[Bicyclist]

I am working on a friend's bike and a small spring was sticking out of his left shifter which is disconcerting. Ultegra 6700 double front. Included is a pic of the spring which I didn't immediately recognize and Shimano's schematic wasn't much help. Any leads? For what it's worth he crashed this weekend in a crit so I'm thinking it either popped out of the shifter or he managed to pick up some road debris that was only noticed now.

 

[Banshee Rider]

I'm not terribly familiar with the insides of those shifters, but if that spring was designed to be inside of there and I had to wage a guess, it'd be the return-spring for the brake lever. How does the shifter behave without a brake or shift cable in it?

 

[Arkayne]

looks like a spring to a clicky-pen. prob some road debris.

 

[spam16v]

does it work without it?