If your gears have never worked properly from the start
then they probably have not been
setup properly. If you
had your gears setup properly and they worked
faultlessly for a period of time only to discover that
now things are not working properly anymore then you can
be sure that something has changed. In this case slight
cable tension adjustments, a couple of quarter turns,
should be all that is required to correct a mis-shift.
If this does not correct the problem and you end up
making major adjustments then there is something else
wrong.
Gear Shifting Problems
Bent derailleur hanger
– this is a common problem where transportation, a fall
or a knock on your derailleur can cause your derailleur
hanger to become bent. All of a sudden some of the gears
will not be working properly. Best solution is to
replace the hanger, they are designed as replaceable
parts, bending it straight is a temporary solution and
will not solve the shifting problems.
Worn chain and or
cassette – mis-shifts under pedalling tension when
pedalling hard or when the drivetrain is dirty are
typical symptoms. Check the chain length and condition
of the cassette teeth, if either of these are worn they
can affect shifting. Ideally the two should be in sync
from a wear point of view, so often replacing both is
the best option if either is badly worn.
Dirty, rusty or old
cables – this is also a common problem, symptoms are
lazy shifts where the chain shifts slowly either up or
down. It is noticeable when the shifter is hard to
operate and when there is a noticeable delay in shifting
after clicking the shifter. If in doubt replace the
cables, more often than not it will make a difference
and make your bike feel much better.
Low cable tension
– Symptoms are a lazy first shift or an incomplete last
shift. This is easy to detect, when the cable is all the
way out (in the high position) with no tension and it is
loose and touching the frame, then there is a lack of
cable tension. Just tighten the barrel adjuster (turn
out or anticlockwise) to take up the cable slack and the
problem should be solved.
Ghost shifting -
This happens on full suspension bikes where the last
section of cable between the frame and the derailleur is
too short. As the suspension moves, usually at full
compression, the cable is tensioned and initiates a
shift. Other problems related to changing chain tension
on some full suspension bikes can also affect shifting.
So just bear these in mind if you encounter unexplained
shifting problems. Sometimes setting up gears of a full
suspension bike on a work stand may not be the same as
setup on a bike under load.
Gear
Setup and Adjusting
Gear and
Brake Cable Fitting
Check out our
Mountain
Bike Maintenance and Repair Guide for the next step in
maintaining your bike. Join
our mailing list and we will let you know when we
update this section
If you have comments on
this article or want to share experiences
discuss the article here
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