Slipping/sliding/jumping/ghosting gears on a new Platypus

[meti...@gmail.com]

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

[Josh C]

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. 

[ian m]

Had this same issue on two bikes running Silver shifters. My Crust Lightning Bolt (w/ 8spd cassette) and my wife's Hillborne. Many broken plastic washers and tubes of loctite later, the only real fix was replacing the shifters. I went with Campy shift/brake levers and we put Dura-ace bar ends on the Hillborne. I highly recommended those for friction use.

On Monday, January 6, 2025 at 10:45:30 AM UTC-5 meti...@gmail.com wrote:

[Bill Lindsay]

"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."

I'm trying to comprehend what this means.  I'll take it to mean you are coasting.  If you are coasting, with your feet stationary, and you observe the chain moving around -or- "floating", that's a rear cassette body issue.  The freewheeling mechanism in the rear hub is too tight and can't coast freely.  So when you coast, the rotating wheel continues to PUSH the chain along, making it highly random whether it is engaged in a particular gear when you start pedaling again.  It makes perfect sense for this to be worse in HIGHER gears (smaller rear cogs) because smaller cogs give that sticky free hub more leverage to push the chain along.  

Here is the test to confirm this is going on.  

1. Shift the bike to the very highest gear: biggest chain ring in front, smallest cog in back.  

2. Put the bike in the work stand.  If you don't have a work stand, have a friend hold the rear wheel up in the air

3. grab the rear tire and gently spin the rear wheel forward 

4. In this set up, the rear wheel should smoothly rotate forward, and the crankset should remain stationary.  If the cranks are moving, that's a problem

5. If the cranks are moving in #4, then have your friend block the cranks from moving with their leg while they hold the rear wheel up

6. Spin the wheel forward again. Does the chain "droop" onto the drive side chain stay?  does the chain "float" or skip on the rear gears?

My mechanic's instinct is that those results of the above steps could confirm you've got a sticky free-hub.  If that's what you've got going on, that will be your first problem to address.  There are a number of things that could be a root cause to that symptom, and it would take a mechanic you trust to get in there.  If your Atlantis and Platypus have the same wheel diameter, you could just swap rear wheels and confirm the coasting problem follows the wheel.  

Given your problems while pedaling, it is entirely possible you have another problem as well, but this particular one has a unique signature.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[J J]

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. 

[bill la via]

Mine does the same thing and I’m using shimano thumbies. I think it’s the hub based on the way it feels but haven’t investigated. 

-Bill

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[meti...@gmail.com]

Oh gosh…it seems I have some detective work cut out for me, but I do see some hope for resolution.

I’m gonna try to diagnose the problem by using Bill “tapebubba’s” suggestion first…just as soon as I can shovel a path to my garage. :) 

I’ll let you know what I find. 

Until Bill “schralp” said he’s got this same issue while using Shimano thumbies, I was leaning simply toward replacing the Silver Shifters, but now I’m not sure that’s the culprit. I wish I could simply replace the shifters and fix the problem and ride happily ever after and never look back…I guess I always want the easiest fastest fix, but then I don’t learn much. 

I’d love to forward this thread to the mechanics at my bike shop but I have to figure out how to do that. 

Liz in Cincinnati

[meti...@gmail.com]

Today my bike mechanics (with me looking on) determined that the rear hub freewheels nicely without wobble or sticking. Next up, we’re gonna change the cassette. And then I think we’re gonna go on a ride together. :)

Liz

[Bill Lindsay]

It's good to check off things that don't need fixing.  Did your mechanic have any thoughts about your reported symptom of the chain floating around and landing wherever it wants when you are not pedaling?  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Mike Rossi]

When I experience shifting problems, the first thing I check is the rear derailleur hanger. To make sure it’s not misaligned. During shipping, it may have gotten bent.

[John Rinker]

Hello Liz,

After you've tried the very sage advice already given (except getting rid of your Silver Shifters!), if you're still having problems perhaps you can look at the derailleur hanger and make sure it's not slightly bent. 

Your ghost shifting in the 'highest 3 gears' is the opposite of my ghost shifting in the 3 lowest gear, but mine also occurred going up or cresting hills. In the end, I discovered that this issue was fixed when I diagnosed a bent hanger and straightened it.

I also have Silver Shifters and these were definitely not the problem in my case.

