Shifters

I recently bought a set of 11 speed Brifters - ST-4600 - and in the
"Operation of rear derailleur lever" instructions received with the
shifters I find a note:

"A special grease is used for the gear shifting cable. Do not use
DURA-ACE grease or other types of grease, otherwise they may cause
deterioration in gear shifting performance."

Is there something different about Shimano 11 speed shifters? I ask as
I can't remember ever using anything to lube shifter cables, at least
not since they invented plastic lined cables, and don't remember ever
having a shifter problem that was cable related.

An additional problem is that the same document, that instructs me Not
to use Dura-Ace grease, doesn't mention what type, other than it is
"special" to use :-)
--
Cheers,

John B.

On 10/7/2014 6:20 AM, John B. Slocomb wrote:

I recently bought a set of 11 speed Brifters - ST-4600 - and in the
"Operation of rear derailleur lever" instructions received with the
shifters I find a note:

"A special grease is used for the gear shifting cable. Do not use
DURA-ACE grease or other types of grease, otherwise they may cause
deterioration in gear shifting performance."

Is there something different about Shimano 11 speed shifters? I ask as
I can't remember ever using anything to lube shifter cables, at least
not since they invented plastic lined cables, and don't remember ever
having a shifter problem that was cable related.

An additional problem is that the same document, that instructs me Not
to use Dura-Ace grease, doesn't mention what type, other than it is
"special" to use :-)
--
Cheers,

John B.


As the amount of gear wire travel per shift decreases,
losses and friction matter more. A shimano 5 index setup
with a top shifter works just fine with the spiral brake
housing supplied. By the time you get to eleven, everything
(such as thinner smoother wires, stiffer longitudinal casing
etc) should be optimized for smallest loss. That said, a
wipe of the wire with gear oil works well, anything sticky
works less well.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971