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2008 SRAM X9 Shifter

ultraNoob

Yoshinoya Destroyer
Jan 20, 2007
4,504
1
Hills of Paradise
Here's my disassembly and reassembly of an X9 rear shifter. I'm not too technical with my terminology but I'll do my best to keep the names for the parts as intuitive as I can. Hope this helps some of you out there. The info should be similar if not identical to the 07/08 X0's.I did my best with the pics and left them very large so you can see the detail. Most are clear, some are not. I will fine tune this over the next day or so. Check back on saturday for the final version.

Tool List:
"Y" wrench
additional 4mm allen
small phillips head screwdriver
6mm socket
fine needle nose pliers or a hemostat



Before you begin, make sure to click the small lever until the shifter cable is as far out as it will go. For simplicities sake, I'll refer to the small lever as the down shift, and the long lever as the up shift.

Remove Bar Adapter


Remove Top Cover Bolt


Top Spring Configuration is very important. Take note of where these springs are "supposed" to go. Carefull when you remove them as they like to fly off in weird vectors.


Unhook and remove the upper most spring (Top Spring 1)


Unhook and remove the coiled spring (Top Spring 2). Take note of the hole on the red disc where the inner end of Top Spring 2 inserts.


Remove the shifter cable.


If you're changing the shifter cable, then the above steps are perfect. The SRAM users manual says to nudge the spring aside slightly and use a pick to remove the end of the shifter cable. I don't like nudging springs out of the way... Springs kinda like to fly away all sudden when you nudge. Spend the extra 30sec and remove the springs, but don't forget to put them back.

Now... on to the nitty gritty. The following steps are not for the timid. Read through the entire proceedure before attempting this on your shifter. If you have any doubts, DO NOT DO IT! If you're hard headed like me, then just be careful. Make sure you do this in an uncluttered area where you won't accidently knock a spring off onto the carpet or something.

Removing the Indexing Disc

You'll need the Y wrench and another 4mm allen for this. Insert one tool on the bottom and one on top. Loosen the bolt and nut (bolt = male portion, nut = female portion) but do not remove yet.


Remove the allen wrench from the red indexing disc and place the shifter disc side down on your palm. Grasp the shifter as seen in the pic.


Completely loosen the nut while maintaining your grip on the shifter. Remove the Y wrench.


While maintaining your grip, push down on the nut until it is flush. This pushes the bolt away from the indexing disc.


While keeping pressure on the nut and shifter body, flip the shifter over so the bolt sticks up.


Remove the bolt and the indexing disc. Pay attention to the channel in the shifter body. See that little black nub that sticks out. Good... I just wanted you to see that... don't worry, it will make sense later.


Flip the shifter over again and gently work the long shift lever off of the shifter body. You'll have to rotate it the way the spring tension wants to take it. I'm not specifying a direction because the direction of rotation for the front and rear shifter are different. Pay attention to where the spring inserts into the shift lever. Be very GENTLE so you do not distort the spring.



Remove the Spring Retaining Cover by removing the two phillips head screws. Take note of the position of the two visable springs.



Remove the coiled spring (Bottom Spring 1). Take note of how it comes out of the shifter body.


Flip the shifter over and take a close look at the springs and how they intertwine.


Push out the lever pin with the tip of your pliers or hemostat. Pull the pin out.


Wiggle off the Short Shift Lever and pay attention to how the spring comes through the lever body. Keep an eye on the little black spring bushing. If you look hard enough you'll see it, it's right where the two springs intertwine.


Look how this spring sits on the shifter body. Carefully, remove this spring (bottom spring 2) with your pliers or hemostat.


Remove the spring bushing and set it aside.



Remove the index actuator by using the 6mm socket to remove the two bolts. Lift the remaining spring from the shifter body and set all the parts aside.


There really is no purpose to this step, as there really isn't anything in there that will break.... unless you crash and snap the lever. It only works one way otherwise you won't be able to get the cover back on.
Remove the top cover of the long shift lever by carefully lifting it off with your finger. You can use the small phillips driver to help nudge it off. Carefull, there's a spring inside. When you put the top cover back on, make sure to line up all the holes on the cover with the pieces inside the lever. The cover only goes on one way. There are two large washers surrounding the center of the lever. One is symectrical, the other is not. The one that is not has a protrusion on the inner edge. That protrusion mates to a notch on the lever body. Make sure to line those up when you reassemble. The symmetrical washer sits between the non symmetrical washer and the lever body.










