Hello, good afternoon, today I had this problem with my 6-speed electric Brompton, suddenly for some reason it stopped going into mode 3, the others work correctly, that's why I watched some explanatory video on RUclips and found the problem, very good explained, I congratulate you👍 for how well it is done, but I think I don't have the patience that you have, I love crafts but I have doubts if I am not going to ruin it more, in the end I will surely take it to a bicycle technical service, I congratulate you for collaborating in helping those of us who have Brompton, greetings from the Canary Islands 😊🚴♀️✨💫👍
Came here looking for problems with my shifter after my mechanic adjusted some things, and I think now he overtightened the screws holding the shifter on. Your video is so thorough and well-done and is very helpful. Thanks!
Had this problem with my Brompton this morning, I followed your video and now, my Brompton derailleur High and low gear change, is working perfectly, a big thank you Oliver 👍🏻
Thanks guys. Picked up a Brompton and the left (derailleur) changer was pretty much seized. Followed this and back on the road! Top tip, wrap a wooden spoon's handle in sand paper to speed up the sanding ;)
This solved my problem with regard to the derailleur shifter! I couldn't figure out why any adjustment on the rear end didn't fix the shifting; then I remembered seeing this video before! I followed your instructions and now the derailleur works! Thanks so much for this!
Hi Oliver, Not only in Singapore does this happen. I'm in the home of Brompton UK and have just discovered a seized derailleur shifter control thanks to you. Your shifter easing process is excellent and clearly explains the disassembly and assembly of a complex mechanism. I'm very grateful to you.
I live in Singapore and hope not to have to do this. But instructions were clear and good point of reference. It’s excellent that you have been able to do this while you were on holiday. Hope it didn’t messed it up your holiday and thank you for sharing.
I hope the best for you! 🍀🤞 We have been to the opening of the Singapore Brompton Junction Store and they had the same problems and needed to perform the procedure as well on some bicycles they have sold. 🤷♂️
I live in London and I exactly had the same issue after 2 months of purchasing my Brompton! I think the company needs to do something about it as it seems to be happening to every single person! it's just not acceptable for a bicycle with the price of +£1000!
Thanks for your feedback! Brompton definitely knows about it and I agree that it is not acceptable for such a price tag. I could imagine a silent update in one of the next models, maybe... 🤷♂️
Thank you for taking time such an informative and detailed video. It certainly helps loads. Hope Brompton really look into this problem and do a recall. Imagine touring like u guys and run into such an issue. Stay safe and enjoy ur tour around the world. Brompton should also note their brand stickers on the metallic graphite bikes keeps peeling off. It's likely the powder coat paint job but for the money we paying...not ideal.
I had the same issue on my 2019 Brompton M6L, but I'm in Northwest England, so I don't think heat and humidity are the problem . What I think is happening is that the tolerances on the plastic parts are very tight, so after a bit of use the surface begins to wear away, becomes a bit rough, and leaves tiny particles (swarf) in between the two surfaces inside the lever housing, adding to the friction. This also happens inside engines, and is the reason it used to be necessary to change the oil on a new car after 1000km or so, to prevent excessive wear. Anyway, thanks to your excellent video I have just sorted out my bike, and I hope not to have to do it again. One note to add: it is very important not to overtighten the centre bolt that holds on the lever. The function of the mechanism seems to depend on a bit of looseness. I tried to get it about the same as the right hand lever, but have put a square of tape over the middle of both levers in case the centre bolt decides to work itself loose. Happy travels.
Thanks for your feedback! Wear and tear could also be an explanation, but our Bromptons were brand new and have only been ridden a few times. And even after doing the first sanding and cleaning passes the friction problem still persisted, so I don't think wear and tear was the cause in our case. You're right, the center bolt must be tightened carefully, just like the two housing bolts. I am glad the video helped you!
@@oliverwilhelm Yes, mine was new too--no more than 100km ridden. Possibly heat and humidity speeds it up. I used lithium grease rather than standard grease as it has a longer life expectancy, but I guess we'll see. Cheers.
Thank you for this, I was dicking around the entire transmission and never thought the shifter was an issue. I have 2 older bromptons with friction shifters that never had any issue. Only the 2018 one (ironically the least ridden one) had this problem. Such a problem should not exist on a bicycle at this price point. There were never issues with the lowest end shifters from shimano/sram/campy/box/even microshift. But the quality of the shifters brompton uses are simply terribad
Eigentlich unverständlich bei einem nagelneuen Fahrrad der gehobenen Preisklasse, dass man sich mit solch einem Mangel rumärgern muss und nur durch Selbsthilfe den Fehler beseitigen kann... Nur durch euer Video blieb mir die mühseelige, frustrierende Suche nach dem Fehler erspart! Bei meinem 2 Monate alten Brompton 6 Gang trat der Fehler bei 130 km auf, im Oktober bei 12 Grad Außentemperatur (aber direkt nach dem Italien Urlaub im Sommer). Ich selbst habe jedoch lediglich die Kette der Nabenschaltung nachgestellt und die Schrauben vom Gehäuse des Schalthebels minimal gelockert. Das anschleifen der Flächen innerhalb des Gehäuse blieb mir zum Glück (bis jetzt) erspart... Klasse Beitrag jedenfalls von euch, herzlichen Dank dafür!!
Anhand der Kommentare sieht man ja, dass es kein Einzelfall ist. Frustriend und ärgerlich, allerdings unterstelle ich Brompton auch keine böse Absicht. Ist halt nicht optimal gelaufen in der Entwicklung. Es ist zu hoffen, dass sie es zukünftig besser machen werden. Ich hatte noch keine Möglichkeit mir die neuen Modelle anzuschauen. 🤷♂️
thanks for a such a detailed video! I had a similar problem on a mountain bike I had back in 1999. It took me forever to figure it out. Too bad I couldn't have made a video to help others out like you did with this!
Brilliant guide, thanks a lot Oliver. Problem sorted. I guess this is an issue that comes up not only in warm and humid conditions, as you mention. I live in London and I've had this problem with two different Bromptons. In any case, your video provided the much-needed solution. Thank you!
Many thanks for your feedback, Sebastian! Some other people reported the problem as well, living in European weather conditions. I'm glad it helped you. 👍
Yep same problem 6 speed Brompton 2018 model. Occurred during Uk winter (below 10degrees C) after bike had been left for a while. I replaced pusher spring and cleaned all other parts before finding this video. Too much friction in the 2 speed shifter. Thanks for posting the video.
