Shifter repair/service

[Mariner]

Are Sram Apex shifters serviceable/repairable? Something went ping yesterday and now the FD will only twitch when I try shifting. It’s been a bit hit and miss for a few days but now seems to have given up. Judging by other comments round the interweb it is not an uncommon occurrence with Sram.
I have seen an exploded view in the spares catalogue and don’t mind having a go at it but I will be working blind as never done this before and no idea how the mechanism works.
Any special tools needed?
Is it worth it - other than for that smug feeling when you repair something?
What is the default position of the shifter and FD for reconnecting the cable?
Does the lefthand shifter work opposite to the righthand ie long push changes up?
Can it be worked on in situ or does it need to come off the bar?
Forecast is rain tomorrow.

[Charliecres]

Don’t know about Apex but I spent a few minutes attempting to fix an X5 shifter which was misbehaving and gave it up as a waste of time. It all seemed to be there and seemed to be working fine until I screwed it all back together. I suspect plasticky low-end SRAM (and prob other makes) stuff sometimes just gets tired and gives up.

That said - have a go. What’s the worst that could happen?

[lune ranger]

I recently modified some Rival 22 shifters to use with a Rohbox.
Apex innards are the same.
The internals will come apart easily with simple/normal tools. Small posidrive and needle nose pliers.
I bet getting things back in with the spring under tension is a royal faff.
I have the internal parts I removed - axles, holding pawls, springs and circlips from both shifters.
Happy to post at cost if you need them

[Mariner]

Thanks for the replies and thanks for the offer of parts.
Do you know if spares are available and where from?
SJS don't seem to have the internal bits just the levers and outers and looking round the web people seem to be using donor internals from crashed units.
I used to love scrapyards when I was building and modifying car engines is there such a thing as a bike scrapyard?

[Zippy]

Have you checked it's not something simple like the cable has snapped?

I've repaired a sram shifter once...it was very fiddly and time consuming due to small parts and springs being involved!

[Cheeky Monkey]

I've repaired a sram shifter once...it was very fiddly and time consuming due to small parts and springs being involved!

Same experience. In hindsight, and much as the waste grinds at me, I'd just buy a new one (after having a stab at spannering, just in case it's simple and/or easy).

[Mariner]

I have watched the video and it seems surprisingly uncomplicated inside just pawls, ratchets, springs and a rod plus some screws.
One or two hidden screws and tips for extracting the main pin.
The cable is still attached as pressing the lever causes the FD to twitch but not make a full movement.
Hope something turns up on ebay.