Help! I broke my shifter!

[HappyTexasMom]

Today my butterfly handlebars came in the mail. I couldn't wait to put them on. I'm riding an old MTB that's a little bit too big for me, and I was excited to see how much difference a couple of inches in rise on the handlebars would make for me.

I got the grips, shifters, and brake levers off, installed the handlebar, and put everything back on. Then I noticed that my right grip shifter wasn't working all the way; I could only run it through a couple of clicks (it has 8). So I took it off to see if I could see what was wrong. I went to click it and POP, a piece of plastic broke off of the shifter, and now it won't hold the cable in place properly. Ok, it's a cheap plastic shifter, but I'm still so upset! My goal is to put as little money into this bike as possible until I can afford to buy my "dream" bike. But obviously I need *something*.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to the cheapest thing I could do would be? I was so excited to go out on my bike, and now I can't ride it at all. I'm so sad!

[Zen]

Electrical tape?

[HappyTexasMom]

Electrical tape?

No, I don't think tape will work. It's hard to describe (and I tried to take a picture, but couldn't get a focused shot), but the plastic part that broke holds the tension on the cable to hold it in the shifter. I don't think tape or glue is gonna cut it for this one.

[aicabsolut]

eBay. Lots of people seem to sell one shifter (I guess when their other one breaks?).

[Running Mommy]

what kind of shifter is it? I may have a "take off" from an old bike I can send you.

[HappyTexasMom]

You're so sweet, RunningMommy.

My husband ended up picking one up at the bike shop down the street. Now you don't even want to know the hell we went through to get everything adjusted once we replaced it. Let's just say there's a reason I don't work on bikes for a living!

It's still not shifting perfectly, but good enough. I need to get it in for a tuneup, but at least I can ride.

[Running Mommy]

well anytime you run into something like that, just shoot me a pm. If we have it laying around I'm glad to help.
Heck it would even give me an excuse to get out of the shop to "deliver it" to you...

[HappyTexasMom]

Thanks so much. I need to get over to your shop soon. My bike needs a tuneup (but it will have to wait until I get back from vacation).