Hi - a good video and thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’ve experienced the same issue with my Brompton after an about 5 months use. It’s not just hot and humid environments but in temperate environments as well.
My brommie is brand new and just started this problem one the first trip to South America by boat, now the right side is acting up, it's time for a fit. Thank you for the help my friend.
Thank you Oliver for making this video. After 2 years of light use, our 2019 Bromptons both have this friction issue and have never been outside of England, so I'm a little sceptical that its the climate that causes this problem. However, your video helped me to fix one of them and I'll try it on the other one too.
Just want to add another massive THANK YOU on this. I live on a tropical island in South Thailand, & like you went through every possible scenario before finding your video - I followed every step & it worked / was fixed exactly as you described. Brilliant!
Two weeks in Malaysia and my Brompton had the same problem. I didn’t have sandpaper so used a knife on the inside of the rotating wheel instead. Excellent video.
Argus Tuft. I'm suffering from this problem on my Brompton. One thing I remember from when I was fixing my Washing Machine . The plastic pump bushing was "self adjusting" .During it's life,It expanded a tiny amount with immersion in water.this was intended to counteract wear. In my case it seized and the belt slipped. This bushing was a type of nylon, So yes- expanding plastic is a thing!
You're welcome! Meanwhile people in other climates have confirmed the same problem. So, it's definitely good to know what to look for if shifting problems occur.
Brilliant video! Here is my return on experience. I'm touring with my Brompton in South East Asia. I've face this annoying gear problem many times. 3 days ago, I watched my bicycle after cycling around Koh Lanta. And after that, left shifter get stuck 😭. I followed your process and... Fixed! I used the reamer of my Swiss knife which is to me more efficient than sand paper. Thank you so much!
Thanks for posting - I had the same problem and this was the solution. The grease they have inside is too thick, a thinner oil is preferable. The situation seems to arise mainly in winter.
Thank you fir this great video!!! But if the problem is so diffused, after paying not little money for the bike I find it a pity that Brompton doesn’t look into it more and resolve it! Not all of us have the ability to do such a job and don’t live near any Brompton meccanic! You done a great job!!!!
Yes, I totally get your frustration! I would rather pay some more bucks, but have decent parts on the bike. I really hope Brompton will solve this for future generations of their bicycle. In the end, they are a small company and have to deal with a lot of challenges. It's easy to blame them, but I'm sure they had no intention to damage their reputation.
you legend, I have had to take my Brompton back to the dealers so many times due to this issue, its had cables changed, reset and it works for a couple of weeks and its stops working and its all down to temperature...I was even looking at going to third party products - Massive thanks for this, If you ever in the UK and in London - give me a shout and I'll treat you to a fine meal and a few bears. ~Trooper
Das Tutorial wurde sofort runter geladen, bewundernswert ist Ihre Geduld und Ruhe bei der Arbeit/Erläuterung! Meine Hochachtung, ich freue mich schon auf Mein Brompton.
Vielen Dank, Thorsten! In Deutschland ist es unwahrscheinlich, dass das Problem auftritt. Viel Spaß mit deinem Brompton! Meine Frau und ich sind gerade durch Australien mit dem Brompton unterwegs, wir lieben es! :-)
Wow thanks for this video, had this annoying problem in Singapore today, followed your reassembly video and voila. I didn't really sand much as I did not have a proper sand paper, but degreased the innards.
I wondered why my 2 speed Brompton gears haven't been working properly. Thinking about it, I think the issues started after my trip to Denver, Colorado one summer. Thanks for sharing this and all the details.
I have a 3sixty foldable bicycle, like a Pikes, it is a clone of a Brompton, and has the same plastic shifters. I also got the same issue but I realized I didn't have to grind away the plastic. Instead, *the top and bottom covers had expanded* resulting the two were much tightly closed than before. This compressed the shifter and made it stuck. I *loosen the 2 screws* on the top shifter cover, and *1 screw* underneath the shifter, and the issue was resolved. Hope that helps!
Thanks for sharing! These screws can be the reason as well. For us that wasn't the reason as you can see at 5:55. It didn't work even with top plate off. But checking the screws is for sure the first thing to do!
Yup, I saw that in your video. I got the inspiration of the screws could have been too tight from your video, as you indicated that there is a specific torque value when tightening the screws. The screws were super tight on mine. As mine is not the original Brompton, maybe the material is different such that the internal components didn't expand as much? Or maybe it the internal component expansion comes later? My bike is quite new, I owned it for several months. Time will tell and I will report here. :)
Figured out this friction problem on a 2018 Brompton before finding this video. Problem occured in Belgium, not particularly a hot/humid country. The outer gear shifter was affected, not the hub gear shifter. Will continue to monitor...Brompton could have done a better job on endurance/wear testing. But I'm still very fond of my Bromptons.
Thank you, i have the same shifting issue, and had been tinkering mainly on the derailleur. Good thing, i have not dismantled the back end yet, and have found your video. I will definitely try your approach, fix the shifter. :) Thanks and ride safely!
Brilliant!!! We just received our 2021 Bromptons. Thanks to you we may never have this problem, but if we do, we’ll know how to fix it. Thank you so much, and safe travels to you both!
Susan and I are mid to late sixties. I (the older one) would consider touring, but Susan is more of a weekend explorer. We will travel with the bikes (Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, maybe Florida), but that’s about it I think. Miracles are always possible. I started commuting on a Vespa at 58 :)
Miracles are possible! We met a couple in the sixties on a tandem in the Australian Outback and a 77 year old solo cyclist. But everyone has its own way! The Bromptons are great for traveling with them. 👍
Hi I live here in middle east. I guess it was a really hot and humid day today. my shifter starts to show this symptom as well. the gear would not shift swiftly. I just got my bike a week ago. thanks a lot Oliver
You're welcome! I guess it can happen quickly. Brompton had to deal with the problem after sales on the first day of the opening of the Singapore Junction Store. For us it took two weeks to occur...
@@oliverwilhelm i will monitor how it goes and prepare all the tools i would be needing have to do a lot of minor maintenance by my own since i live where there is no authorise service centre. your post really help. cheers
Thank you for the video, it helped my a lot to on the way to solve this annoying problem. I do not think that Brompton look this problem as seriously as they should. This problem does not happen in some countries only... 😝 I am glad that Shimano is not using as much plastic as Brompton does.
