Understanding Rear derailleur

[andy67b]

For the life of me I can't get head around how to correctly adjust the rear derailleur on my Eastway 3.0, currently it keeps jumping gears. I’ve got the option of taking it to my local bike shop and have them sort it for me, but I'd rather learn myself, so is there any simple ways of doing this?

[boyse7en]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/ad...

It's easy once you've done it once

[andy67b]

Thanks very much for your speedy reply.

boyse7en said:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/ad...

It's easy once you've done it once

[anonymous-user]

It's easy once you've had a go, get the limit screws set correctly to stop the chain jumping off the small/big cogs and fine tune the indexing with the barrel adjuster.

I had problems last year trying to get my indexing working correctly, I spent ages tweaking it only for it to go tits up just a mile or so down the road.

Gave up and took it to the shop who diagnosed a badly worn cassette and chain, so bloody obvious once they showed me, doh :angry:

[upsidedownmark]

Hot tip(s):
1) You almost *never* need to touch the limit screws.
2) If you do, do it with the cable disconnected otherwise you'll mess up by confusing with the indexing. If it's externally cabled, just unhook the outer from the tabs. Otherwise disconnect it.

3) Barrel adjuster (tension) is pretty simple, but make sure you're not a whole gear out (can happen). If it doesn't reach either end (and you set the limits properly with it disconnected as in point 2), you're a whole gear out..

[JustinF]

Make sure your chain isn't back to front

[CoolC]

As above, set the limit screws with the cable disconnected.

Once they are known to be correct, indexing is a case of 1/4 turn here, 1/4 turn there. If it's still not indexing then either the cable is sticky or the chain/cassette are worn.