Cheers, John

[meti...@gmail.com]

Bill: the mechanics felt that the floating/ghosting is perhaps a symptom of the chain and the cassette not working well together…perhaps imperceptible wear (which, of course, there should be almost no wear at this point) or some slight misalignment/imperfection in the cogs were occasionally throwing the chain off its path. They’ve already adjusted cables, etc…all the things they do to keep from replacing part. They’ve done this work at no charge. 

We’ve now replaced the chain with the Shimano chain. That didn’t fix it, so their next and lowest-cost replacement will be the cassette. 

Mike and John: I have a feeling they’ve looked at the derailleur hanger, but, of course, I don’t know…I’ll contact them today to kindly remind them to take a moment with that. 

Y’all, when the bike is on the stand, it purrs like a kitten as it goes through its shifting paces. It’s beautiful to watch and to hear. This is an issue that occurs only in real-life, rolling-hill work. And right now Cincinnati’s  covered in snow with so much salt on the roads that I hesitate to expose my pretty bike to it. So it might be some time for the salt and ice clear enough to test the Platy on for-real hills,, but I’ll keep you updated. 

I’m trying to figure out way to celebrate this entire group for your help. :)

Liz

[Mathias Steiner]

I commute on a bike with Shimano 8-speed bar-end shifters and an old wheel with a seven-speed cassette. Which the jumps between cogs are nearly identical, and according to Sheldon, indexing should work fine.

Here's the thing: the tallest four gears, which is where I spend most of my time, shift flawlessly and easily, in friction or indexing mode. As soon as I push the chain up to cog #5, it wants to shift between 5 and 6, the chain slips, and it's nearly impossible to adjust the shifter so it sits in one gear for long. Even in friction mode.

>> Y’all, when the bike is on the stand, it purrs like a kitten as it goes through its shifting paces.

Right. That's what happens when I try figure it out in the garage. It's infuriating to then get on the bike and have problems.

>> is perhaps a symptom of the chain and the cassette not working well together…perhaps imperceptible wear

That's mechanic speak for "I don't have a clue what's going on." 

In my case, it may actually be worn cogs in the spinny gears from my younger days. Hard to tell visually with STI teeth, and since it's the salt season, I'm not throwing on a new cassette and chain until April. The derailleur hanger may not be perfectly aligned -- it's a mass-market Gordon BLT and I didn't adjust it when I built up the frame -- but then why does it work so well for the small cogs?

I just loosened the nut holding the shifter together, switched to friction, and then tightened the nut, hard. It's easier to slip with more tension on the cable, which you get with the shorter gears, so now that will definitely not happen. I'll report back if I learn anything.

Mathias "Vexed by the Index" Steiner

East Lansing, MI

[Tom Wyland]

No one has mentioned doing a derailleur hanger alignment.  I have one of the park tools but I won't be up to MTL anytime soon to lend it to you (my daughter lives there). This alignment should be done to rule out any issue with wheel/derailleur alignment. I did this on my Platy when it was delivered. I recall there was a small misalignment.

I've run Silver shifter 2 with a 9 speed cassette on my Platy. The only time I've had some shifting sloppiness, I just changed out the derailleur for another (cheap Altus one) and it went away. I'm super religious about checking chain wear and replacing the chain regularly, though.

Tom

Reston, VA

[JohnS]

FWIW, I once installed a RD cable incorrectly such that a strand of the cable did not exit the cable housing to the RD. The loose cable strand bunched up inside of the cable housing which I could not see, but caused all sorts of shifting issues. It became obvious when I disconnected the cable from the RD and tried to slide the cable housing back and forth along the cable, it was binding. Replacing the cable fixed the problem.

JohnS

[Laing Conley]

Like Mike said, first thing to check is the derailleur hanger alignment. 

Laing Conley 

Delray Beach FL

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[Tom Wyland]

Yes, I stand corrected.  What Mike said.

[Liz Tilton]

The derailleur hanger has been checked and is straight. And as of today I have a new cassette. 

I’ve heard from James at Rivendell who mentioned blue Loctite and also said that a worn cog could cause the slipping so he also suggested a new cassette. 

I haven’t taken my test ride yet because, as Mathias said, “it’s salt season” (which made me laugh). 

My mechanics now want to make my test ride a group ride, which thrills me to no end, and I’d love you all to join us. :)

(Looks like more snow is on its way, so it could take a while before I can report back about it.)

Liz in Cincinnati

Sent with delight from my iPhone

On Jan 8, 2025, at 2:26 PM, Tom Wyland <tomw...@gmail.com> wrote:

Yes, I stand corrected.  What Mike said.

