val_williams•1mo agoProlific Poster

Had a sticky thumb shifter that drove me nuts for two years

I finally got fed up with my old Shimano thumb shifter not clicking back right. Tried taking it apart and cleaning it with degreaser maybe three times, no luck. Then a guy at the co-op told me to spray Tri-Flow into the housing while working the lever back and forth. Worked like a charm in about five minutes flat. Anybody else spent way too long fighting something that simple?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellys781mo ago

Heard that Tri-Flow is way better than WD-40 for shifters anyway, @matthew166.

claire_hart531mo ago

Trying WD-40 on everything before actually fixing it has become my whole life approach to problems.

matthew1661mo ago

I get what you're saying but I've seen that approach backfire plenty. WD-40 on a sticky lock or a rusty hinge is one thing, it's basically just a cleaner and lube. But when people start spraying it on electronics or plastic parts, they end up with a bigger mess or broken stuff because it can eat away at certain materials. I've had to replace several door handles in this old house because the previous owner just drowned everything in it instead of tightening a screw or replacing a worn out spring. Your mileage may vary, but sometimes the right tool for the job is just a screwdriver and ten minutes of patience.