Adjusting gears

[jjlynn27]

Bike with deore/xt gearset (3f/7r) and the problem is that when i select certain gears, the rear part is moving between two gears, without being able to lock to the one selected. I took the bike to the shop where it was bought (national chain, only place nearby that would do this) and was told 'they all do that'.

How difficult is this to get right, because I don't believe that it should do that, and it's rather annoying.

Thanks.

[towser44]

I've done mine (road bike) a few times before by following the multitude of videos online. It's relatively straightforward, can be just a little fiddly getting the fine tuning right, but it's easy enough, especially with the bike in a workstand.

[lufbramatt]

Presuming it's quite old if it has 21 speed xt?

Start by cleaning/renewing cables to eliminate cable drag, clean the mech and lube the pivots. Then it's just a case of getting the cable tension right to align the indexing of the shifters to the position of the cassette sprockets. Use the barrel adjuster on the cable outer. Plenty of stuff on youtube.

[jjlynn27]

Thanks for the helpful replies.

I don't think that i would want to try this myself, even with the help of youtube. I don't want to make it worse.

Bike is 2016 Cube

https://www.cube.eu/uk/products/mtb-hardtail/atten...

I'm sure I've seen deore / xt marks but I'm not sure that my description is correct. In total, I'd guess that it has done less than 300m, probably less than 200.

[lufbramatt]

aha sorry you mean 3f/10r ("30 speed"). I thought you meant it was an old 21 speed bike.

The gears should all mesh perfectly, they are talking BS. I've got a 2x10 SLX groupset on one bike, and a 3x10 XT on another and all the gears shift exactly as you'd expect, so they certainly don't "all do that". All you can do is take it to another bike shop then I guess if they won't help and you don't want to do it yourself.

Edited by lufbramatt on Thursday 12th July 11:38

[jjlynn27]

lufbramatt said:

aha sorry you mean 3f/10r (30 speed). I thought you meant it was an old 21 speed bike.

The gears should all mesh perfectly, they are talking BS. All you can do is take it to another bike shop then I guess if they won't help and you don't want to do it yourself.

LOL. I was trying to guess the number of gears, instead of just looking at the website. Another reason why I don't want to do it myself.

I would understand if it was only certain combinations like, excuse the newbie description, outer ring front to inner ring back, but it happens even on middle gears. On some it constantly switches between the two and the only solution is to move to another one.

Appart from that, I love the bike (wish the seat was more comfortable)

[bigdom]

jjlynn27 said:

I don't want to make it worse.

I think you would struggle by the sounds of it, check out this one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbk5RcH0bbQ

You need a better bike shop, a few minutes work at best - it' unlikely to have been set-up correctly at time of purchase.

If not, where are you based, there might be a local PH cyclist close who might be able to assist.

[Marcellus]

you can't make it worse as others have said gears should not jump and the national chain are BSing you!

It really is very simple and you can probably do it yourself in minutes, no tools no special knowledge.

Again as others have said look on You tube to see someone do it but my simplistic guide would be;
1) Work out which gears are always slipping,
2) look at whether it's trying to jump up or down.
3) get off the bike and put it in the gear it's jumping from.
4) see where the cable goes in to the derailleur there will be an adjuster.
5) watch the derailleur and give this adjuster 2 turns in the same direction.
6) if it moved the derailleur toward the smaller gears and the gear is trying to jump up when you ride go for another ride to see if it's made it better, if not repeat this step until it does.
7) if it moved the derailleur teoard the smaller gear and the gear is trying to jump down then give adjuster 2 turns the other way (back to where you started) and repeat step 6 turning adjuster in the other direction.

If all else fails take the bike to a different proper bike shop or see if a friend can do it for you.

[vetrof]

I really like this guy's 'how to' videos.

How to Adjust a Rear Derailleur – Limit Screws & Indexing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkZxPIZ1ngY

[MiseryStreak]

jjlynn27 said:

I took the bike to the shop where it was bought (national chain, only place nearby that would do this) and was told 'they all do that'.

Yes, they all do that when not indexed properly. Don't go to that bike shop ever again. I hope it wasn't Evans, the guys in the Brighton one are great and would never say something so stupid.

If it's still jumping then it's most probably caused by sticky cables, or a stretched chain. If you have bent the derailleur hanger then it will be virtually impossible to index the gears. A decent bike shop will check this, and most frames have a replaceable hanger so an easy/cheap fix.

[jjlynn27]

Thanks all, really appreciated. I'm looking at the shops that are relatively close, I do have car boot thing to transport the bike somewhere. More than anything I wanted reasurance that I wouldn't be wasting my time, and that this is not just one of those things that everyone just lives with.

So, once again, thanks all.

(Not naming the chain but it's not Evans )

[gl20]

vetrof said:

I really like this guy's 'how to' videos.

How to Adjust a Rear Derailleur – Limit Screws & Indexing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkZxPIZ1ngY

+1. All of Calvin's videos are the excellent. He is the Ed China of the bike world. OP - I was afraid to do much on my own road bike in the early days but have done gear adjustments, brake cable and gear cable replacement, and various other things, always referencing these videos.

[Paul Drawmer]

They don't all do that!

If you have dropped the bike and bent the derailleur hanger, it may well struggle to align properly in the middle of the cassette. Otherwise, it is just an adjustment problem.

[jjlynn27]

Thank you all for replies. The bike is booked with a small outfit in Rugby for a general check-up/adjustments. I fell from the bike 2 times (at very VERY low speed) but i think that both side i fell on the opposite side of where the gears are. Port side, for the lack of the better word. The link to exact bike is in one of the posts, so would be good to know if someone can figure out if derailleur hanger (spelling?) is replaceable?

[Marcellus]

jjlynn27 said:

Thank you all for replies. The bike is booked with a small outfit in Rugby for a general check-up/adjustments. I fell from the bike 2 times (at very VERY low speed) but i think that both side i fell on the opposite side of where the gears are. Port side, for the lack of the better word. The link to exact bike is in one of the posts, so would be good to know if someone can figure out if derailleur hanger (spelling?) is replaceable?

I'm planning on riding through Dunchurch later this afternoon, if you can get there let me know and I'll have a quick look for you!