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Video of Issue: https://i.stack.imgur.com/aGJOk.jpg

I have just been given my dad's old bike and was looking at fixing it up. However, it has a shifting problem where it shifts down the gears perfectly fine but on any gear, the first upshift after a downshift only shifts halfway.

I have noticed that when it shifts properly when you click the lever in it moves a little and then when you release it moves the rest of the way this however doesn't happen on the first upshift after downshifting.

You can see and hear in the video when I click it in the first time nothing moves and then when I release it moves halfway. Then on the next upshift it moves on both the click in and the click out of the shift lever. Then I move it back down and it shifts down fine on both downshifts but then the first shift up only moves when releasing the shift lever and the second one moves on squeezing the lever and releasing.

I noticed the first click in sounds different to the rest as well almost like it's trying to click it and just slipping.

I would take it to a bike shop but due to the lockdown they won't be open here for at the very least another 4 weeks and id like to be able to ride it in the meantime.

I have tried indexing it at least 10-15 times and all of the consecutive shifts up and down work perfectly its just the first shift up after shifting down doesn't. I watched heaps of tutorials I could find but haven't seen anything about this half shifting problem anywhere.

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    Do be aware that shifting depends on the back wheel rotating. A slow hand-pedal on the cranks is fine.
    – Criggie ♦
    Apr 6, 2020 at 5:31
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    Welcome to the site, @1seanr - In the video, those aren't shifts, the wheel isn't turning so I can't see anything unusual; when you upshift with the wheel static the cable pulls really tight just like that. What kind of problem exists when you ride along on the bike, or upside down with the wheel spinning?
    – Swifty
    Apr 6, 2020 at 6:48
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    As mentioned in the comments above, the motion of the derailleur is irrelevant when the wheel isn't turning forward. You probably have Shimano Rapidfire shifters (trigger shifters). It helps those types of shifters immensely when occasionally you spray a generous amount of penetrating lube inside the shifter body and manipulate the shifter during and after doing so.
    – Jeff
    Apr 6, 2020 at 12:31
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    @Criggie the exact same behaviour occurs when the wheel is spinning I just couldn't hold it and change gears and pedal at the same time sorry I can get another video if needed
    – 1seanr
    Apr 6, 2020 at 21:11
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    @1seanr generally rear gear wires have three parts - the shifter, the rear mechanism, and the wire in between. Try hanging the bike off the floor, slow pedalling, and push the rear mech with your left hand (mind out for moving parts - pinch hazards) Also do the same but pull on an exposed section of inner wire, to take the shifter out of the mix.
    – Criggie ♦
    Apr 6, 2020 at 21:47

1 Answer 1

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Not really anything wrong there. You'll want to slowly pedal (with your hand!) while working on the derailleurs. Shifting like this simply creates more and more tension until it's unable to move the chain anymore sideways. Chains can only move so far sideways.

Also make sure the cable is free to move easily within the housing. Dropping a bit of (chain) lube at the ends and pulling it into the housing can already help a lot.

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    IMO chain lube is a bit heavy for cables, and it will attract dirt and grime a lot, and shifting is a lot easier to muck up than a chain is. WD40 is actually really good for cable and shifter lubrication IME, as it's really light and won't attract too much dirt and grime.
    – Andrew Henle
    Apr 7, 2020 at 15:17

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