Rear derailleur sticking
Discussion
IJWS15 said:
Changing up to the higher couple of gears the derailleur doesn't change immediately but waits 5-10 seconds before changing. Have had the bike for 2 1/2 years. Is it time to refresh the cable to the derailleur?
Could be, but possibly just needs the indexing adjusting. Tighten the cable slightly with the barrel adjuster, quarter of a turn at a time. Another possibility for indexing being out at one end of the range is that the mech or hanger is slightly bent.
Edited by budgie smuggler on Friday 11th June 14:11
budgie smuggler said:
Could be, but possibly just needs the indexing adjusting. Tighten the cable slightly with the barrel adjuster, quarter of a turn at a time.
Another possibility for indexing being out at one end of the range is that the mech or hanger is slightly bent.
How will tightening the cable help with slow changing into a higher gear? That would make it worse.Another possibility for indexing being out at one end of the range is that the mech or hanger is slightly bent.
Edited by budgie smuggler on Friday 11th June 14:11
Anyway, my money is on the cable.
It sounds like a rusted or sticking cable.
It's always worth changing the inner/outer every 1-2 years even if only to eliminate as the source of the problem.
Before you do anything, find a safe section of road, and look down at the mech whilst you shift gear.
If the mech moves straight away, but the cog change is slow, it could be that your B-Limit screw needs adjusting.
It's always worth changing the inner/outer every 1-2 years even if only to eliminate as the source of the problem.
Before you do anything, find a safe section of road, and look down at the mech whilst you shift gear.
If the mech moves straight away, but the cog change is slow, it could be that your B-Limit screw needs adjusting.
I've an issue with mine, can anyone help?
sometimes it doesnt always shift up/down for each gear, sometimes I'll have to shift up or down twice before it'll shift. gears in the middle range are a little all over the place, i could be in a middle gear riding along, then it'll drop down and afew metres later go back up. It's been afew years since it's been indexed, so that's probably due.
when i last had it indexed the guy who did it said perhaps the rear deraileur is bent. but how will i know for sure? don't want to have to buy it and it not being as new. I did change the cable afew years back (as it snapped off).
front derailleur- it shifs down easy from largest gear/cog to middle one. but shifting back up i really have to give the shifter a shove. sometimes even dropping to a lower gear on the rear makes the front shift up easier.
ambuletz said:
I've an issue with mine, can anyone help?
sometimes it doesnt always shift up/down for each gear, sometimes I'll have to shift up or down twice before it'll shift. gears in the middle range are a little all over the place, i could be in a middle gear riding along, then it'll drop down and afew metres later go back up. It's been afew years since it's been indexed, so that's probably due.
when i last had it indexed the guy who did it said perhaps the rear deraileur is bent. but how will i know for sure? don't want to have to buy it and it not being as new. I did change the cable afew years back (as it snapped off).
front derailleur- it shifs down easy from largest gear/cog to middle one. but shifting back up i really have to give the shifter a shove. sometimes even dropping to a lower gear on the rear makes the front shift up easier.
This one sounds more like indexing. Normally it goes out of sync because the cable has stretched a bit. That would certainly seem to be the case on your front one where you struggle to get up to the bigger gear (it’s in that direction that you’ll have a problem if the cable stretched). Find the barrel adjuster on the gear cable and twist it a half turn so that you see the derailleur move toward/away the big.small gear. See if that sorts it, if not repeat the process. If you’ve run out of turns on the adjuster, you’ll need to retension the cable and start again (the other thing is the limiter screw but I don’t think it can be that as you say you can short to the big gear but with difficulty)sometimes it doesnt always shift up/down for each gear, sometimes I'll have to shift up or down twice before it'll shift. gears in the middle range are a little all over the place, i could be in a middle gear riding along, then it'll drop down and afew metres later go back up. It's been afew years since it's been indexed, so that's probably due.
when i last had it indexed the guy who did it said perhaps the rear deraileur is bent. but how will i know for sure? don't want to have to buy it and it not being as new. I did change the cable afew years back (as it snapped off).
front derailleur- it shifs down easy from largest gear/cog to middle one. but shifting back up i really have to give the shifter a shove. sometimes even dropping to a lower gear on the rear makes the front shift up easier.
At the rear I expect you have same problem but less clear (ie it may be that you need to adjust toward the small gear, but I’d assume it’s toward the big gear). Try same thing. If problem persists but you get to the point where you can no longer change into smallest gear, then you need to adjust indexing in other direction.
The Park Tool videos on YouTube explain all this stuff better than I can.
gazza285 said:
How will tightening the cable help with slow changing into a higher gear? That would make it worse.
Anyway, my money is on the cable.
You're right, it's because he said "changing up" and for some reason I have it in my head that means going onto the larger gears even though that makes no sense. Anyway, my money is on the cable.
budgie smuggler said:
You're right, it's because he said "changing up" and for some reason I have it in my head that means going onto the larger gears even though that makes no sense.
