Campagnolo Athena silver users - question about shifter/lever noise

[54ny77]

I just had a bike built up with Athena 11 silver. The shifters are driving me absolutely bats&^!% crazy with the sound of click click click metal-on-metal whenever I use the brakes, since the brake lever comes into contact with the inner shift lever when I squeeze it. Is this supposed to happen? Or are my levers screwed up? (I bought the group ages ago, it's otherwise pristine and works wonderfully.)

[Veloo]

You hear several clicks when you squeeze the brakes once?

[tuscanyswe]

I have not experienced something similar so maybe something is up with how the blades contact but maybe put something between the blades with a sticky surface thats cut to fit. Should be very easy to do without it even beeing noticable at all from a few feet away. Are you possitive the clicks come from the blades beeing pushed against each other?

[Veloo]

My right shifter blade was angled out ever so slightly that when I'd squeeze the brake lever, the brake would make contact with that black bumper but then the shifter blade would slide and the brake lever would then "hit" the shifter blade.
Don't think I saw any adjustment for this on the Powershift body. It was resolved when I moved the lever and blade to an Ultrashift body.

[thwart]

A minor, common problem with Campy ergos, at least in my experience.

There's a little rubber nipple on the back of the brake lever to act as a bumper and avoid the clicking (you can see it above on those old 8 or 9 spd ergos), but sometimes the inner lever alignment is a bit off.

Haven't done this myself, but IIRC the Old Spud has mentioned that with some of the 11 spd levers you can slightly modify the alignment.

[msriddle]

I have some ~2008 Centaur ergos that have a bit of this when on bumpy roads. I used some frame protection (clear, thick film) on the shift lever and was able to minimize the clicking.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by thwart

A minor, common problem with Campy ergos, at least in my experience.

There's a little rubber nipple on the back of the brake lever to act as a bumper and avoid the clicking (you can see it above on those old 8 or 9 spd ergos), but sometimes the inner lever alignment is a bit off.

Haven't done this myself, but IIRC the Old Spud has mentioned that with some of the 11 spd levers you can slightly modify the alignment.

Correct..BUT gotta be careful as it adjusts the shift lever blade and if you adjust too far inboard, it may not have enough throw to move the toothed ring in the lever. Pic below. 21mm allen and may need to dig some goop outta the hole to gain accress..it's just a wee set screw that pushes on the shift lever blade.

Need the rubber tit also..I have those, BTW.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by 54ny77

I just had a bike built up with Athena 11 silver. The shifters are driving me absolutely bats&^!% crazy with the sound of click click click metal-on-metal whenever I use the brakes, since the brake lever comes into contact with the inner shift lever when I squeeze it. Is this supposed to happen? Or are my levers screwed up? (I bought the group ages ago, it's otherwise pristine and works wonderfully.)

See above, adjust plus need the rubber tits that live under the brake lever? PLus, make sure the brake housing is well seated in the lever(NO FERRULES! in the lever!!)..install into lever, then attach to brake and SQUEEZE..to seat housing THEN tape to handlebars. Also ensure the brake caliper is springy and opening well..no drag at caliper..spring isn't busted or on the way out.

[ultraman6970]

Now i know what that hole is for, dang....

I have used a little piece of adhesive cork sheet behind the brake blade.

[54ny77]

Here's a couple of pics of the issue. You can see the inner "blade" alignment is f'd up. That's why it clicks.

Brake spring tension is great, and shifts perfect.

Ideas?

[54ny77]

Both shifters are doing this by the way, so it's gotta be something wrong on the inside. Will search for replacement levers instead, see how that effort goes....

[Joxster]

Has someone put the gear paddles on the wrong way?? Left on right, right on left??

[54ny77]

that's a very interesting question but i think the answer is no, only because the side that faces out has a bit of a recess in it, i.e., a carveout where tip of finger can get a better grab on the shifter blade.

unless of course the outer-facing side is supposed to be smooth, then yes, they must've been rebuilt incorrectly.

doesn't matter at this point, these are now in the trash can and i just ordered some new ones that hopefully the website was correct in listing them as in-stock.

thanks everyone for the suggestions & assistance.

Originally Posted by Joxster

Has someone put the gear paddles on the wrong way?? Left on right, right on left??

[alexandrumarian]

I have black Athena and yeah there is occasional clicking between the brake and shift lever, but I only noticed it indoor at a late hour thanks to this thread. No way I could hear it on the road. However if your levers are alu (they look silver in the pics) then the clicking could indeed get much louder. I would try to beef up the damping, perhaps glue a strip of bar tape along the entire shift lever.

[rohan]

I have this same issue on my black/carbon-wrapped Athena shifters, and the positioning of the inner lever seems to be more in-line than yours. I was thinking putting a small rubber band on the inner lever, but it hasn’t bothered me enough to do anything yet.