Hi, my 4yo has a 7 speed bike with a SRAM 3.0 Comp grip shift and SRAM X4 RD. it takes a lot of abuse. Particular on muddy forest rides.
anyway I keep it going, and drive chain is in decent order... save for a hanger which has maybe been straightened too many times now... I make sure it all works. But one thing I cannot solve is how hard it is to shift the gears. Even for me it can be a bit tough. I’ve taken the shifter apart, (pretty much a must to change the cable). And lubed the cable run etc. But it just doesn’t seem to improve it other than very marginally. Not enough for him to be to change up to any larger sprockets, in any part of the cassette.
It’s not a big deal at the moment, as we can change them at stops, but just wondering if I’m missing something or if there is something more suitable for a 4yo. I’ve been considering if a trigger shifter turned a bit so he pushed down on it could work. But reckon with no gear indicator he might get a bit annoyed...
Anyone had a similar problem? He’s pretty young for gears I know, but he manages the bike so well.
Thanks,
Nick
Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
you should (if you have not done so already) try a new cable with a low friction housing liner and preferable a polished stainless inner. Other things to check include
- the BB cable guide
- the short length of housing to the RD
- that the grip isn't binding against the end of the gripshift
- that the gripshift is lubricated where it turns on its main bushing
- that the RD itself is not binding
- that the gears are adjusted properly (e.g. that the shifter isn't running out of clicks because the cable is badly adjusted, and the RD stop screws are set correctly).
If small hands struggle with the shift despite all this, one thing that can help is to tape a shaped lump of wood to the gripshift, so that its shape becomes something which gives a bit more purchase.
cheers
- the BB cable guide
- the short length of housing to the RD
- that the grip isn't binding against the end of the gripshift
- that the gripshift is lubricated where it turns on its main bushing
- that the RD itself is not binding
- that the gears are adjusted properly (e.g. that the shifter isn't running out of clicks because the cable is badly adjusted, and the RD stop screws are set correctly).
If small hands struggle with the shift despite all this, one thing that can help is to tape a shaped lump of wood to the gripshift, so that its shape becomes something which gives a bit more purchase.
cheers
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
The problem is quite likely not in the Grip Shift. To add to the possible culprit areas, are there any unmitigated sharp cable turns there? Is the cable rubbing somewhere? If you have any stretches of open cable, you can grab the cable by hand and try shifting, testing how hard it gets. This should tell about what is going past that point, towards RD.
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
‘Done all that....... oh wait...’. *Grabs WD40 and old toothbrush, and copious amounts of black stuff coming out RD.
Focusing so much on the shifter and cables I forgot about the obvious!!
It’s significantly better, still hard for him, but much more in the region of achievable now.
The shifts were working before, but it made a big difference that I needed to tweak them again.
Help much appreciated .
Focusing so much on the shifter and cables I forgot about the obvious!!
It’s significantly better, still hard for him, but much more in the region of achievable now.
The shifts were working before, but it made a big difference that I needed to tweak them again.
Help much appreciated .
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
Just back from the BMX track, and it’s a certain improvement.
Before the advice I put new inners and outers on, although I will admit they are a bulk buy and probably not the best quality.
The shifter is tricky, I could not get the cable out, so had to take it apart, the cable was not in the groove, I’d say it had been like this for a while looking at it, I dropped some lube in and got it sat. There was quite a lot of white grease in the general shifter so i didn’t add more, i didn’t think to lube the bushel on the shifter but, it didn’t seem to be an issue. Cabling routing is a tidy set up, BB guide in good condition and clear of the frame. Changed the outers both ends. Even cleaned out the cable guide on the RD. all this made a marginal improvement. And was working but required some effort.
Never thought to flush out and clear the rear mech. That’s made a big difference.
I’ll look for more marginal improvements.. but to be honest, he’s currently going through streams (and getting stuck in the mud) and up and down mud banks on it. So it requires cleaning most days... so just about keeping it going, at least I can get the gears moving, even if my tomorrow afternoon it’ll have to do it again!!
Before the advice I put new inners and outers on, although I will admit they are a bulk buy and probably not the best quality.
The shifter is tricky, I could not get the cable out, so had to take it apart, the cable was not in the groove, I’d say it had been like this for a while looking at it, I dropped some lube in and got it sat. There was quite a lot of white grease in the general shifter so i didn’t add more, i didn’t think to lube the bushel on the shifter but, it didn’t seem to be an issue. Cabling routing is a tidy set up, BB guide in good condition and clear of the frame. Changed the outers both ends. Even cleaned out the cable guide on the RD. all this made a marginal improvement. And was working but required some effort.
Never thought to flush out and clear the rear mech. That’s made a big difference.
I’ll look for more marginal improvements.. but to be honest, he’s currently going through streams (and getting stuck in the mud) and up and down mud banks on it. So it requires cleaning most days... so just about keeping it going, at least I can get the gears moving, even if my tomorrow afternoon it’ll have to do it again!!
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
Often something as simple as a big rubber band round the Gripshift makes a big difference.
There used to be a "special" grease for Gripshifters; I don't know if its still current, or even if it makes any difference.
There used to be a "special" grease for Gripshifters; I don't know if its still current, or even if it makes any difference.
Bike fitting D.I.Y. .....http://wheel-easy.org.uk/wp-content/upl ... -2017a.pdf
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Remember, anything you do (or don't do) to your bike can have safety implications
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Remember, anything you do (or don't do) to your bike can have safety implications
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
531colin wrote:Often something as simple as a big rubber band round the Gripshift makes a big difference.