Many thanks for taking the time to make the video Oliver. My 2019 bike has been affected by this, same as you I thought it was dirt building up at the back, but it was actually the shifter. I'm in the North West of the UK, no extreme weather here. It was straightforward to sand as you showed, so hopefully they will stay free for sometime now.
@@oliverwilhelm This issue came back for me recently. After sitting in a cold and humid garage (typical in UK!) the shifter friction came back. I moved the shifter into the house and warmed it up, after a few hours it was completely free again. So seems to confirm it is temperature/humidity related.
Thanks again for your feedback! So, it definitely has to do with material expansion due to weather conditions... as expected. Just strange that it happened due to heat in our case and due to coldness in your case!? Kind of a magical plastic...
@@oliverwilhelm Yes! To add a bit more detail, I actually warmed it up on the radiator first, to the point where the whole shifter was quite warm to touch. While warm, it was still stiff. However an hour or so later, when it had returned to room temperature (and possibly dried out) it became free.
@@oliverwilhelm Mine's a 2022 model C line 6 speed, I don't think the design has changed. Luckily I've got a good bike work stand as I've had it up to try and get the gears adjusted after my first 200 metre trial run and after each ride since (I'm one week into riding it). All we've got to play with are the limit screws and the cable tension. I thought I had it as good as it could get, worked ok-ish but then after about 30 minutes refused to shift into the big cog. Last night I just randomly played with cable tension and stop screws and after about 20 minutes of spinning and trying to shift it started working pretty good. I'll see how long that lasts and then take a closer look at your advice
Thanks for the video! I have the identical bike and identical problem! You made it look way easier than it was but lots of sanding and a sore back later it works beautifully 😊
@@oliverwilhelm Hi, Are you still in Koh pha Ngan? If you like to travel, I can suggest you a nice trip. I know the place quite well. From KPG, you can go to Koh Tao. From Koh Tao you go to Chumpon From the pier, with your Brompton you go north to Haad thung wua laen (haad mean beach. It s a very nice place with bungalows for rent. Then you continue North. Try to follow the coast as much as possible. You'll cross very nice place. You'll find bungalows every where. Have a look at Ban Saphan, spend few days in Dolphin bay. The place is beautiful with amazing caves. Then continue to Pranburi, Hua Hin, Cha am, Petchaburi (Rama 5 king palace must be seen) If you continue to bangkok you must stop in Amphawa which has a real floating market. Nothing to compare with Damnoen saduak a tourist market. Just check on the web when are the market days. I Hope you'll enjoy
Thank you so much for your suggestions! 🙏😊 Yes, we are still in Koh Phangan. But unfortunately we don't have our Bromptons with us in Thailand... I got sick before we headed for Sri Lanka, so we left our Bromptons in Bali where they are waiting for us. But we have been traveling in the north of Thailand as well and we would love to come back with the bikes and probably cycle north to south. Thailand seems real nice to be explored on a bicycle! 😍
I've not been lucky enough to ride my brompton in any humid weather, but the shifters did start sticking when I rode the bike in heavy rain. Once the bike had dried, the shifters returned to normal.
İ had similar problem as i visited Boden-See .so i just played with the cable on the gear ..then it worked again...that happened to me also when i was in a humid area ( Bodensee)
I have never had this problem with my Brompton, this said I am going to guess that you may have a very slight manufacturing defect when the part was created. Machining, overtime, also reaches atrophy and the tolerances will be off and needs to be corrected. You and your wife may have purchased the Brompton bicycles close to manufacture times and this might be why this happened. At times we all get a lemon luckily yours is a easy part replacement under warranty. Obtain the new part(s) which I’m sure the tolerances will be better and take them with you on the next vacation. Brompton’s are AWESOME and this was rare.
That is a possibility! But if you look at the comments, this doesn't seem to be rare and is happening with different production charges. And it wouldn't change the fact that the shifters could have been built better (other materials). But the Bromptons are still awesome. It's just like buying a Porsche and the shift stick is made from cheap plastic... 😉😅
Let me know if you're interested in showing our Brompton gear modification (12 gears with 519% gear spread) and Brompton tubeless conversion. Till the next video you can find some detailed information about the modifications in a Facebook post: smartveganlife.social/brompton-mods-1 (you can read it without a Facebook account)
Would like info. spread between gears on S6L with BWR is too wide. Did you just put a double ring up front? SA 5speed/10speed said to be hard to adjust and Schlumpf is heavy
@@crasavendano Hi Cesar, at the moment we are still traveling, so I don't know when I will have time to do the video. But we did a quite detailed Facebook post with our modifications, which might help you already: smartveganlife.social/brompton-mods-1 (you can read it without a Facebook account) Let me know when you need more information.
@@whazzat8015 The easiest would be to read our Facebook post, where we describe the modification quite detailed: smartveganlife.social/brompton-mods-1 (you can read it without a Facebook account) The Schlumpf is actually not too heavy. About 300-400 grams more compared to the factory setup. From my research it is actually one of the lightest ways to increase the gearing.
Very useful video, my derailleur is playing up and the problem seems to be at the shifter end, had the shifter apart and got the spring back in the wrong place (d'oh!) so will have to have another go at it. I'm not convinced heat is the problem - I'm in Wales - but humidity could easily be something to do with it. Anyways, the shifter is very stiff and the cable isn't moving as it should, now I have something to go at to try and fix it!
Well, it's taken me a while to get round to it with work commitments and other things going on, but today I finally took the shifter apart, cleaned, sanded, lubricated and put it all back together as shown in your excellent video. I'm just back from a test ride and am pleased to say that the derailleur now works perfectly once more. Thank you once again, Oliver.
Hi Oliver, thanks very much for making such as great video. I followed your steps for the hub gear shifter. Unfortunately, I still have to force the shifter from 3 to 2. Would you have any ideas as to why? Do you think I should sand the parts more? Thanks in advance.
