Techs-Mechs: Campy Shifter rebuild

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 28, 2009 6:48 PM EDT

After 5 years and many miles in all weather, I finally decided that the indexing problem on my right Record shifter was not going to fix itself. Time to rebuild it. After consulting some very knowledgeable folks, I was directed as to what parts I needed and to search youtube for the video. The parts I needed were the G-spring carrier, G-springs and a teflon coated washer. It was also recommended that I replace the carbon carrier with an alloy one. Upon inspection the old one showed signs of wear. Specifically around the holes that the g springs sit in.

When I first took the lever apart it was a little scary trying to remember where all the springs attached, but the video I watched on Youtube was very helpful. After about an hour of watching-pausing-rewinding- etc, I had everything cleaned-regreased assembled and back on my bike. I did a quick eyeball-tension adjustment on the cables and ran the chain up and down the cassette several times. Nice and crisp. I haven't road tested it yet, because I decided that it was easy enough to the rear that I ordered the parts from branfordbike to do the front.

The parts cost a total of about $25 shipped per lever. Even the biggest campy detractors have to admit this is quite a nice feature.

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cool

do you still have the youtube link? Could come in handy.

"I had a cameraman filming me on the back of a bike, I rode up to him and
said: 'hey, this is a pretty shitty situation, why don't you just leave me alone with my misery? I was close to punching him off his bike … but I didn't, of course."" Jens!

by jsallee00 on Jul 28, 2009 7:40 PM EDT reply actions

This is the one I used

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OocYpHXJ3Y&feature=related

The trickiest part was winding the spring back up.

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 28, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions

I did not remove the brake lever

I focused just on the g-spring/carrier which is accessible from the back. I was tempted to pick up the “red” springs.

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 28, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions

Red springs

I went Red springs the most recent time I did mine. Heart those things. Very nice and clicky. Definitely recommend.

by Jen See on Jul 28, 2009 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Yay for the return of techs-mechs

But as a Shimano user, this is all . . . well, it’s a universe that I kinda doubt exists. Rebuild? Ha. Why do that when you can spend $650 on a new set of shifters?

by Sui Juris on Jul 28, 2009 8:56 PM EDT reply actions

The rebuild-abilty is nice for sure. I do think that the chorus alloy carrier although heavier, is preferable to the “carbon” record ones. My brake levers may say Record, but I have Chorus innerds. The carbon is really just carbon reinforced plastic. Everything else inside is metal, so their attempt at weight savings seems to cause a bit of a weak link. When the pros switch out the standard springs for the stiffer Red ones, it’s advised that they switch to the alloy carrier too.

Not 100% sure I wound the spring exactly right. It’s working, so I assume it was close enough.

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 28, 2009 10:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

So

How do you know when it’s time?

ABRUZZIAM...uh oh

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 28, 2009 9:32 PM EDT reply actions

the indexing

between gears will get worse and worse. At first you’ll find yourself feahering the shifters to avoid the noise but after a while you’ll get so sick of that you’ll just find a gear that’s quiet and doesn’t skip and ride it like a single speed.

You’ll know…

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 28, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

hm

coming soon on the record 9.

Anyone do this with old Shimano? My DA-8 are pretty hopeless.

ABRUZZIAM...uh oh

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 29, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

hahahaha hahahaha

by Sui Juris on Jul 29, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Fine

I’ll just smash them.

ABRUZZIAM...uh oh

by Chris Fontecchio on Jul 29, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Now you get the idea.

Bring your levers out when you come out in September. I’ll tell you what parts to get at Branford (no longer in CT, now in Seattle). I can have them done for you in about 15 minutes a piece. Did the front last night in no time, now that I’ve been through it once. The biggest pain is unwrapping the bar tape and remving the cables.

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 29, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I was refering to your Record 9 levers of course.

The ShimaNO’s can be used as paper weights.

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 29, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions

The indexing

goes to shit. And your lever will feel like mush. Also, you may break parts inside – you’ll hear them go crunch. You’ll also try to adjust your der and you can only get it to dial in on a few gears out of the cassette. You may also break it sufficiently that it stops working altogether and you ride home in whatever gear you happen to have at that moment.

It’s a factor of how many miles you put on, but also the terrain and your riding style. I wear mine more quickly than many people do, but the terrain here is very rolling and I shift a lot. I know people who have never had to rebuild theirs. I usually do it about once a year.

by Jen See on Jul 28, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry about my double post. Mrs Van P is using the computer so I’m doing this on a blackberry.
Gavia have you switched to the alloy spring carrier? It seems like it would be hard to kill. The little g-springs seem like they are pretty tough too. Some of the other springs seem like they could be troublesome, but I guess they last a while.

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 28, 2009 10:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I've pretty much torched all the pieces

at least once ;-)

They just wear out over time, if you use them a lot.

by Jen See on Jul 29, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Someone buy this man a camera already dammit.

Respect the Shit List; it respects you.

by crashdan on Jul 28, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions

the youtube video is better than any photo i could take.

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 28, 2009 10:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

very impressive...

though I’m loving my downtube shifters right about now ;)

I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it

by plinytheelder on Jul 29, 2009 2:44 AM EDT reply actions

Speaking of Campagnolo

Is this believable?

Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.

by TheFigurehead on Jul 29, 2009 4:59 AM EDT reply actions

oh man

That’ll be fun to watch the reactions to . . .

by Sui Juris on Jul 29, 2009 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Say it aint so...!!!!

by Peter Fontecchio on Jul 29, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Cycling Weekly says it's confirmed to be not true

Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.

by TheFigurehead on Jul 29, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

"Apparently summer temperature brings silly gossip!. . . . "

See link – Update on Campagnolo

Ok guys, I’ll let you in on a little secret.
One of my best friends in Taiwan is the head of Campy Asia.
Not only have they not been sold, they currently can barely keep up with their orders on wheels.
So far, they are having a great year.

by Ryan_Liles on Jul 30, 2009 6:22 AM EDT up reply actions