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[bill la via]

Hooray. I am interested to hear if it’s solved even though I lost my Platypus to fire last night…

-Bill

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[John Rinker]

Hey Liz,

I must speak for more than a few of us when I say I'd love to see a photo of your Platy! Perhaps on the group ride, or with your mechanics, or whatever. It's always such a pleasure to put a picture with a story.

And speaking of stories, Bill, I'm sorry your Platy is gone. How did your Platy succumb to fire? 

John

[bill la via]

Whole town burned in apocalyptic firestorm. Lost more that just the platy. 

-Bill

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[meti...@gmail.com]

Bill and others in the path of destruction, I’m so so so sorry about the unbelievable fires and the losses because of them. “Apocalyptic” is right. In the face of the pain  you’re experiencing now, our other “problems” bleach in comparison. Please know how many of us are watching from afar and are thinking of you and will be ready to help when we can. 

Liz in Cincinnati

[Liz Tilton]

For John Winker…here’s a link to my Platypus, purchased from and built up by C&L Cycles in Montreal. Thanks for asking to see it! 

Sent with delight from my iPad

On Jan 9, 2025, at 5:54 AM, meti...@gmail.com <meti...@gmail.com> wrote:

Bill and others in the path of destruction, I’m so so so sorry about the unbelievable fires and the losses because of them. “Apocalyptic” is right. In the face of the pain  you’re experiencing now, our other “problems” bleach in comparison. Please know how many of us are watching from afar and are thinking of you and will be ready to help when we can. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a0525ff5-4080-4cc6-befb-1126a6eefa05n%40googlegroups.com.

[Ryan]

I am not sure why the cassette which is virtually new, needed replacement. Unless it's a QC issue. However, if the new cassette fixed your issue, great!

[John Rinker]

Thank you, Liz! What a beee-utiful bicycle! Yowza! I do hope the cassette change fixes your issue as I can imagine how annoying it must be to cruise along on such an excellent bicycle that doesn't perform as well as it looks.

Bill, I had no idea about the fires in LA. I'm so sorry. I hope you and your family suffered no greater loss than property. What a tragedy.

John

[JohnS]

Liz,

I know this maybe after the fact, but your original post reminded me of Eric Marth's issue under the subject, "Tried and liked: Suntour Cyclone Pretzel". There he reported the chain was jumping/skipping/slipping. Turns out the problem was due to the cassette lock ring being loose. You've already had the cassette replaced, but maybe you could ask the mechanic if he/she recalls the lock ring being loose when they replaced the cassette.

JohnS

[Eric Marth]

Hi Liz — I'm late to the conversation. JohnS! Wow, what a memory! He's here to share what came to mind reading about your issue. 

I had a similar ghost shifting issue with my Hillborne. It was driving me up the wall. Shifted great in the repair stand, all seemed well. When I put the drivetrain under load when pedaling the chain would slip cogs, float and shift. I didn't experience any drooping or movement in the shift levers. 

I'm a ho-hum mechanic and after a few days of frustrated tweaking in my shed I took it to my friends at the local bike shop. They had a look and didn't get it figured out. They were focused on aligning the derailer hanger. 

Turned out the cassette lock ring was loose! I figured this out in my shed, I believe someone on this forum or Instagram gave me the suggestion. Can't remember who! In my case the lock ring come loose in a crash. 

On many cassettes the smallest few cogs are loose in the stack and they're held in place by the cassette lock ring. Often the largest cogs are connected to one another as a unit. In the image below we see the smallest three cogs are loose, the remaining 6 cogs are pinned together. This could explain why your drivetrain is slipping in the smallest three gears when under load. It might also explain why the chain wants to move on its own, if the cogs are loose the chain might move with them. 

All of this said, and no shade on your LBS, but I could see (possibly... potentially) a mechanic embarrassed by overlooking a mistake like this and not copping to it. Whoever replaced the cassette would certainly notice if the lock ring was loose, as JohnS mentioned. 

Best of luck getting it sorted , Liz. Let us know how it all works out :0) 

Eric in Old Virginia

[Eric Daume]

I've had cases where the freehub body was too wide for the cassette without a spacer in the back. In this case, even if the lockring was tightened, the cassette was still loose.

Eric

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[Eric Daume]

It looks like it's an 8 speed cassette on an 11 speed hub, so the missing spacer might be an issue.

[meti...@gmail.com]

Not only do some of your replies terrify me but they also give me hope…great tension there, friends. :) I’m rooting for hope…hope that all these insights eventually solve this problem so I can go about my usual way of NOT thinking about my bicycle as I ride it.