Oliver, I would vote you as CEO of Brompton. Brompton should be embarrassed for designing a part that gives such issues within such a short time. My Brompton has similar issues, that’s after 24months and I’ve not used it much! Personally, l’ll not recommend a Brompton to anyone. Overpriced, too complicated and can’t handle it when the going gets a little tough! Your video is great and thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you! 🙏😅 First of all, I don't want the job and second of all, Will Adams-Butler is genuinely a great guy! It is disappointing and should not happen, correct. But they surely didn't do it on purpose. A miscalculation, possibly. I would still recommend the Brompton if you can afford it. If problems like this occur, let the dealer fix it. We were in a foreign country with no official dealer, so we had to fix it ourselves. The Brompton actually can handle more than you think. My wife and I cycled 4000 km on our Bromptons through the Outback of Australia with up to 40kg of cargo! It doesn't get tougher than that... Not a single problem with the Brompton! Let your dealer handle this and enjoy your Brompton! 🤗
Glad to hear your +ve comments on the Brompton; I can certainly appreciate you not wanting that job! Quite often its a thankless task! My dealer has unfortunately gone bust; I did contact Brompton and they said gears have a 2yr warranty. The gear issues on my bike showed up shorty after the warranty period ended. I'll be studying your video more closely and see if I can fix it. Thanks again for your reply and original post. Best wishes and I look forward if/when you post any more Brompton videos. Cheers 🍻
I jave this problem also after pressure cleaning my bike coz of heavy rain may rear derailleur shifting is late. And the shifter is not springy anymore.
We had exactly the same issue in Ireland with 2 brand new Bromptons after 30 minutes of light rain, so I don't think it is just humidity/ heat. A month later the England Brompton dealer replaced both shifters, no questions, and remarked it has been an issue right from 2017. Just poor quality components.
Thanks for the feedback! I haven't had a chance yet to take a look at the new models from this year (2022) but I hope they changed the shifter as well, so that this isn't an issue anymore.
Mine is from August 2022 and has exactly the same issue after 3 months, so issues are not solved unfortunately… I live in England so definitely not an issue of high temperatures. Thanks for the video👍👍
@@noze02 something I haven't looked into yet, but hidden behind each shifter is a tiny little hole directly into the shifter body which definitely let water inside; it is intended to feed a replacement shifter cable thru; I may consider a rubber plug for when mostly not required
Hello, good afternoon, today I had this problem with my 6-speed electric Brompton, suddenly for some reason it stopped going into mode 3, the others work correctly, that's why I watched some explanatory video on RUclips and found the problem, very good explained, I congratulate you👍 for how well it is done, but I think I don't have the patience that you have, I love crafts but I have doubts if I am not going to ruin it more, in the end I will surely take it to a bicycle technical service, I congratulate you for collaborating in helping those of us who have Brompton, greetings from the Canary Islands 😊🚴♀️✨💫👍
If only all ‘how to’ videos were as clear, succinct and detailed as this. You solved my problem!
Thank you! I'm glad it helped you. 🙏😊
Came here looking for problems with my shifter after my mechanic adjusted some things, and I think now he overtightened the screws holding the shifter on. Your video is so thorough and well-done and is very helpful. Thanks!
Many thanks for your feedback! Yes, just the tightness of the screws can have an impact.
Had this problem with my Brompton this morning, I followed your video and now, my Brompton derailleur High and low gear change, is working perfectly, a big thank you Oliver 👍🏻
Awesome! I'm glad it helped you, too! 👍
This is extremely helpful, thank you. My bike had this problem, despite me living well away from the tropics, in Wales. The solution worked perfectly.
That's interesting! 🤔 I am glad the video helped.
Thanks guys. Picked up a Brompton and the left (derailleur) changer was pretty much seized. Followed this and back on the road! Top tip, wrap a wooden spoon's handle in sand paper to speed up the sanding ;)
Thanks for the feedback! Enjoy your Brompton!
This solved my problem with regard to the derailleur shifter! I couldn't figure out why any adjustment on the rear end didn't fix the shifting; then I remembered seeing this video before! I followed your instructions and now the derailleur works! Thanks so much for this!
Awesome! I am glad it worked for you as well! Happy cycling 🤗
I work on a lot of Bromptons at corporate events. Not encountered this issue yet but great to have your fix on hand if I do. Thanks!
Same for me, just in London. same problem, this fixed it perfectly. Thank you - great instructions super-clear
Many thanks for your feedback, Tim! Good to hear for the people this problem is real for others as well. 👍
Your German exactitude is appreciated. I hope Brompton fixes this issue in future models.
Yeah, it's tough to get the German out of me... 😂 ✨🙏✨
Hi Oliver,
Not only in Singapore does this happen. I'm in the home of Brompton UK and have just discovered a seized derailleur shifter control thanks to you. Your shifter easing process is excellent and clearly explains the disassembly and assembly of a complex mechanism. I'm very grateful to you.
Thank you for your feedback! It's already a few years but it still seems to help people. 🙏
I live in Singapore and hope not to have to do this. But instructions were clear and good point of reference. It’s excellent that you have been able to do this while you were on holiday. Hope it didn’t messed it up your holiday and thank you for sharing.
I hope the best for you! 🍀🤞 We have been to the opening of the Singapore Brompton Junction Store and they had the same problems and needed to perform the procedure as well on some bicycles they have sold. 🤷♂️
I live in London and I exactly had the same issue after 2 months of purchasing my Brompton! I think the company needs to do something about it as it seems to be happening to every single person! it's just not acceptable for a bicycle with the price of +£1000!
Thanks for your feedback! Brompton definitely knows about it and I agree that it is not acceptable for such a price tag. I could imagine a silent update in one of the next models, maybe... 🤷♂️
Thank you for taking time such an informative and detailed video. It certainly helps loads. Hope Brompton really look into this problem and do a recall. Imagine touring like u guys and run into such an issue.
Stay safe and enjoy ur tour around the world.
Brompton should also note their brand stickers on the metallic graphite bikes keeps peeling off. It's likely the powder coat paint job but for the money we paying...not ideal.
Thanks for your appreciation! I'm glad if it helps others.
Thanks for the video. My shifter was sticking, so after watching your video, I took my shifter apart, cleaned it, and now it’s perfect. ;)
Awesome, I'm glad it helped you! 😊
I just bought a 2nd hand bike from UK with this problem. This video helped me solve the issue. I have unlocked a diy skill. Thank you
I had the same issue on my 2019 Brompton M6L, but I'm in Northwest England, so I don't think heat and humidity are the problem . What I think is happening is that the tolerances on the plastic parts are very tight, so after a bit of use the surface begins to wear away, becomes a bit rough, and leaves tiny particles (swarf) in between the two surfaces inside the lever housing, adding to the friction. This also happens inside engines, and is the reason it used to be necessary to change the oil on a new car after 1000km or so, to prevent excessive wear.
