Cycling UK Forum

I need to replace the original 3x (left) side of an original manufacturer pair of Shimano shifters.

the left shifter says "Shimano triple" on it and the bike is a specialised dolce with 3x7 gears.

I found an image of the same shifters on the internet (but it's the right side)
this image isn't my bike but an image I found.

https://images.app.goo.gl/7eHF9g21hnTH389V8

so I want to replace the left shifter as it seems seized up.
job needs to be functional not pretty as it's a bike for my daughter at uni - fixing wife's old bike.

is it possible for me to use any 3x shifter with integrated brake with the original existing derailleur etc.

she might want to change the handlebars from racer to upright in which case I'd replace both shifters and replace with regular brake levers. in that case can I use any 3x7 leverz with the original Shimano derailleurs?

what are my cheapskate options?

thanks

If you can find a 3 speed left drop bar shifter then any one should be ok. 3 speed left drop bar levers aren't that common as the majority are 2 speed.
Replacing the left lever with a flat bar MTB lever is a can of worms as the cable pull is different. There are work arounds. Have a read of this thread.
viewtopic.php?t=143549#p1572588

Welcome to the forum.

jljunk1@gmail.com wrote: ↑22 Aug 2024, 10:14pm so I want to replace the left shifter as it seems seized up.
...
what are my cheapskate options?

Flood the lever with WD40 and work the shifter, it may free up.

Check/change the inner cable, if it is frayed it may be jamming the shifter.

Source a triple shifter as outlined by rjb.

If you can't get the existing shifter working, or you can't source a replacement (at the right price), then a work-around could be to keep the brifter for braking and use a bar-end LH friction shifter - SJS have one for £35.

that looks v. similar to older sora shifters to me, just with slightly different trim pieces. You may be able to swap the trim about if the current shifter is beyond repair. The other thing that is worth thinking about is buying a pair of sora 3400 3x9 shifters. It turns out that an 8 from 9 cassette fits nicely on a 7s freehub body, and of course a 9s shifter can be used.

I was looking at a left lever the other day on ebay. Might have been this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365005004508 ... R9az0pWwZA

Check under the hood for your model number. You might have to be patient if you want something that matches.