Freezing weather derailleur problems

[Handlebars]

In freezing weather with snow and slush my Shimano Acera develops a problem where the shifting levers don't change gears properly and get progressively worse until the levers just flop about and pose no resistance and have no effect.

Any suggestions for fixing that would be great. Thank you!

 

[AHicks]

In freezing weather with snow and slush my Shimano Acera develops a problem where the shifting levers don't change gears properly and get progressively worse until the levers just flop about and pose no resistance and have no effect.

Any suggestions for fixing that would be great. Thank you!

Sounds like water may have gotten in to your cables and froze? You'll need to get it thawed and dried, and I would do that sooner than later as if it is a water (ice) problem you're going to have to deal with that every time you are riding in freezing weather.

 

[Handlebars]

Sounds like water may have gotten in to your cables and froze? You'll need to get it thawed and dried, and I would do that sooner than later as if it is a water (ice) problem you're going to have to deal with that every time you are riding in freezing weather.

Thank you AHicks!
It has been happening every time. Usually I'm 10 minutes from home so it's not that bad of a problem and my bike has a throttle, but I do need to fix it. I'm thinking the cable gets wet near the derailleur where it changes from housed cable to un-housed and back again. I can't think of a reason why they would have the cable housed all the way except for about 8 inches of bare cable, then back to housed cable.
Perhaps I should use a chemical spray into the housing after drying it out - and add some more cable housing so it isn't exposed there.

 

[AHicks]

Thank you AHicks!
It has been happening every time. Usually I'm 10 minutes from home so it's not that bad of a problem and my bike has a throttle, but I do need to fix it. I'm thinking the cable gets wet near the derailleur where it changes from housed cable to un-housed and back again. I can't think of a reason why they would have the cable housed all the way except for about 8 inches of bare cable, then back to housed cable.
Perhaps I should use a chemical spray into the housing after drying it out - and add some more cable housing so it isn't exposed there.

Sounds like a good plan from where I'm sitting!

 

[fooferdoggie]

a better quality housing and cable would take care of it. the spring may be simply on the detailer too. also lube it well.

 

[Handlebars]

a better quality housing and cable would take care of it. the spring may be simply on the detailer too. also lube it well.

I've sprayed ACF-50 on the derailleur parts every ride or 2, and on the exposed gear cable. I'm going to clean it all up and switch over to using Dupont Chain-Saver for a little while. It says "self-cleaning", so it must be good.

 

[Handlebars]

The weird part is how the shift levers just go dead. Maybe I need to do something there.

 

[fooferdoggie]

it is the lowest end shifter Shimano sells so it just might not be upto the job. but new better housing may make all the difference.

 

[ruffruff]

The slack in the thumb lever is a very good indicator that the cable is binding up somewhere.
The spring on the derailure has to be able pull the cable back after you have pulled the cable with your thumb to shift.