Anyway, thanks to your excellent video I have just sorted out my bike, and I hope not to have to do it again. One note to add: it is very important not to overtighten the centre bolt that holds on the lever. The function of the mechanism seems to depend on a bit of looseness. I tried to get it about the same as the right hand lever, but have put a square of tape over the middle of both levers in case the centre bolt decides to work itself loose.
Happy travels.
Thanks for your feedback! Wear and tear could also be an explanation, but our Bromptons were brand new and have only been ridden a few times. And even after doing the first sanding and cleaning passes the friction problem still persisted, so I don't think wear and tear was the cause in our case.
You're right, the center bolt must be tightened carefully, just like the two housing bolts. I am glad the video helped you!
@@oliverwilhelm Yes, mine was new too--no more than 100km ridden. Possibly heat and humidity speeds it up. I used lithium grease rather than standard grease as it has a longer life expectancy, but I guess we'll see. Cheers.
Thank you for this, I was dicking around the entire transmission and never thought the shifter was an issue. I have 2 older bromptons with friction shifters that never had any issue. Only the 2018 one (ironically the least ridden one) had this problem.
Such a problem should not exist on a bicycle at this price point. There were never issues with the lowest end shifters from shimano/sram/campy/box/even microshift. But the quality of the shifters brompton uses are simply terribad
Thanks for confirming the issue! 🙏 We were really annoyed as well. Therefore I am glad this video is helping others.
Eigentlich unverständlich bei einem nagelneuen Fahrrad der gehobenen Preisklasse, dass man sich mit solch einem Mangel rumärgern muss und nur durch Selbsthilfe den Fehler beseitigen kann...
Nur durch euer Video blieb mir die mühseelige, frustrierende Suche nach dem Fehler erspart!
Bei meinem 2 Monate alten Brompton 6 Gang trat der Fehler bei 130 km auf, im Oktober bei 12 Grad Außentemperatur (aber direkt nach dem Italien Urlaub im Sommer).
Ich selbst habe jedoch lediglich die Kette der Nabenschaltung nachgestellt und die Schrauben vom Gehäuse des Schalthebels minimal gelockert. Das anschleifen der Flächen innerhalb des Gehäuse blieb mir zum Glück (bis jetzt) erspart...
Klasse Beitrag jedenfalls von euch, herzlichen Dank dafür!!
Anhand der Kommentare sieht man ja, dass es kein Einzelfall ist. Frustriend und ärgerlich, allerdings unterstelle ich Brompton auch keine böse Absicht. Ist halt nicht optimal gelaufen in der Entwicklung. Es ist zu hoffen, dass sie es zukünftig besser machen werden. Ich hatte noch keine Möglichkeit mir die neuen Modelle anzuschauen. 🤷♂️
thanks for a such a detailed video! I had a similar problem on a mountain bike I had back in 1999. It took me forever to figure it out. Too bad I couldn't have made a video to help others out like you did with this!
Well done Mr and Mrs Oliver! I’m not sure I will need to know this detail, but it’s great to have your video as a backup!
Thanks! Let's hope you will not need it! But we were looking for these information, so we thought at some point this might help others.
Brilliant guide, thanks a lot Oliver. Problem sorted. I guess this is an issue that comes up not only in warm and humid conditions, as you mention. I live in London and I've had this problem with two different Bromptons. In any case, your video provided the much-needed solution. Thank you!
Many thanks for your feedback, Sebastian! Some other people reported the problem as well, living in European weather conditions. I'm glad it helped you. 👍
Yep same problem 6 speed Brompton 2018 model. Occurred during Uk winter (below 10degrees C) after bike had been left for a while. I replaced pusher spring and cleaned all other parts before finding this video. Too much friction in the 2 speed shifter. Thanks for posting the video.
Hi - a good video and thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’ve experienced the same issue with my Brompton after an about 5 months use. It’s not just hot and humid environments but in temperate environments as well.
Thank you Oliver, my issue was exactly same issue. today finally resolved issue.
Just loosening the bolt holding the shift lever it did the trick. Thanks again and happy riding to you.
You're lucky, easy fix for you! Keep on cycling! 👍
My brommie is brand new and just started this problem one the first trip to South America by boat, now the right side is acting up, it's time for a fit. Thank you for the help my friend.
You're welcome! I hope this saves you some time.
Exactly the same thing happened to my derailleur shifter - took same procedure you did - THEN saw your video!
Thank you for posting this problem. I just bought myself a Brompton and will be here soon.
Brilliant video. Helped me fix my gears after many hours of head scratching. Thank you.
Thank you Oliver for making this video. After 2 years of light use, our 2019 Bromptons both have this friction issue and have never been outside of England, so I'm a little sceptical that its the climate that causes this problem. However, your video helped me to fix one of them and I'll try it on the other one too.
Yes, with the reports of other people having the same problem, it could be something else. Anyway, the fix is working. I'm glad the video helped you!
Just want to add another massive THANK YOU on this. I live on a tropical island in South Thailand, & like you went through every possible scenario before finding your video - I followed every step & it worked / was fixed exactly as you described.
Brilliant!
That's awesome! I'm glad it helped you!
We are on Koh Phangan at the moment. Are you close?
@@oliverwilhelm yes I’m on Koh Samui!
Funny, so we are neighbors... 😊 Unfortunately, our Bromptons are still in Bali and we can't get a hold of them. 😒
@@oliverwilhelm now having the same issue with my hub - stuck in 2nd! Tried everything you suggested but still not moving!
That's strange. Try to pinpoint the problem area. Is it the hub or is it the shifter?
Two weeks in Malaysia and my Brompton had the same problem. I didn’t have sandpaper so used a knife on the inside of the rotating wheel instead. Excellent video.
Thank you for the feedback! I'm glad the video is still helping people. ✨
Argus Tuft. I'm suffering from this problem on my Brompton. One thing I remember from when I was fixing my Washing Machine . The plastic pump bushing was "self adjusting" .During it's life,It expanded a tiny amount with immersion in water.this was intended to counteract wear. In my case it seized and the belt slipped. This bushing was a type of nylon, So yes- expanding plastic is a thing!
Thank you so much! I was looking at completely the wrong end of the bike. Extra thanks for the close up of the lever reassembly!