Ryan: yeah, it’s counterintuitive to replace a brand new cassette which shouldn’t be in bad shape, but we did it anyway…just covering all the bases.

Eric Marth: your derailleur pictures look horrifying to me! But it gives me hope that you, too, experienced this same issue, and now you don’t. Hopefully, the cassette replacement on my Platy would have turned up a loose lock ring…if it did, I’m almost sure my bike-mechanic guys would have told me. IDK.. And it’s super helpful to see the image you sent in conjunction with your explanation. I never set out to learn this stuff, but I’m taking it all in. And I’m really glad you’re okay after your mishap. 

Eric Daume: I can’t quite understand if you’re referring to my cassette (which is 9 gears) or Eric Marth’s cassette. Either way, I’ll somehow tactfully question my bike guys if my cassette/hub arrangement might need a spacer. 

Liz, who intends to take a test ride this week, in Cincinnati

[John Robert Williams]

Happy New Year Liz!

How frustrating for you!

There a a few issues/questions:

Are you riding a 1x or 2x chainring set up?

Has the rear derailleur alignment been checked? (The dropout?)

Are the two jockey wheels aligned?

If you stand behind the parked bike, in the lowest gear, close one eye and imagine a line strait up and down where the chain comes up off the two wheels. If it’s cocked in any way, that can lead to the ghost shifts. It can also be the jockey wheels aren’t lubed or aren’t the proper ones for your shift system. 

Are you certain that the rear cable is free of any possible crimps, (like under the bottom bracket?) Do you have a kick stand mounted? If so, look carefully at the cables adjacent to the kickstand and that the cables do NOT touch the kickstand or its bracket. It’s often overlooked. 

Another test- grab the rear bare shift cable and see if that shifts and overrides the shifters. (You may need to put your bike on a stationary trainer).  

Last check- make certain you don’t have a modern 11-12 speed chain on the bike. It takes the older, wider chain on these wider spaced freewheels/cassettes. 

Good luck!

(I wish I had a Platypus, 60, Ana Purple)

JRW

On Mon, Jan 6, 2025 at 10:45 AM meti...@gmail.com <meti...@gmail.com> 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

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[meti...@gmail.com]

Good Friday morning, friends. 

I took a beautiful ride on my new Platy yesterday…yes, there is still salt and some ice on the roads and snow is everywhere, but temps were in the 20s and I decided to get the bike out anyway. I don’t want to be so persnickety about a bicycle that I can’t ride it. I’ll pamper it later on. 

We initially put a new chain on it, but the gears still slipped. 

Next, we replaced the cassette and also added the dab of blue Locktite everyone suggested to the D ring of the shifter, and the 30-minute ride following those changes proved to solve the shifting issue but turned up a new audible and palpable thumping when in one single gear. My hero mechanics filed down a nub on the new chain and the thumping disappeared. 

I’m convinced my initial slipping/ghost-shifting problem has been solved…either by replacing the cassette or by the Locktite or the combination of those two.  

Here’s a decision I  might question myself on later—my mechanics and I have  lost some confidence in these Silver shifters on my bike, y’all. I can’t help it. And I’m not speaking badly about the shifters or other bicycles or cyclists who find they work well…I’m speaking only of my bike and these shifter and me. 

Each time the bike is on the stand, when the mechanics shift through the gears, even they have to WORK and fiddle to get the higher gears to settle into gear. Is that making sense? The shifters seem too stiff in those highest gears, and it takes too much finagling and kid-glove handling to get things to work right. I’m not into that kind of riding—I want to shift as I always shift…I’m a competent enough rider and I’ve been at this a long time and I know how to shift and I don’t want to effing think about being careful in the higher gears—so we’re replacing the shifters. I’ll be out of town for a week or two, and when I return, I should have new shifters. They might not work well either…I don’t know. But we’re gonna try it. 

Liz, and that’s that,  in Cincinnati

[Eric Daume]

Are you keeping with friction shifting, or going indexed?

Eric

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[Liz Tilton]

Good question, Eric! We’re gonna try Microshifts that can be switched to go with either way. I use similar friction/index shifters on my Atlantis and always keep them switched to friction, the mode I prefer. 

Sent with delight from my iPhone

On Jan 17, 2025, at 7:39 AM, Eric Daume <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

Are you keeping with friction shifting, or going indexed?

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[Doug H.]

Liz,

I have been down the same path with Silver 2 shifters. I really wanted them to work for me but in the end I changed to Microshift. No more slipping.

