20 Most Recent Shimano Xtr Mountain Bike Dual Control Brake/Shift Levers Questions & Answers

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the shifter pod on the right is for the rear derailleur and the shifter pod on the left is for the front derailleur. There are usually two shift levers on each pod. Some you actuate with just your thumb, others you use your thumb and forefinger. Generally the larger of the two levers is to move the chain onto a larger size gear cog, one click of the lever equals one gear. Use the smaller of the two levers to return the derailleur, one click equals one gear. This is assuming the cables are adjusted properly, if the cables are not adjusted properly then you won't get a nice "one click = one gear" shift response and you should take your bike to your LBS (local bike shop) for a tune up, or watch some YouTube videos on how to do it and practice.

Mtn bike shifters get dusty, at the shop when shifter didn't work properly we would wrap the shifter pod in a couple rags and spray WD-40 or Liquid Wrench in there to flush them out, a lot of it, then actuate the shifters and work through the gears, usually takes several times of flushing and working the gears to get them cleaned out. This works particularly well on older bikes that don't "click" when you move the lever. Also make sure you lubricate inside the cable housing and make sure the cables are not crossed in their routing and that there are no kinks or tight turns in the cable routes where the cable could bind up a little.

only if you have a resevoir with that fluid in it there should be a bleeder valve in the caliper

I will assume you have the hydraulic brakes and that is the fluid you are referring too.

If you have never done any hydraulic maintenance you will need a number of parts and tools to fix a leak, especially at the lever. The best solution would be too drop the bike off with your local mechanic/ bike shop and have them properly fix the system. After 5 years your lines and seals are most likely cracking and you need to replace the housing and seals at minimum + rebleed the brakes with the proper oil. Either way to tell you exactly what parts you need someone needs to see the bike. Take it into the shop as suggested already so they can at least tell you which seal kit and which bleed kit you need as well as the proper oil. you will need to buy all this from the shop anyway, ask them the cost difference between buying the parts and kits to do yourself and them doing the work for you.

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/shift-levers-shifters

It probably is working right. 8 clicks gives you 9 positions.

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/chain-installation-derailleur-bikes

With a bike this old the best thing is too take the bike into your local bike shop and have them give it a once over to look for any potential problems. THIS IS A FREE SERVICE ALL SHOPS OFFER.

The problem specific could be as simple as the cable is very loose and not engaging the cable, or the cable could be so old that it is frozen inside the housing and nothing is happening. It could also be that the cable is broken, the shifter is broken or something other. It is impossible to diagnosis this particular problem with certainty without actually seeing and feeling the issue.

Bottom Line: Take it into a shop and get a mechanic to look at it.

Yeah you will run into that at some bike shops. When they see older components like that, they often refuse to adjust them for fear of breakage and liability. Try a different bike shop if you can, or if you are confident in your mechanical abilities, try it yourself, instructions here:
http://www.ehow.com/how_6086607_adjust-shimano-rear-derailleur.html

Good luck.

You need spare olives (the brass ones are best) buy on Chainreactioncycles.com, measure your hose and allow for bad cut first time so add a Cm to measurement you can cut away just make sure that you use really sharp cutter (I use craftknife) place hose on non slip surface and cut cleanly, push on olive and reattach and tighten

take it to a bike shop and have them replace the wheel bearings. i just had to have that done to mine

Shift into the highest gear and then release the shifter cable at the derailleur (it is clamped with an allen [hex] bolt). Pull the cable as tight as you can and re-clamp the cable. You should be all set now. The cable stretches over time and needs to be adjusted.