Yes, I wasn't thinking about the shift levers as well... I'm happy it helped you! 👍
Very kind of you to make the video to help others. Very well described ☺️
Thank you! I am glad if this saves others the frustration of finding the cause for this problem.
Living in Florida, US, I will be on the lookout for this problem. Thanks.
You're welcome! Meanwhile people in other climates have confirmed the same problem. So, it's definitely good to know what to look for if shifting problems occur.
Brilliant video! Here is my return on experience. I'm touring with my Brompton in South East Asia. I've face this annoying gear problem many times. 3 days ago, I watched my bicycle after cycling around Koh Lanta. And after that, left shifter get stuck 😭. I followed your process and... Fixed! I used the reamer of my Swiss knife which is to me more efficient than sand paper. Thank you so much!
Awesome! I'm glad this video helped you. Many thanks for your feedback!
Thanks for posting - I had the same problem and this was the solution. The grease they have inside is too thick, a thinner oil is preferable. The situation seems to arise mainly in winter.
Thanks for the feedback! According to the comments on this video the situations in which the problem occurs can be different... 🤷♂️
@@oliverwilhelm I hope they will eventually come up with shiftters that don't develop this problem.
Thank you fir this great video!!!
But if the problem is so diffused, after paying not little money for the bike I find it a pity that Brompton doesn’t look into it more and resolve it!
Not all of us have the ability to do such a job and don’t live near any Brompton meccanic!
You done a great job!!!!
Yes, I totally get your frustration! I would rather pay some more bucks, but have decent parts on the bike. I really hope Brompton will solve this for future generations of their bicycle. In the end, they are a small company and have to deal with a lot of challenges. It's easy to blame them, but I'm sure they had no intention to damage their reputation.
you legend, I have had to take my Brompton back to the dealers so many times due to this issue, its had cables changed, reset and it works for a couple of weeks and its stops working and its all down to temperature...I was even looking at going to third party products - Massive thanks for this, If you ever in the UK and in London - give me a shout and I'll treat you to a fine meal and a few bears. ~Trooper
Hey Trooper! I am just glad if it helped you as well. Thanks for the feedback! 👍 And many thanks for the offer! 🙏😊
Das Tutorial wurde sofort runter geladen, bewundernswert ist Ihre Geduld und Ruhe bei der Arbeit/Erläuterung! Meine Hochachtung, ich freue mich schon auf Mein Brompton.
Vielen Dank, Thorsten! In Deutschland ist es unwahrscheinlich, dass das Problem auftritt. Viel Spaß mit deinem Brompton! Meine Frau und ich sind gerade durch Australien mit dem Brompton unterwegs, wir lieben es! :-)
Wow thanks for this video, had this annoying problem in Singapore today, followed your reassembly video and voila. I didn't really sand much as I did not have a proper sand paper, but degreased the innards.
I wondered why my 2 speed Brompton gears haven't been working properly. Thinking about it, I think the issues started after my trip to Denver, Colorado one summer. Thanks for sharing this and all the details.
What an intelligently explained and clearly filmed video. This is a masterpiece! Thank you for sharing.
I had almost this problem. I fixed it but your fix is much better than mine! I will do it for sure! Thanks a lot
You're welcome! But if your fix works as well, just keep it that way. Never touch a running system... 😉
I have a 3sixty foldable bicycle, like a Pikes, it is a clone of a Brompton, and has the same plastic shifters. I also got the same issue but I realized I didn't have to grind away the plastic. Instead, *the top and bottom covers had expanded* resulting the two were much tightly closed than before. This compressed the shifter and made it stuck.
I *loosen the 2 screws* on the top shifter cover, and *1 screw* underneath the shifter, and the issue was resolved.
Hope that helps!
Thanks for sharing! These screws can be the reason as well. For us that wasn't the reason as you can see at 5:55. It didn't work even with top plate off.
But checking the screws is for sure the first thing to do!
Yup, I saw that in your video. I got the inspiration of the screws could have been too tight from your video, as you indicated that there is a specific torque value when tightening the screws. The screws were super tight on mine.
As mine is not the original Brompton, maybe the material is different such that the internal components didn't expand as much? Or maybe it the internal component expansion comes later? My bike is quite new, I owned it for several months. Time will tell and I will report here. :)
Oliver, Thanks from Portugal! Problem fixed and back on the road!
Glad it helped! 👍
Thank you. You saved me a lot of headache. The shifter is very frustrating. Thanks again
I'm glad this helped you! Keep on pedaling!
Figured out this friction problem on a 2018 Brompton before finding this video. Problem occured in Belgium, not particularly a hot/humid country. The outer gear shifter was affected, not the hub gear shifter. Will continue to monitor...Brompton could have done a better job on endurance/wear testing. But I'm still very fond of my Bromptons.
Agreed! It's only a minor but annoying detail, which could/should have been prevented. Greetings to Belgium!
Thank you so much for this video! I've been struggling with this problem for ages. I hope it's finally fixed. Happy cycling!
I'm happy this helped you! 👍
My Brompton is having the same problem as well. Will try it out later. Thank you for the helpfull vid! ✌️
Thank you, i have the same shifting issue, and had been tinkering mainly on the derailleur. Good thing, i have not dismantled the back end yet, and have found your video. I will definitely try your approach, fix the shifter. :) Thanks and ride safely!
I'm glad the video saved you some time! Hopefully it will fix your problems. Happy cycling!
Brilliant!!! We just received our 2021 Bromptons. Thanks to you we may never have this problem, but if we do, we’ll know how to fix it. Thank you so much, and safe travels to you both!
Congratulations! 🎉 Are you planning on touring with them?
Susan and I are mid to late sixties. I (the older one) would consider touring, but Susan is more of a weekend explorer. We will travel with the bikes (Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal, maybe Florida), but that’s about it I think. Miracles are always possible. I started commuting on a Vespa at 58 :)
Miracles are possible! We met a couple in the sixties on a tandem in the Australian Outback and a 77 year old solo cyclist. But everyone has its own way! The Bromptons are great for traveling with them. 👍
Hi I live here in middle east. I guess it was a really hot and humid day today. my shifter starts to show this symptom as well. the gear would not shift swiftly. I just got my bike a week ago. thanks a lot Oliver
You're welcome! I guess it can happen quickly. Brompton had to deal with the problem after sales on the first day of the opening of the Singapore Junction Store. For us it took two weeks to occur...
