  Road or MTB?  A lot more detail is needed. Pictures would be a great help too.

[bobbys beard]

it's a "st ef51 8r"  just a standard (cheap plastic) shimano thumb shifter. their is a bolt all the way through, but the ends of the bolts are housed by metal covers. if they weren't there, it would be easy to fix! wonder if i can just prise them off.....  can't put pics up right now.

[bogiesan]

A quick search turned up about what I expected: most mechanics will not attempt to repair these things, they're just too complicated on the inside. A replacement unit can be found new from $25 and used from free to $10. A word of caution, 8-speed shifters are getting rare. If you find a set, might as well buy two pairs if you're thinking you are going to keep this transmission for ten or more years.

[bobbys beard]

thanks bogiesan, i had no idea they were getting rare!  well, the bike only needs to last another month doing 12 miles a day to work, so i don't want to buy anything if i don't have to.....

the shifter actually came off on the road a few days ago, and i had to ride home in the top gear!! so i took the plunge and broke the metal housing and was able to fix it kind of.  only problem i have now is the bolt often comes loose (i take a spanner with me to work) and the shifter doesn't spring back to position, meaning fast changes on hills are difficult, but hey it's still working!

[bogiesan]

thanks bogiesan, i had no idea they were getting rare! 

Difficulty in finding old parts is relative to the market you're in. Here in Boise, Idaho, there's an urban bike center that has bins full of weird parts. Eight-speed transmissions went out of style and production about twenty years ago. It's been 9, 10 and now 11 for a long time. Y