It does... For many folks. Changing up is going up the 'slope' of the cassette...Totally counter to changing gears in a car.
gl20 said:
The Park Tool videos on YouTube explain all this stuff better than I can.
I don't want to mess with the gears. The last time I tried this the deraileur snagged the spokes of my wheels and snapped off, so naturally i'm a little scared to. I'll leave this to halfords (they're the only ones within a reasonable distance to me)ambuletz said:
gl20 said:
The Park Tool videos on YouTube explain all this stuff better than I can.
I don't want to mess with the gears. The last time I tried this the deraileur snagged the spokes of my wheels and snapped off, so naturally i'm a little scared to. I'll leave this to halfords (they're the only ones within a reasonable distance to me)gl20 said:
ambuletz said:
gl20 said:
The Park Tool videos on YouTube explain all this stuff better than I can.
I don't want to mess with the gears. The last time I tried this the deraileur snagged the spokes of my wheels and snapped off, so naturally i'm a little scared to. I'll leave this to halfords (they're the only ones within a reasonable distance to me)
Such a good way to learn.
I've had a fair amount of trouble with bike shops. Learning to do things yourself is essential. There are a lot of resources out there to help you learn.
IJWS15 said:
Thanks, waiting for a cable to come and then to find some time to do it.
A useful tip for indexing rear dérailleurs - If the chain struggles to shift up the cogs (small to large), turn the barrel adjuster upwards (anti clockwise) to adjust. If the chain struggles to go down the cogs (large to small) turn the barrel adjuster downwards (clockwise) to adjust.gl20 said:
I’m generally totally incompetent when it comes to mechanical stuff, but really would recommend giving bike DIY a go. The more you try stuff like indexing yourself the more you’ll instinctively know how to solve any problem as it surfaces and you’ll save a bundle of £ and time, just sorting yourself. I had the rear cable snap on me only this week 2 days before a planned long ride. Replacement cable via Amazon and all sorted in a day.
This, but also an additional thing once you start doing long rides. if you can't fix the bike at home, what are you going to do 40+ miles from home, poss 30 miles from a train station if it goes tits up? The ability to on the fly jury rig fixes for e.g a failed derailleur (with limit screws and a cable tie), to fix a snapped chain, etc etc are really useful if you're going further into the boonies.
OK some people will say "I'll just call the missus" but I'd much rather be self sufficient =)
NewBod said:
IJWS15 said:
Thanks, waiting for a cable to come and then to find some time to do it.
A useful tip for indexing rear dérailleurs - If the chain struggles to shift up the cogs (small to large), turn the barrel adjuster upwards (anti clockwise) to adjust. If the chain struggles to go down the cogs (large to small) turn the barrel adjuster downwards (clockwise) to adjust.Some Gump said:
This, but also an additional thing once you start doing long rides.
if you can't fix the bike at home, what are you going to do 40+ miles from home, poss 30 miles from a train station if it goes tits up? The ability to on the fly jury rig fixes for e.g a failed derailleur (with limit screws and a cable tie), to fix a snapped chain, etc etc are really useful if you're going further into the boonies.
OK some people will say "I'll just call the missus" but I'd much rather be self sufficient =)
To add to this, there are what? 4 variables in terms of adjusting a rear gear system, it really is something a child could do assuming the components are not broken or over worn. Even just turning the barrel adjuster each way to see how it works would mean you'd get it in 30 seconds. Same for limit screws.if you can't fix the bike at home, what are you going to do 40+ miles from home, poss 30 miles from a train station if it goes tits up? The ability to on the fly jury rig fixes for e.g a failed derailleur (with limit screws and a cable tie), to fix a snapped chain, etc etc are really useful if you're going further into the boonies.
OK some people will say "I'll just call the missus" but I'd much rather be self sufficient =)
budgie smuggler said:
Another possibility for indexing being out at one end of the range is that the mech or hanger is slightly bent.
Hanger alignment is always the first thing I do now when something seems to have changed. It's easy to knock the derailleur and move it, especially the kids on their bikes. (I have educated them not to lay their bikes down on that side, but they're kids.)The tool can be a bit pricy, but I have used it so many times over the years, it's been worth it:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-pro-gear-hanger-...
Other options are out there though.
louiebaby said:
budgie smuggler said:
Another possibility for indexing being out at one end of the range is that the mech or hanger is slightly bent.
Hanger alignment is always the first thing I do now when something seems to have changed. It's easy to knock the derailleur and move it, especially the kids on their bikes. (I have educated them not to lay their bikes down on that side, but they're kids.)The tool can be a bit pricy, but I have used it so many times over the years, it's been worth it:
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-pro-gear-hanger-...
Other options are out there though.
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