@@oliverwilhelm i will monitor how it goes and prepare all the tools i would be needing have to do a lot of minor maintenance by my own since i live where there is no authorise service centre. your post really help.
cheers
Thanks for your video on the gear shifter, Oliver!
Mate, thanks for the most valuable tips and informed Brompton abt that problem. Hope u hv a lot of fun in Bali!
Thank you for the video, it helped my a lot to on the way to solve this annoying problem. I do not think that Brompton look this problem as seriously as they should. This problem does not happen in some countries only... 😝
I am glad that Shimano is not using as much plastic as Brompton does.
Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad it helped you! 👍
Many thanks for taking the time to make the video Oliver. My 2019 bike has been affected by this, same as you I thought it was dirt building up at the back, but it was actually the shifter. I'm in the North West of the UK, no extreme weather here. It was straightforward to sand as you showed, so hopefully they will stay free for sometime now.
Many thanks for your feedback! Another case from the UK... Once you've done the procedure you should be good. Enjoy your Brompton! 🚴
@@oliverwilhelm This issue came back for me recently. After sitting in a cold and humid garage (typical in UK!) the shifter friction came back. I moved the shifter into the house and warmed it up, after a few hours it was completely free again. So seems to confirm it is temperature/humidity related.
Thanks again for your feedback! So, it definitely has to do with material expansion due to weather conditions... as expected. Just strange that it happened due to heat in our case and due to coldness in your case!? Kind of a magical plastic...
@@oliverwilhelm Yes! To add a bit more detail, I actually warmed it up on the radiator first, to the point where the whole shifter was quite warm to touch. While warm, it was still stiff. However an hour or so later, when it had returned to room temperature (and possibly dried out) it became free.
Great, thanks for sharing the details!
... really liked the video: good technical diagnosis and fix, then well filmed and edited. well done :)
Thanks, it was a lot of work... But worth it if it helps others!
I've got this problem, won't shift up to the big cog, after literally 2 days on a brand new bike. nice video thanks
So, it's still the same problem on the newest generation Bromptons!? I haven't had my hands on one of the new bikes.
@@oliverwilhelm Mine's a 2022 model C line 6 speed, I don't think the design has changed. Luckily I've got a good bike work stand as I've had it up to try and get the gears adjusted after my first 200 metre trial run and after each ride since (I'm one week into riding it). All we've got to play with are the limit screws and the cable tension. I thought I had it as good as it could get, worked ok-ish but then after about 30 minutes refused to shift into the big cog. Last night I just randomly played with cable tension and stop screws and after about 20 minutes of spinning and trying to shift it started working pretty good. I'll see how long that lasts and then take a closer look at your advice
@@grahamphillips3099 Thanks for the feedback. That's actually annoying...
Brilliant video, thank you!
Thanks for the video! I have the identical bike and identical problem! You made it look way easier than it was but lots of sanding and a sore back later it works beautifully 😊
Yeah, that's the magic of video... I'm glad you made it anyway! 👍😁
Thank you so much - you saved me days in troubleshooting 👍🏼
Valuable tips. Experiencing it now on my v3.
Thank you for your excellent video - helped me tackle a sticking shifter on my M2L (2018 UK)
Great, I'm happy it helped you!
Thanks a lot for this vdo.
It just hapened to me here in Thailand. Without your help I could not find the origin of the problem. Now Solved!
We were clouless as well...I am glad this helped you save some time and trouble! Greetings from Koh Phangan 👋
@@oliverwilhelm If you come near Sattahip let me know. This is where I live
@@oliverwilhelm Hi, Are you still in Koh pha Ngan?
If you like to travel, I can suggest you a nice trip. I know the place quite well.
From KPG, you can go to Koh Tao.
From Koh Tao you go to Chumpon
From the pier, with your Brompton you go north to Haad thung wua laen (haad mean beach. It s a very nice place with bungalows for rent.
Then you continue North. Try to follow the coast as much as possible. You'll cross very nice place. You'll find bungalows every where. Have a look at Ban Saphan, spend few days in Dolphin bay. The place is beautiful with amazing caves.
Then continue to Pranburi, Hua Hin, Cha am, Petchaburi (Rama 5 king palace must be seen)
If you continue to bangkok you must stop in Amphawa which has a real floating market. Nothing to compare with Damnoen saduak a tourist market. Just check on the web when are the market days.
I Hope you'll enjoy
Thank you so much for your suggestions! 🙏😊 Yes, we are still in Koh Phangan. But unfortunately we don't have our Bromptons with us in Thailand... I got sick before we headed for Sri Lanka, so we left our Bromptons in Bali where they are waiting for us. But we have been traveling in the north of Thailand as well and we would love to come back with the bikes and probably cycle north to south. Thailand seems real nice to be explored on a bicycle! 😍
@@oliverwilhelm
www.polarsteps.com/ThierryCercleron
I've not been lucky enough to ride my brompton in any humid weather, but the shifters did start sticking when I rode the bike in heavy rain. Once the bike had dried, the shifters returned to normal.
Thanks for the feedback! Maybe the same, maybe another reason... 🤔
Amazingly high quality video
Excellent informative video. Thank you Willhelm.
I'm glad this was only a push iron. Not sure most people could cope with all these operations
İ had similar problem as i visited Boden-See .so i just played with the cable on the gear ..then it worked again...that happened to me also when i was in a humid area ( Bodensee)
you’re life saver, this video will be in my playlist. Thanks
I have never had this problem with my Brompton, this said I am going to guess that you may have a very slight manufacturing defect when the part was created. Machining, overtime, also reaches atrophy and the tolerances will be off and needs to be corrected. You and your wife may have purchased the Brompton bicycles close to manufacture times and this might be why this happened. At times we all get a lemon luckily yours is a easy part replacement under warranty. Obtain the new part(s) which I’m sure the tolerances will be better and take them with you on the next vacation. Brompton’s are AWESOME and this was rare.
That is a possibility! But if you look at the comments, this doesn't seem to be rare and is happening with different production charges.
And it wouldn't change the fact that the shifters could have been built better (other materials).