Doug

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[Michael Connors]

I read in the bike shop's description that they used brake housing for the shifters. The reason they can do that is because you can fiddle with the shifters as the cables compress or expand. If you change to indexed shifting be sure to change the housings.

[J J]

Liz, it sounds like you and your shop went through a comprehensive (and possibly costly) process of elimination. I'm sorry you've been so frustrated. As I mentioned in a previous message, I,  like Doug, have been through this process before. There was no sustainable middle space between the shifters being too loose that they kept slipping and being clamped down so tight that they were hard to shift comfortably.

I agree that this does not impugn the shifters themselves. They are great for lots and lots of people. I enjoy fiddling and mechanical tweaking, but I have a saturation point. I'd much rather be riding the bike than fiddling with it. There are other great options that "just work" for me and there's no shame in moving on.

Jim

[Eric Marth]

Hi Liz — I'm happy to hear your shifting issues are resolving! I would have been a little frustrated by the thumping new chain, glad that's fixed. 

When my chain was jumping I didn't have any problems with the Silver 1 shifters slipping. I used the same shifters before and after my accident. 

Looking back at my notes it seems I couldn't tell by feel that the cassette lock ring was loose. And I didn't carefully inspect it before I removed and replaced it. So it's possible it was loose enough to cause problems but perhaps not evident under the wrench when it was removed. 

Bit of a tangent: I find Silver 1s and 2s work well for me. I haven't found them overly fussy or irritating to use. The fiddling you describe sounds like no fun and I think you're right to swap them out. Shifting should be somewhere between a brainless non-issue and fun. Maybe you got a bad batch?

I have had other issues with the Silvers, though. The d-ring wingnut comes loose but beeswax solves that for me. The plastic washers can crack. I have encountered corrosion before inside the shifter body, gumming up the internal ratchet and spring mechanisms with chalky powder. I was able to disassemble and clean them but unfortunately the head of the shifter cable welded to the shifter body via corrosion so the lever was trash. I hope that corrosion problems are rare and unique to me. I worry my shed is accelerating corrosion with weird moisture problems. 

Glad you're back on the road. Let us know when you get the Microshift units installed! 

Eric  

[Garth]

Before you totally give up on the shifters, you could try shaving some rosin between the inside of the outer cap and the outer side of the inner plastic washer. Rosin adds grip, it's used by string instrumentalists and baseball pitchers. It comes commonly in a solid clear amber form, and it's a hard chunk that you can shave off into a powder. It's made from pine tree sap, which if you've ever touched it is very sticky !

I read about it here, as vintage Campy shifters are also prone to slip. https://cycling-obsession.com/vintage-campagnolo-super-record-friction-shift-levers-review/

The Sprint shift levers which the Silver models copy, have always been best as DT shifters, from my experience. Suntour thumbies hold gears notably better because the entire innards are a larger diameter.

Try some rosin before ditching them !

[Mackenzy Albright]

I've absolutely had issues with Silver Shifters on thumb pods (or bar end) giving issues with slippage. My solution:  Reverse Rapid-rise derailer. For some reason it just plays better with the ratcheting action especially when the spring is under more tension. I found regular shifters, especially with a strong spring in a high gear, want to pull the shifter down. It drove me nuts. 

Now that I think about it - I have a developed a tendency to fuss with the tension on the shifter while I am riding even with the RRR der. If I am running in a higher gear over bumpy terrain I will still "snug" it up so it's quite stiff and I can just leave it. If I am shifting often through the city with lights and traffic I will loosen it slightly so it's easier to bump up and down. It's fairly second nature at this point. I am totally happy with my shifting setup and wouldn't change it for anything otherwise at this point.

I will also do my best to never own a regular shifter at this point. heh. 

[schralp]

John-

Thanks, I’ve been caught up in recovery mode for a while. Back on my feet finally and, thanks to Will at Riv, back on a bike. I was planning to pick up a Clem in last weeks sale but when he heard about my plight, he offered a demo Clem to buy that they had in the shop. Of course I jumped at the chance and picked it up in WC when taking my daughter back to school nearby. So nice to be back up and riding so soon after our total loss. Have had to dodge the bad air, recent rains and likely the flu from too much time spent in disaster recovery center with thousands of others but just being able to get out and ride on a gorgeous Clem almost makes up for the loss of my beloved platy. For now though, my apartment living situation makes me a one bike guy. And, thanks to Will and the good folks at Riv, that’s a Clem in British Racing Green. So thankful for their help!