Rear derailleur question...do I have it right?

extremedave

extremedave

Well-Known Member
Team MTBNJ Halter's
The may be basic stuff for you guys (and girls), but I've never really messed with the rear derailleur so all new to me!
I have a 2011 Trance X4 with a Deore (m-592) rear derailleur. From day one I was having issues with self-shifting to the next smaller cog, especially on rough ground, to the point of trouble riding the bike. I could take it back to the shop but I'm pigheaded sometimes and wanted to figure it out. Anyway, the only adjustments on the unit are the top and bottom stops and the derailleur "swing" fore/aft.
So I went after the cable adjustment on the lever and got a huge improvement in the larger 3-4 cogs, where I was having the most problems. I actually ran out of adjustment and had to reset the cable end to get me back in the middle of the range. It will still skip the second smallest cog as I have it now but I use those so much less, not that worried.

Open to suggestions or ideas, if this is something endemic to that level of component I'm open to upgrade ideas.
Thanks!
Dave
 
You've got my curiosity. I have the exact same bike with similar issues with my rear derailer. Occasionally the chain will jump around the middle gears of my rear cassette. It will also not shift into 9th gear at all.

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jck said:
You've got my curiosity. I have the exact same bike with similar issues with my rear derailer. Occasionally the chain will jump around the middle gears of my rear cassette. It will also not shift into 9th gear at all.

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Without checking the youtube stuff (and the park tool article is great, btw.) I can only report on my findings. But it sounds pretty much the same problem. I took the cable adjustment all the way in to the lever, and the chain skipped and jumped worse than ever. After taking the adjustment all the way out, major improvement except the bottom cog. Then I pulled a little more cable and readjusted.
I'd say there's no harm in trying it yourself long as you remember how many turns you went so you can go back.

Maybe it's a setup issue at Giant? I'd also check the tension or "swing" setting, when I first got mine the derailleur was too close to the cog on the largest gear and rubbed.

When you say nine, you mean bigger or smaller?
Good luck!
 
Follow the park tool instructions to a T and it will make it buttery smooth. Also sounds like an adjustment for the shifters. Takes some patience but if it's not holding a gear it's either too loose or too tight slightly.
 
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Sorry I should have been more specific. By "9" I ment the smallest gear.

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Ok my youtube search skills aren't up to par. What park tool article are you referring to?

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jck said:
Ok my youtube search skills aren't up to par. What park tool article are you referring to?

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just click on the link posted
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jck said:
Duh... I completely overlooked that lol

Thanks!

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The article has a section at the bottom regarding our specific shimano units, make sure to check that out while you're at it. Be interesting to hear how you make out.
 
jck said:
You've got my curiosity. I have the exact same bike with similar issues with my rear derailer. Occasionally the chain will jump around the middle gears of my rear cassette. It will also not shift into 9th gear at all.

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Click to expand...

I may be reading this wrong but from the sounds of it your cable tension is off. And if your limit screws are adjusted properly and its not shifting to the smallest cog then it sounds like its too tight. Another thing to look out for is if your cable tension is fine but your derailer or hanger is bent. That could happen pretty easily and mess up your shifting.
 
I'm attempting to teach myself how to adjust the derailleur. I recently had it serviced but it still isn't shifting correctly. I will definitely read that Park article....looks great. I turned the barrel adjuster clockwise but it only went a few turns and maxed (now what!?). I was planning on trying to adjust the limit screws next (cables/chain are clean and oiled).

I thought this video was helpful:

"How to adjust bicycle gears"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJfKO_tAo0
 
StumpJumper22 said:
I'm attempting to teach myself how to adjust the derailleur. I recently had it serviced but it still isn't shifting correctly. I will definitely read that Park article....looks great. I turned the barrel adjuster clockwise but it only went a few turns and maxed (now what!?). I was planning on trying to adjust the limit screws next (cables/chain are clean and oiled).

I thought this video was helpful:

"How to adjust bicycle gears"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjJfKO_tAo0
Click to expand...

I recently learned how to install and adjust my front and rear der by watching vidoes and lots of reading too. I found that the best way to adjust them is to start from step one and loosen the cable from the achor bolt and start by setting the high and low limits. Over time the cable stretches, so if the cable tension isnt set properly to start, none of the other adjustments are going to help much.
 
StumpJumper22 said:
I turned the barrel adjuster clockwise but it only went a few turns and maxed (now what!?). I was planning on trying to adjust the limit screws next (cables/chain are clean and oiled).

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Clockwise would be "in" and therefore less tension. I found more tension "out" gave me less trouble on the larger cogs. I'm sure there's a fine line if I knew what I was doing. I chose to sacrifice the smaller gear action for the larger by adding more cable tension, "out" on the adjuster.

The top and bottom limit screws are kinda a set it and forget it thing. Would only affect the largest and smallest cogs, unless way way out.

But this is for a shimano deore top normal, haven't messed with anything else. YMMV. Luck!
 
A shimano derailler needs a big loop of outer cable jacket ( and coresponding inner cable) by where the cable changes direction by the back axle. Also by where the suspension goes through its motion the cable outer jacket may be too short. Get a new inner and outer shift cable kit, a cable cutter and make a new cable with enough slack in the right places. This is important. If it is not right you can adjust till the cows come home and get nowhere.
 
Thanks for your help guys. I ended up back at the shop today for an adjustment. Had a small cable and housing replacement so hopefully that solved the shifting issue. I'll see how it rides this week. Not so easy to learn how to fix a bike from books and videos but I'm trying. Shop guy said I get an A for effort. And he told me never ever ever to touch the limit screws.
 
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