But the Bromptons are still awesome. It's just like buying a Porsche and the shift stick is made from cheap plastic... 😉😅
Let me know if you're interested in showing our Brompton gear modification (12 gears with 519% gear spread) and Brompton tubeless conversion. Till the next video you can find some detailed information about the modifications in a Facebook post:
smartveganlife.social/brompton-mods-1 (you can read it without a Facebook account)
Hi Oliver, I am interested
Would like info. spread between gears on S6L with BWR is too wide. Did you just put a double ring up front?
SA 5speed/10speed said to be hard to adjust and Schlumpf is heavy
@@crasavendano Hi Cesar, at the moment we are still traveling, so I don't know when I will have time to do the video. But we did a quite detailed Facebook post with our modifications, which might help you already: smartveganlife.social/brompton-mods-1 (you can read it without a Facebook account)
Let me know when you need more information.
@@whazzat8015 The easiest would be to read our Facebook post, where we describe the modification quite detailed:
smartveganlife.social/brompton-mods-1 (you can read it without a Facebook account)
The Schlumpf is actually not too heavy. About 300-400 grams more compared to the factory setup. From my research it is actually one of the lightest ways to increase the gearing.
Über die Kack Schaltung rege ich mich auch jedesmal auf. Bei schlechtem Wetter stellt sie einfach ihren Dienst ein...
Very useful video, my derailleur is playing up and the problem seems to be at the shifter end, had the shifter apart and got the spring back in the wrong place (d'oh!) so will have to have another go at it. I'm not convinced heat is the problem - I'm in Wales - but humidity could easily be something to do with it. Anyways, the shifter is very stiff and the cable isn't moving as it should, now I have something to go at to try and fix it!
Good luck! I hope this will fix your problems. We just completed 4000 km through Australia, no more problems with the shifters.
Well, it's taken me a while to get round to it with work commitments and other things going on, but today I finally took the shifter apart, cleaned, sanded, lubricated and put it all back together as shown in your excellent video. I'm just back from a test ride and am pleased to say that the derailleur now works perfectly once more. Thank you once again, Oliver.
@@danowen7670 Awesome, I am happy for you! Thanks for your feedback. Keep on cycling! 👍
Gracias funciono perfectamente
Just in time before I start touring. Thx!
Awesome! I hope you will not need it... 🤞 Where are you heading?
Excellent clear instructions abdideo!
... should read “...and video!”
Thanks for your feedback! 🙏
Well done mate 😍🥰 , we couldn’t do without 😓
I'm glad it helped you! 👍
Excellent video!!
Thanks for your appreciation! We would have saved a lot of time if we would have had such a video, so we hope others can profit from it.
What an absolutely awesome video. Thanks!
Perfect video and thanks for sharing
Thanks for the feedback! Hope it helps!
Thank you, Great video, and explanations
Hi Oliver, thanks very much for making such as great video. I followed your steps for the hub gear shifter. Unfortunately, I still have to force the shifter from 3 to 2. Would you have any ideas as to why? Do you think I should sand the parts more? Thanks in advance.
thank you very much!
Brilliant job mate
Excellent and very informative
I'm glad if I could help! Thanks!
Same problem here after one day of use. Mine affects the 3 speed shifter - on the right. It seems the metal bit in the shifter may be a bit too big.
Amazing video - thank you for helping me to solve the same issue! Kind regards
You're welcome! I am glad I could help! Where are you located to have the same issue?
I am in the U.K. and it happened on a ride to work in the 30c heat with over 70% humidity
@@lukemyth6852 That's interesting...! Thanks for sharing.
I love you mate! Thank you for the video, it saved me hours of time!
Amazing video! Massive help. Vielen dank!
You're welcome! 😊
Oliver, I would vote you as CEO of Brompton. Brompton should be embarrassed for designing a part that gives such issues within such a short time. My Brompton has similar issues, that’s after 24months and I’ve not used it much! Personally, l’ll not recommend a Brompton to anyone. Overpriced, too complicated and can’t handle it when the going gets a little tough!
Your video is great and thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you! 🙏😅 First of all, I don't want the job and second of all, Will Adams-Butler is genuinely a great guy! It is disappointing and should not happen, correct. But they surely didn't do it on purpose. A miscalculation, possibly.
I would still recommend the Brompton if you can afford it. If problems like this occur, let the dealer fix it. We were in a foreign country with no official dealer, so we had to fix it ourselves.
The Brompton actually can handle more than you think. My wife and I cycled 4000 km on our Bromptons through the Outback of Australia with up to 40kg of cargo! It doesn't get tougher than that... Not a single problem with the Brompton!
Let your dealer handle this and enjoy your Brompton! 🤗
Glad to hear your +ve comments on the Brompton; I can certainly appreciate you not wanting that job! Quite often its a thankless task!
My dealer has unfortunately gone bust; I did contact Brompton and they said gears have a 2yr warranty. The gear issues on my bike showed up shorty after the warranty period ended. I'll be studying your video more closely and see if I can fix it.
Thanks again for your reply and original post. Best wishes and I look forward if/when you post any more Brompton videos. Cheers 🍻
Thank you, very helpful, problem fixed!
Great, I'm glad it helped you!
I jave this problem also after pressure cleaning my bike coz of heavy rain may rear derailleur shifting is late. And the shifter is not springy anymore.
fascinating diagnosis and repair and the love the t-shirt 👍🏼🐷🐑🐮
Thank you!,appreciated since I am a crew member & carry my bike around our flying routes.Awesome explanation!
That's nice! I'm glad this helped you!
Thanks!! I have got mine fixed!
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback! 🙏😊
We had exactly the same issue in Ireland with 2 brand new Bromptons after 30 minutes of light rain, so I don't think it is just humidity/ heat. A month later the England Brompton dealer replaced both shifters, no questions, and remarked it has been an issue right from 2017. Just poor quality components.
Thanks for the feedback! I haven't had a chance yet to take a look at the new models from this year (2022) but I hope they changed the shifter as well, so that this isn't an issue anymore.
Mine is from August 2022 and has exactly the same issue after 3 months, so issues are not solved unfortunately… I live in England so definitely not an issue of high temperatures. Thanks for the video👍👍
@@noze02 something I haven't looked into yet, but hidden behind each shifter is a tiny little hole directly into the shifter body which definitely let water inside; it is intended to feed a replacement shifter cable thru; I may consider a rubber plug for when mostly not required
@@AndrewJamesHeard thanks for the advice, I will look into it👍👍
Ok, thanks for the feedback! Good (or rather unfortunate) to know.