Shimano Nexus 7 Problems and Solutions [Explained]

Using a bike with the revolutionary Shimano nexus 7 is something to be excited about if you’re a cycling enthusiast. Even though it’s somewhat advanced and a better product, it does have issues while using.

So, what are the Shimano nexus 7 problems?

Shimano is the top class of bicycle gear and shifter manufacturing. Their nexus 7 was one of the pinnacles of innovation. But even being the best, it has many issues that plague a user. Like, the shifter won’t work, gear and able adjustment issues, jammed cassette, rust issues, and so on. We’ve discussed the cause and solutions of the problems in detail for your easy understanding.

That’s just the taste for what lies ahead. Let’s dive into the details,

Shimano Nexus 7 Speed Shifter Issues

The Shimano nexus 7-speed shifter is an internally geared rear hub that has revolutionized the concept of geared bicycles. But as it was a new technology, it has its issues as well.

The issues you may face with the Shimano Nexus 7 are regular and very easy to work upon. But you’ll need to have a better idea about the reasons and solutions to know what and how to solve them. We’ve discussed all of it.

Common Problems You May Face

No first made iterations of a new system are safe from problems. It goes the same for the Shimano Nexus 7. You may face a lot of Shimano nexus 7-speed problems. 

Although most of the time, the problems you’ll face are fairly normal and predictable. After all, the shifting mechanism can have problems due to lots of road and usage conditions. 

You might find some solutions on your Shimano nexus 7 manual. But we’re here to talk about some of the common problems you may face that aren’t specified. 

These problems and solutions have been discovered by regular cyclists like you and me who’ve been using nexus 7. 

Let’s get into the details,

The Shifter Won’t Shift Properly:

The shifter sometimes just won’t shift properly. It will miss gears or skip gears altogether. For example, It won’t stay in 3rd or 4th gear, or won’t shift into 2nd gear at all. 

To shift the gear to the 7th, you really need to twist to change the gear. 

This can happen when excessive friction in the mechanism isn’t allowing the shifter to work. Also, if the cable isn’t attached properly or worn out. 

These problems happen when the shifter needs an adjustment or the previous adjustment work wasn’t done properly. 

Solution:

When you’re facing this problem, the best solution is to adjust your shifter. That will remedy the issue and your shifter will work properly.

Now, how to adjust Shimano nexus 7 shifter?

The first thing to do is to set the gear adjuster in number 4. It’s easily noticeable because it’s marked with a small dot on the display. 

Next, you’ll need to remove the chaincase. For a Nexus 7 shifter, it’s simply a detachable rear section. You need to pull it off smoothly. Just squeeze in at the top to release then move back to detach. 

This will expose the chain and the relevant part of the rear hub. You’ll be able to see two yellow markings, by looking down on them. It’s located just outside the chain.

To eliminate clunky and uncertain gear changes, the two yellow markings have to line up exactly parallel to one another. 

You’ll just need to fiddle with the gear adjustment knurl on the handlebars. It lies on the cable coming out of the gear shifter. Rotating the knurl will allow you to line up the yellow markings.

Once they’re lined up, you’re done with adjusting your shifter.

Cable Adjustment Misaligned: 

The shifter cables are what control the gear changes and ratios. They are installed and secured strongly so that they don’t dislodge.

But sometimes, due to circumstances, the cable adjustment gets misaligned and it creates a lockup of the gears entirely.

It’s very easy to have it come dislodged during the process of wheel removal, or if it goes through a big shunt. 

If it catches on the lip of the barrel adjuster, the cable adjustment will go off.

If the damage is relatively minor, it can act normal. Until it is under a little higher tension than average, then it’ll jump out of place. Where it will be stuck, and out of adjustment almost immediately.

Solution:

Firstly, you’ll need to check if the shifter cable housing is properly seated. It needs to be properly aligned at both the shifter and cassette joint. 

If the alignment isn’t there, then you’ll need to adjust the cable.

How to do a Shimano nexus 7 cable adjustment?

Adjusting the cable is a very simple task. On your shifter, you’ll see a knob just right below the shifting indicator. Using that knob you can adjust the tightness of the cable. 

First, using that knob, adjust the tightness of your cable. The cable has to be perfectly tensioned. It can’t be too loose or too tight. 

After attaining the right cable tension, using an Allen key, adjust the cable alignment with the barrel adjuster. You’ll have to turn the adjuster until the cable is straight-lined with the cassette.

If you find your cables are rusty or getting torn apart, then it’s better to replace the cables with new ones. That will save you from dangers while on the road.

You’ll find a lot of shifter cables in the market, we’d like to recommend some of the best.

These cables are long-lasting and strong. You can use them to prolong the life and service periods on your bicycle.

Gear Adjustment Problems:

You might have Shimano nexus 7 gear problems with your bike from time to time. Your gears would slip or won’t even shift at all. 

Sometimes, your gears won’t even work, they’ll jam up and lock while you’re pedaling. At that moment, you might have an accident.

This situation occurs when your gear gets clogged up with dirt, grease, or oil residue. Also when your gear adjustment goes off. 

It’s a major problem and if not fixed, it can damage your gear terminally. 