There used to be a "special" grease for Gripshifters; I don't know if its still current, or even if it makes any difference.
I’m a bit wary of putting grease in shifters, not sure why, I just generally keep it clear of the cables. The cable route out is so convoluted i’m not sure even the grease will find it’s way out
Rubber bands is a good call, that could help, wearing gloves is making it harder for him no doubt.
Will give the RD another clean now it’s been used a bit, Some more junk will have worked its way out.
Feels like a few more small gains and some rubber bands should be enough.
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
I think you have to grease the shifter and cable....jonnisnot grease compatible with plastics....https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gripshift+grease&docid=608014670814448832&mid=F5C1D0AC46D9C2E9C462F5C1D0AC46D9C2E9C462&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Bike fitting D.I.Y. .....http://wheel-easy.org.uk/wp-content/upl ... -2017a.pdf
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Remember, anything you do (or don't do) to your bike can have safety implications
Tracks in the Dales etc...http://www.flickr.com/photos/52358536@N06/collections/
Remember, anything you do (or don't do) to your bike can have safety implications
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
531colin wrote:I think you have to grease the shifter and cable....jonnisnot grease compatible with plastics....https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gripshift+grease&docid=608014670814448832&mid=F5C1D0AC46D9C2E9C462F5C1D0AC46D9C2E9C462&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
yet another type of grease... my shelf and wallet is not big enough,
I'm almost ashamned I only have one pot of bearing grease, one halfords chain lube and a can of WD40.
That cable route although a bit of a hassle to line up, looks more sensible then the one we have.
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
The purpose of the grease put into the Grip Shifters is to slow down the wear for plastic notches, not to make the shifiting easier. However, these are the grips of the shifters that deteriorate the fastest, so worrying about the notches inside is pretty irrelevant for most users.
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
I did everything on this list,
The biggest changers,
were really cleaning up the RD. 3 times.
Checking and lubing the cable route in the shifter.
Tight fitting grippy gloves with elastic bands.
Put new inners and outers in as well, but not sure if this made a huge difference.
He’s now happily changing gear and slotting it into 7 to race me round the park.
Still has a bit of trouble 3-1, but it won’t be long...
The biggest changers,
were really cleaning up the RD. 3 times.
Checking and lubing the cable route in the shifter.
Tight fitting grippy gloves with elastic bands.
Put new inners and outers in as well, but not sure if this made a huge difference.
He’s now happily changing gear and slotting it into 7 to race me round the park.
Still has a bit of trouble 3-1, but it won’t be long...
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
did you lubricate the grip where it turns on the handlebar? The grip can appear to be 'free turning' but once the cable is under tension there is a reaction load on the grip/handlebar interface and this can make the shifts hard work unless there is some lubricant present.
How much different? I hear you ask; "a lot" is my answer. Imagine trying to turn the shifter when there is heavy weight bearing down on the moving part of the grip; like that.
cheers
How much different? I hear you ask; "a lot" is my answer. Imagine trying to turn the shifter when there is heavy weight bearing down on the moving part of the grip; like that.
cheers
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
I assume you mean where the outer turning shifter part sits on the plastic tube. And not where the plastic tube (which I don’t think turns) sits on the handlebar.
The answer to both is no. I read that advice but forgot to put in into action.
But I did get some WD40 in there while prising the grips off, which may have helped briefly.
I was actually planning to give it another go as they have stiffened up a bit again. But it does take on a lot of water in the stream plunges.
I have some Carlube spray now, as I saw on the forum elsewhere. If I recall I don’t need to take the cable out for this which would be a bonus as it’s a stainless one (jagwire I think)
The answer to both is no. I read that advice but forgot to put in into action.
But I did get some WD40 in there while prising the grips off, which may have helped briefly.
I was actually planning to give it another go as they have stiffened up a bit again. But it does take on a lot of water in the stream plunges.
I have some Carlube spray now, as I saw on the forum elsewhere. If I recall I don’t need to take the cable out for this which would be a bonus as it’s a stainless one (jagwire I think)
Re: Grip shift SRAM 3.0 Comp
Jupestar wrote:I assume you mean where the outer turning shifter part sits on the plastic tube. And not where the plastic tube (which I don’t think turns) sits on the handlebar. ..
yes, sorry if I wasn't clear.
cheers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ditch the gripshifts :-)
My kids are grown up now but the gripshifters were terrible for little hands. I am sure they are only installed because they are cheap.
In the end I bought the cost effective Shimano thumbshifters which were much more friendly to little hands .. they could just grab the shifter with their whole hand and pull it to the next click. Here is my daughters Kona after I upgraded it ... (I also used the six speed version on an earlier 20" wheel bike).
Mine was an "all Shimano" system so if you are keen on this idea we will have to check that the cable pull in the existing Gripshift shifter is compatible with a replacement Shimano 7-speed shifter... (Brucey will in all probabiltiy know this)
In the end I bought the cost effective Shimano thumbshifters which were much more friendly to little hands .. they could just grab the shifter with their whole hand and pull it to the next click. Here is my daughters Kona after I upgraded it ... (I also used the six speed version on an earlier 20" wheel bike).
Mine was an "all Shimano" system so if you are keen on this idea we will have to check that the cable pull in the existing Gripshift shifter is compatible with a replacement Shimano 7-speed shifter... (Brucey will in all probabiltiy know this)