7800 shifter question - inner levers not engaging

[54ny77]

I've got a bike w/7800 levers, they're NOS I think (basically little to no use, maybe several hundred miles at most).

Both inner shift levers are being very finicky and not engaging. Seems like if I tap the brakes just a tad and then shift, it'll engage, but not always. The front derailleur inner lever is the worst (3-5 sweeps before it shifts back down to inner ring or backs off the inner ring trim adjustment), but the rear derailleur inner lever can be problematic too. Takes 1-3 sweeps sometimes to downshift, although sometimes it works perfect as well and engages w/no issues.

Suggestions on cause/fix?

If it matters, they are on a bike I haven't ridden in probably 4 years, and I just took it out today for the first time since. Could it be the housing's gone funky? It's Shimano's standard grey Dura Ace housing & cables.

[Cicli]

The grease is likely hard in the shifters. Flush with WD or Triflow and they will come back to life.

[54ny77]

^^ Take shifters off bars and do this or can I do while on bars?

[kramnnim]

Less likely to mess up the bar tape if you do it off the bars.

[Cicli]

^^ Take shifters off bars and do this or can I do while on bars?

I take them off and hose them out. I once revived a set by taking the hoods off and holding them open with a rubber band. Filled a freezer bag with some WD and put them on top of the drier. The vibrations were a sort of ultrasonic and shook the garbage out of them.

[54ny77]

thx will give that a whirl.

[peanutgallery]

You can do it on the bars. Make sure the head of the cable is intact. They've been known to fray or sheer off and cause issues

[oldpotatoe]

The grease is likely hard in the shifters. Flush with WD or Triflow and they MAY come back to life.

FIFY, yes, flush and lube but I have seem more than a few 7800 fail outta the box.

[johnmdesigner]

Mine do this every spring after sitting idle all winter.
Before you go to all the trouble of taking them off pull the levers back with a rubber band. Wrap a rag around the bottom then spray the .... out of the insides with wd40. Let sit then put in the stand and shift away. If still not working then better to take off and give a good soak.

[54ny77]

postscript: this flushing w/wd-40 idea worked like a charm. then i sprayed some thin oil/grease in there.

saved me some bucks, no new shifters needed. thanks everyone for the idea.

happy festivus! :hello:

[Black Dog]

Praise to the triple butted 7005 AL pole. :beer:

http://festivusweb.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/frank-pole.jpg