Bike Maintenance - D'oh!!!

[Snoop Doug]

Well now y'all. Inspired by Lord Tunnell of Addiscombe's talk last week I thought I'd use my old mtb as an experiment.

So - for the first time ever (the bike is about six years old ) this evening I took the chain off and cleaned it. I used a bucket of soapy water and the brush I used to use to clean the spuds! It took forever (still not particularly shiny) but it is now minus a whole pile of gunk. I also cleaned the cassette, the front big coggy things and a few other bits and pieces. Whacked on a new rear tyre and put it all back together.....

All good so far.

I had a quick boot up the road and noticed that I couldn't select 1st gear. Wahey - thought I, a chance to break even more new ground. So - I found the screws marked L and H on the derailleur and I figured I needed to fiddle with the one marked L. Did that and try as I might I can't get the rear mech (think I heard someone call it that last week) to do the right thang. I did manage to get 1st briefly but then couldn't get 2nd??? Worrying noises were in abundance.

I've retwiddled it and I also tried loosening the cable screw and having a good old tug on the cable (well a few mil).

Eventually I put all the gubbins back where I started. So, does anyone a) know what on earth I'm blethering about and/or b) have any ideas what may be the problem...?

Come on - I can't let this new found enthusiasm for cleanign and fiddling fall at the first hurdle....

Cheers - Trainee Doctor Snoop

[Andrew G]

Snoop. Being a mountain bike I suspect it's Shimano or SRAM so can't help that much, I know Campag me .

On Campag the screws limit the cage's (bit that hangs down) extremes to stop you shifting the chain off the end of the cassette. The indexing is controlled by the adjuster where the cable goes in to the mech.

Try having a look on their website as the Campag one provides downloads with pictures to show you how to set thing up and adjust them. I'm sure Shimano and SRAM do the same.

Keep fiddling.

[Dombo]

Snoop, check out the excellent Park Tool site:

http://www.parktool.com

It has all you need. The rear mech adjustment in particular has a lot of good tips.

[Elliot M]

might be a good idea to replace cable inners and outers before doing fine adjustment

[Snoop Doug]

Wooohooo!

Thanks Dombo - all this info in my hands - I feel powerful and dangerous. I bought me a park tools stand today so I'm gonna get fixin!

Cheers - Snoop

PS Elliot, I need to work up to this inners and outers gubbins - PT didn't cover that!!

[Snoop Doug]

yeeeessss.

Elliot - methinks you may be right. I tried more fiddlin and faffin last night using me soopah new stand. Fer some reason no matter how much i adjust the L screw I can't get 1st gear to stay put. If I shift all the way down to the lowest, then push the shifter past it's natural stopping point - voila I gets me 1st gear. Minute I release pressure tho it drops orf to 2nd. Also if I pull the cable with me hand I gets 1st again too. I wish I'd studied harder in me physics lesson but I think mebbe the cable is too stretchified. Back to the drawing board.

Still - the stand looks nice

Cheers - Snoop

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Guru suggests you've either (a) pulled too much cable through at the rear mech, or (b) not enough, depending on what you call 1st gear. Better reference for all concerned is to refer to big sprocket or small sprocket.
P

[Snoop Doug]

Most Honoured Guru

For maximum enlightenment I am referring to big sprocket difficulties. I await your further teachings as regards a or b.

Your humble pupil.

Ommmmmm

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Sounds like option B. You need to pull more cable through at the rear mech.

Step 1 Change gears so chain is on smallest sprocket
Step 2 Turn cable adjusters on gear lever (if any) and rear mech clockwise until they won't go any further
Step 3 undo cable clamp at rear mech
Step 4 hold end of cable with pliers and pull down as hard as possible
Step 5 An assistant is useful here.....whilst tensioning cable, use spare hand to retighten cable clamp.
Step 6 With bike on stand spin pedals in normal direction, and move shifter one click. Gear should change smoothly to next sprocket. If not, use said adjusters on lever counter clockwise until chain meshes with second sprocket.
Task should now be completed. Test for remaining gears.
If there is still a problem, then it will need investigating.
Good luck
Guru paul

[Snoop Doug]

O exultant guru - I am on the case, verily. I think mebbe I'll leave it until the weekend tho as this afternoon I am off to get spiritually somewhat drunk after having a go on the slide at the Tate Modern. This will be my umpteenth go on one of the most fantastic "art" installations I've ever seen.

More repair news when I gets it.

Ommmmmm

[Snoop Doug]

Guru Paul - you were bang on with your teachings.

I followed your instructions to a "T" and lo, it came to pass that the gears on my old mtb are humming like never before.

Nirvana.

Snoop

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Well done Doug,

Now you can move on to a higher plane.

Ommmmmmmmmmmmm