Front gear selection of mountain bikes

[Hendry]

I had a friend throw me a mountain bike to fix a puncture for them. While doing so I noticed there front and rear Shimano gear selectors were not quite aligned. The rear is all done but I have started to play with the front and now it appears to be doimng everything much worse than it did.

There are two screws, marked L and H which I am assuming control the outer parameters of movement for the lower gear and high gear. What I can't work out is why they don't appear to be doing anything. Likewise, the quickshift twist control appears to be tightening the cable, but seeminly not making movement between gears.

Anyone on here know these systems well enough to point me to an easy start way to set them up?

[pdV6]

See here: http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

Plus also see the "Pedal Power" forum on this very site!

[tigger1]

Are, if only there were a mountain bike section on here....

(Sorry...all things ear related on bikes are like witchcraft, in my case they either work, or I've touched them).

[mat205125]

tigger1 said:

Are, if only there were a mountain bike section on here....

(Sorry...all things ear related on bikes are like witchcraft, in my case they either work, or I've touched them).

There is. Have a look in the "pedal powered" section for all things MTB, roadie, BMW etc.

[Hendry]

pdV6 said:

See here: http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

Plus also see the "Pedal Power" forum on this very site!

Bugger! Didn't spot that. Could a mod relocate this please?

[Parrot of Doom]

The two screws are 'stops' that stop the chain being pushed off the big or small gears. You'll find the correct adjustment on your gear selector, usually a little screw that sets the tension on the cable. If there isn't one, then you'll have to adjust the cable tension on the deraillier.

Don't do it upside down because it won't work.

[Hendry]

Skip that mods. I think the posts here so far will sort me out!

Thanks guys. Nice to know there is helpful advice on PH for other than spelling and grammar.

[DOOG]

Let that be a lesson to you...

If it works.. Dont go fidlling about with it..!!

[lord summerisle]

Adjusting the front mech is a black art - rear mech is wee easy...

if you dont know what your doing you'll find you can select the middle and outer, but for some reason it wont drop in to the granny, or if you do get into the granny, it then wont go into the the outer...