This entire proceedure is apparently too long. The assembly portion is in this thread

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3012736#post3012736




:thumb:
 
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ultraNoob

Yoshinoya Destroyer
Jan 20, 2007
4,504
1
Hills of Paradise
If you can show me how to get the coiled spring back in I'll love you forever. I have a disassembled X.9 that has been sitting on my desk for 5 months.
Hope you have all the parts in a baggy or something. I just posted a pic of all the internal parts. Might wanna compare to make sure you have everything. Provided I have a chance to sit down and type this thing out, I should post the assembly instructions tonight.

Sorry this is taking so long.
 
Sorry this is taking so long.
Don't be. This is so sooo much more than I ever could have hoped/asked for. Also, I think I can say this on behalf of x-9 users every where!":cheers:"

On that same note, I posted that same thread on four other forums you are the only one that has taken these apart that I've had any contact with. And thats not even to mention how detailed your tutorial is... I would suggest putting it on sicklines site when your done. along side with the older model x-9's "how to."
 
I was about to put my Sram back on my stumpy. Seeing as though I will have to do this to change a cable, I might not. This is more retarded to change cables than my Rival. :dead:
Whoa whoa whooaa don't be too hasty there. Changing a cable is quite simple with these and the technology behind the shifters is actually quite simple. Even after trying to rebuild mine and all the trouble I've gone through I would still recommend X-9's to a friend. They work quite nicely. Just let this thread be a warning not to take them apart unless your willing to learn how to put them together. My point being don't let these pictures scare you. other shifters have similar insides you just never seem them.
 

ultraNoob

Yoshinoya Destroyer
Jan 20, 2007
4,504
1
Hills of Paradise
other shifters have similar insides you just never seem them.
I'm actually thinking about taking apart the older x7's and comparing them with the new x7's. We'll see how that goes. Right now, I'm working on an improved way of bleeding the hayes brake systems.

I had fun doing this. I see myself doing this more often. Last night, I figured out a great way of unsticking a stubborn seatpost. I'll get it stuck again later this week and document the removal.
 
I had fun doing this. I see myself doing this more often. Last night, I figured out a great way of unsticking a stubborn seatpost. I'll get it stuck again later this week and document the removal.
Now here is a hobby I can appreciate. Sounds like I'm going to have to keep my eye on this forum longer than expected. Seeming how I'm not very entertained at just forum trolling. So I usually only watch them when I need help with something or in the rare case when I'm trying to help someone else.
(BTW: Haven't had a chance to tear into my shifters I'm doing it now. If all goes well I should be able perform the eureka dance for you guys. (that's metaphorically so don't get any ideas about me.:biggrin:)

Edit: Forgot suggest while you are fine tuning this maybe numbering your steps to make it easier for people to ask questions and discuss the procedure. Just a thought.
 
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Eureka, I've done it. And not a moment to soon. Hitting the trails with the guys tonight. ultraNoob I'm not sure if words alone can express my gratitude for this thread It is exactly what I needed. If I were next to you I would buy you a :cheers: and then show you how to ride. lol jk. Hope to see more threads like this coming up. I mean from everyone not just from ultra.
 
Oct 21, 2009
14
0
The back ass of no where
I'm actually thinking about taking apart the older x7's and comparing them with the new x7's. We'll see how that goes. Right now, I'm working on an improved way of bleeding the hayes brake systems.

I had fun doing this. I see myself doing this more often. Last night, I figured out a great way of unsticking a stubborn seatpost. I'll get it stuck again later this week and document the removal.

serious thread dude, can't wait to see what you with the hayes brakes :thumb:
 

rockofullr

confused
Jun 11, 2009
7,342
924
East Bay, Cali
NICE!!

Makes me wanna overhaul my shifters.

I was about to put my Sram back on my stumpy. Seeing as though I will have to do this to change a cable, I might not. This is more retarded to change cables than my Rival. :dead:
Cables are easy it's the rebuild that's killer.

Anyone who has ever overhauled campy road levers will appreciate that this actually isn't that bad. And there's a reason you don't see many people rebuild there shimano shifters.
 

CharlieC

Chimp
Apr 29, 2012
1
0
BUMP. Thanks for these great pics. Way more helpful than any sram guide or video, and I got mine put back together no problem.