Rear shifter not connected to tensioned cable?

[insurgasaurus]

Hey all, odd problem I've got. I recently bought a used mountian bike with a shimano ST-EF50-8R 22.2 shifter. It shifted fairly well, but I my eagerness to make it perfect i unhooked the cable to adjust the high and low set skrews while following this ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH43OCmArUw&index=2&list=FL3OLIpvvHxxrG9qN3VCg4JA ) video. It went fine, up untill i reconnected the cable. At that point, I notice two things.

One: When i pulled the cable tight, it was around 3/4 of an inch farther back than before, and I couldn't pull it any further (pic will make this clearer).

Two: My rear shifter now will not change gears at all, and pulling the "gear up" trigger does nothing. I uploaded a video to show what I mean:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQzT0kw00Ls
I feel like this is the real culprit, and somehow when I detensioned the cable something came loose in the shifter.

The attatched picture shows the cable at tension, but the clean part showing means that it was previously farther toward the back of the bike, and I can't pull it in any more. Not sure if this matters.

Thank you for your advice!
Ben

[nfmisso]

With the cable looking like that, before riding the bike; I would replace all the cables and housings.

Best guess as to what happened is that when you re-attached the cable to the RD, the shifter was in the lowest gear - it should of been in the highest gear.

[insurgasaurus]

(03-30-2014, 08:25 PM)nfmisso Wrote:  With the cable looking like that, before riding the bike; I would replace all the cables and housings.

Best guess as to what happened is that when you re-attached the cable to the RD, the shifter was in the lowest gear - it should of been in the highest gear.

Yes! I think you are right, when I reattached it it was in the lowest gear, which might also explain why I couldn't pull the cable as far. Unfortunately, I just loosened the cable again, but the shifter still won't move. Have I somehow detached something inside of it you think? Or should I just take it to the local shop at this point?

[nfmisso]

It is possible that something inside was broken during your attempts; a new shifter is probably less expensive than a trip to the shop to tell you that it needs a new shifter.

[cny-man]

You would be well advised to replace cable and housing, but you need to also know how to do the initial securing of the cable. Once the limits are set just pedal the bike until it is in the smallest rear cog. Pull on the cable where it emerges from the housing up front and shift the lever to the 1 (L) position. Then pull firmly on the cable down at the rear derailleur and tighten the clamp.

[insurgasaurus]

(03-31-2014, 10:43 AM)nfmisso Wrote:  It is possible that something inside was broken during your attempts; a new shifter is probably less expensive than a trip to the shop to tell you that it needs a new shifter.

Thanks Nigel, I think this will end up being my course of action after I try a few more desperate attempts to make it work.

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(03-31-2014, 11:34 AM)cny-man Wrote:  You would be well advised to replace cable and housing, but you need to also know how to do the initial securing of the cable. Once the limits are set just pedal the bike until it is in the smallest rear cog. Pull on the cable where it emerges from the housing up front and shift the lever to the 1 (L) position. Then pull firmly on the cable down at the rear derailleur and tighten the clamp.

I will definitely replace the cables and housing, but I was so exited to learn a few things about adjusting it that I just couldn't wait. I did what you describe above when I reattached the cable, but I had it on the largest rear cog, and I think that somehow caused something to come loose in the shifter itself, because when I try and make it gear up, nothing will catch and the cable running into the shifter doesn't move at all (should be seeable from the video I posted).
Thanks for the advice!
Ben