Hi Liz. I think Josh's advice is correct as a first step. My experience with Riv Silver and Silver2 shifters slipping and sliding was exactly as you describe. I asked about it here on the forum and got the same advice: blue Loctite.
>From what I've gleaned people have mixed results with threadlockers. In my case it held up for a while, but the slipping resumed. I'd have to tighten down the screw so much to prevent slipping that it became hard to shit. It was frustrating and annoying. (My hands are big and strong, too.) I finally decided to abandon the Silver2 shifters because of this issue. I installed a set of Dura-Ace SL-BS77 shifters with Paul Thumbies (I don't use them as bar-end shifters) and all frustrations vanished. Everything else on the bike was the same. It was remarkable that I could friction shift with smooth, fluid, easy effort. I never had to tighten the shifters again after the initial setup. I'm not sure what Shimano does to make the mechanism work with such smoothness and ease, but it convinced me to to install BS77s on all of my bikes. I haven't looked back. No regrets. I know that tons of people love using the Silver shifters and don't have slippage problems. So I think it's worth it for you to fiddle with it and try the Loctite. See if you can get it to work comfortably. Rule out other possible causes. And if all this doesn't work, you have many other options. On Monday, January 6, 2025 at 11:01:25 AM UTC-5 Josh C wrote: > Liz, you may consider a small dab of blue Loctite on the shifter screw. > Just back it out (careful not to fumble any of the small bits) add a dab of > blue loctite to the screw, and put it back together. Tighten it down to > where the shifter feels good in the hand. This part is hard to describe but > you want it to feel purposeful when shifting, not too easy, but not > difficult to shift either. This is what I'd do before spending any more > time and money replacing new parts. I run silver shifters on 5-6 bikes > right now and > don't have issues. Don't use red loctite, as that is made for a more > permanent application. > On Monday, January 6, 2025 at 10:45:30 AM UTC-5 [email protected] wrote: > >> Your thoughts on a skipping/slipping/floating chain and gear, please. >> >> In late November 2024. I received my newly built up Platypus from C&L >> Cycles in Montreal. I love it beyond description. However, there’s one very >> frustrating issue that I can’t figure out and wonder what insight you >> friends might have about it. >> >> From the get-go, the gears have slipped. Yes, I’m using friction Silver >> Shifters, and I’ve spent a lot of time eliminating myself as the problem >> here. But I’ve ALWAYS used friction shifters on every bike (other than my >> Clem) and I’m not a klutz, and I’ve tried really really hard to be land >> these gear changes, but this problem just keeps happening. I’ve put >> probably 200 miles on the Platypus and I’ve not taken a single ride on it >> that this has not been a problem. >> >> The issue occurs on the rear 9-gear cassette and almost always in the >> highest 3 gears…especially when going uphill or cresting a hill, but not >> always. >> >> Sometimes the chain seems to simply float EVEN WHEN I’M NOT PEDALING, and >> then it lands wherever it wants without my touching the shifter. >> >> This is driving me nuts because I adore this bicycle and this problem is >> making me lose trust. It’s not safe to ride in the kind of traffic I ride. >> >> I’ve taken the bike to my local bike shop, and we’ve changed the chain, >> but the issue continues. >> >> (I’m pretty sure no one at the bike shop is actually riding the Playtpus >> very far, which is disappointing…because I’m convinced that if they ride it >> far enough they would experience the problem. But I can’t force them to >> take it for a long ride in cold and sloppy weather, so now I’m considering >> next moves.) >> >> Does anyone know of any issues like this with the Silver Shifters? I’m >> considering replacing them with Shimano. Or maybe a new cassette? Maybe an >> 8-gears cassette—which is what I have on my trusty Atlantis and with which >> I’ve never had an issue with shifting. >> >> I sent an email to Rivendell yesterday, which they should read some time >> today, but I thought I might get somewhere with this group, too. >> >> Liz (who probably isn’t a klutz, but the thought still lingers that it >> might be me but it’s not), snowbound in Cincinnati >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b7d6daab-56da-4cc5-b6a4-eaf7b157e4den%40googlegroups.com.
