Cycling UK Forum

I thought I had just about finished building up my new Dave Yates Wayfarer when I hit a problem.I can't seem to get the Tiagra rear brakelever/shifter to pull any cable to shift the rear gear. It looks like it's set up ok, the cable is properly shotted in the head of the level the cable is fixed tight in the rear gear which is resting at top, the cable is tight.But nothing happens if you shift the levers ,either the inner or the outer.
As per the instruction I pushed the outer lever far over 3 times before setting it up.What am I doing wrong?
While the instruction that came with the levers are in every language under the sun they don't really tell you all you need to know about setting them up.The front lever works just fine (but plainly operates by a different system).
Malpas

1. Release the cable clamp at the rear changer.
2. Does the lever operation move the cable, click by click, against finger tension at cable end, backwards and forwards? If yes, the problem is with the rear changer.
3. Try the same test by applying finger tension to the cable right at the lever, before the cable sheathing. If lever operation moves the cable freely, then the problem is NOT internal to the lever but with freedom of cable movement through sheathing and frame guides.
4. If the problem is with the lever, it’s probably incorrect threading of the cable through the lever. Move to top gear position, remove cable, make sure the lever is in top gear and re-thread cable.
5. Re-assemble cable routing and end clamping.
6. If that doesn’t work, the problem is with the lever indexing. If the indexing doesn’t work freely without the cable threaded, you have a rogue lever. Take it back. You won’t mend it.

Thanks.
I did what you said.I still can,t get it to pull cable and I got to the point were I just could n't see how it could work.I've obviously got a duff lever.How frustrating.
Is this a common problem with these levers?They cost so much!
Could the LBS (Simga Sport) fix it?
Malpas.

Looking at the instructions I just happen to have with me at work.
You say you pushed the lever over 3 times, is that a typing error ? as the instructions say 8 times to set it to the highest position. Then you install the inner cable.
The indicator should tell you that it is in the highest position.
I must admit to never having had a problem installing any model of STi's.

If you have eliminated cable problems outside the lever, you may have misthreaded the cable through the lever by forcing it through when the lever is not in top gear position. That would seize up the mechanism.

If you have done that, you may be able to remove the cable with care and lubricant. Then check that the lever mechanism works full range without the cable. Reset in top gear with at least nine strokes of the smaller lever. If the mech is in top gear position, you should be able to see daylight in a straight line through the hole you thread the cable through.

If that fails - take it back to shop!

yes don't forget to maintain a firm tension on the inner cable whilst you push the gear lever over fully as many clicks as it will go. You should find that more cable is released and you will need to readjust the clamp on the rear mech

If you don't keep tension on the inner cable you are likely to end up with the nipple getting jammed in the mechanisn.

And we all know how painful that can be don't we !

Now now, no nipple jamming om here please.

Thanks to the advice. I 've fixed it.
You do indeed have to effectively zero the STI lever by single clicking it 9 times.Then when you rethread the cable it does engage.
It changes the rear gear just fine. Phew!
Malpas

Glad to here it,I gather it is a 10 speed then as I was refering to the 9 speed levers. It's irrelevant really its just one click less then the number of sprockets you have.