Solution:

Gear slipping issues on a Nexus 7 can be fixed with the barrel adjuster. First, double-check your housing is seated correctly at every stop and in the shifter, etc.

Sometimes, the barrel adjuster is not enough to get the dots to align. In that case, you’ll need to take the cable anchor off the hub, pull it a little more. Some extra cable will go through it. Then, adjust from there.

Add oil to the hub’s workings, pending a better dose of lubrication, the oil frees the sticky mechanism inside.

Cassette Getting Jammed Up:

The cassette might get jammed up for various reasons. And for a shifter package that’s used predominantly off-road, it’s something very normal. 

Your cassette might get jammed due to dirt buildup and oil.

Also, in terms of mechanical issues, the cassette can jam up if the shifter or chain feeder is misaligned. 

That might not show problems first, but eventually, the misalignment will eat up the cassette teeth and make them miss the chain rotation altogether.

Solution:

To solve the jamming problem, in both dirt or alignment cases, you’ll need to assemble the cassette. To do that, you have to disassemble it first.

Taking the cassette system apart is fairly simple, just take it out of the hub installation, and open it up. Then clean the cassette thoroughly and apply oil or grease to it.

Now you’re ready to reinstall the cassette again.

So, how to assemble Shimano nexus 7?

To assemble your Shimano Nexus 7, you’ll first need to install the gear cassette to your rear wheel chainset. The cassette comes in two parts. The largest part in which the cables will feed through has to point towards the front of your cycle. 

Bear in mind, both parts of the cassette have yellow dots to indicate the side that’ll face towards you or the outside.

You’ll need to line up the dots horizontally and gently push them inwards the hub. The locking mechanism will lock on to the cassette with a click sound.

After that, feed your shifter cables inside and then reinstall them to the hub. 

And that’s how you assemble the cassette. Make sure to keep it clean on a regular basis. That’ll make it last longer.

Rust and Dirt Buildup:

For a bicycle used outdoors and exposed to the elements, it’s fairly normal to have rust buildup on your Shimano nexus 7. 

The constant exposure to the elements will catch dirt and rust to the metallic materials of these components. But It’s easy to maintain and fix these problems. 

Solution:

Even though the Shimano nexus 7 is made with anti-corrosive materials and coating, that really is a temporary barrier that might last for a brief period of time. Dirt buildup and water exposure will rust your components.

By following the Shimano nexus 7 maintenance guide and the normal care in general, will keep your shifter and gear components in good shape. As well as prolong the lifespan of these parts.

So, how to service Shimano nexus 7?

Servicing a Shimano Nexus 7 isn’t just a one-time work, rather a continuous process. You’ll need to work through it from time to time.

Generally, if you use your bike regularly, then it’s a good rule to wash and lube the gear and cassette’s external and exposed parts weekly. And the internal parts once every two months.

The emphasis on using the best lubricant oil is understated. It makes the whole gear mechanism work smoothly. Here are some recommendations for the best lubricant oil for your bike’s maintenance.

Image	Product Name	Price
	Smoove Lube	Check Latest Price
	Rock N Roll Gold	Check Latest Price
	Silca Super Secret Chain Lube	Check Latest Price
	Green Oil Wet Lube	Check Latest Price
	BanaSlip Tru Tension All Weather	Check Latest Price
	CeramicSpeed UFO Ceramic lube	Check Latest Price

Even with regular maintenance, you’ll need to overhaul your whole shifter’s components once or twice every year. This will ensure the perfect working condition of your shifter and gears all year round.

Is Getting the Nexus 7 Worth It?

Going through this many issues, you might think, is it really worth it to get a Nexus 7? 

Well, we think if you feel that you’re having a hard time using a nexus 7, then it’s better for you to choose another speed shifter. Here are some recommendations about shifters you can get.

Image	Product	Price
	Sturmey Archer S2C	Check Latest Price
	Shimano Nexus 8	Check Latest Price

Basically, getting these shifters would give you less headache about maintenance. They are far more advanced and modern in design. Having more reliability and less downtime.

If you’re trying to switch to a disk brake system, then we’d say to get the Shimano Alfine 11. It’s one of the best shifters for disk brakes. But be careful about the maintenance, or else you’ll have problems with it too.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a nexus hub?

The Nexus hub is a fine piece of Japanese engineering, developed by Shimano over the past 20 years. With its single chainring and single rear cog, a Shimano Nexus setup offers much of the simplicity and the minimalist aesthetic of a single-speed bike.

Are hub gears reliable?

A hub gears usually require less maintenance and can be more reliable over time than comparable external derailleur gear systems, which may require more adjustments and replacement of parts.

Are internal gears better?

With an internally geared hub, you can shift gears while stationary. Unlike a traditional derailleur system, you don’t need to be pedaling to change gears. This can be great for riding in stop-and-go city traffic and can also make it a lot easier to downshift on a steep uphill.

Final Words

We’ve tried to answer all about Shimano nexus 7 problems. Hopefully, this will let you work through the problems you’re facing and fix them easily. We’d recommend you to always maintain your cycle so that you won’t face these situations often.

But if it’s a handful for you, a pro tip would be to get it fixed or serviced by a professional. They know the details and titbits of your shifter. It’ll be easier and reliable if they fix it up.

For more queries, let us know in the comments.

Happy cycling!