options to shift an 8 speed rear derailleur

[BG]

The RH shifter (STX-RC STI pod) on my '98 Norco Sasquatch beater (it currently has a seat on it for my 2 year-old) has died - I can only get 3 shifts with the thumb bit before it just flops around, so I'm looking for a replacement (thank goodness the route from home to the adventure playground with my toddler is quite flat).

What do you guys think I should do: stick to the STI pod and replace like for like by getting my hands on an 8 speed pod (shouldn't be that hard as they pop up on ebay and on this site), or go the thumb shifter route using something like some Paul's Thumbies with Ultegra barcon shifters?

 

[orange71]

big difference between Paul and STX-RC!

 

[stevet1]

you can pick up a set of gripshift fairly cheap, even if you don't get on with them (I love 'em) they should work well enough on a beater.

 

[Geoff]

The words 'beater' and 'Pauls' don't mix as far as I'm concerned, even if it is thumbies. NOS 8spd XT pods are still going on CRC. I bought a set myself...

 

[longun]

xt thumbies,cant get enough of mine

 

[Xesh]

The RH shifter (STX-RC STI pod) on my '98 Norco Sasquatch beater (it currently has a seat on it for my 2 year-old) has died - I can only get 3 shifts with the thumb bit before it just flops around......

I know that this sounds obvious but have you tried lubing it? In my experience 98% of these problems are down to the ratchets in the shifter sticking due to insufficient lubrication. If you remove the lower casing (usually a screw on the underside) you can see the ratchets. If you spray them with something like GT85 or TF2 and then work them back and forth gently, with a small flat bladed screwdriver, they should free up. If this doesn't work then you'll be looking at a new shifter which should be between £12 and £40 depending upon quality.

 

[BG]

Thanks for that tip. I will pull it apart and give it a bit of a lube when I get a chance.

I just did exactly that to an XT level one that was showing the same symptoms a while back, but with limited success. It works better, but it is only back to around 80% - 6 of the 8 gears now work, rather than only 3 on that pod!

I did buy an m748 shifter (not NOS, but a modern interpretation of an 8 speed STI pod) from CRC to replace this one, and while it is very nice, it's not quite the same as a genuine m739 pod. It may sound funny but it is a bit too quiet... it's disconcerting.

I was thinking of moving away from the STI system for the sake of longevity, if the STIs die after 10 years, maybe something simpler (thumbshifters or X-ray gripshifts) may last longer - I don't think my wife will let me buy any more bikes so the ones I've got better last!

 

[Xesh]

X-ray gripshifts

If you do that try to get the smokey finish as they were made of a stronger plastic than the clear ones. The clear ones did tend to crack after a while.

 

[BG]

obvious smovious. Just sprayed some some WD40 into the pods. They now work just fine... still after doing all this research on alternative shifting methods, I may just get myself some shimano thumbshifters to keep as spares... or to go on 'that' frame that I just have to own.