Tuning gears..

[janus77]

Took my bike in for a service a few months ago, the gear changes have actually been worse since the service than before I took it in.

Is it likely that the gearset is wearing, or did the bike mech just f@ck it up?

How hard is it to adjust your gears at home so they shift perfectly?

[rustychisel]

Not hard. What gears?

[janus77]

Shimano Alivio (on a Kona dew).. FD working fine, it's just that the RD isn't changing crisply and is getting that clicking noise when it doesn't make it onto the next cog properly..

[Deanj]

Going onto a larger cog? Turn the barrel adjuster counter clockwise (on the rear mech or on the shifter) to tighten the cable slightly, just a quarter of a turn or so at a time and try it out.

Rear derailleur adjustment

[Kalgrm]

Just undo the inline barrel adjuster a little. It should be next to the gear shifter, which means you can wind it out a half-turn while you're riding along.

If it's not there, it will be next to the derailleur.

If it takes more than 1 turn, you'll need to delve a little deeper. Check out the Shimano web site for an installation instruction on a derailleur. You should also be able to find good instruction on the Park Tools web site. (edit: ... as linked to by Needsapush ....)

Cheers,
Graeme

[janus77]

Thanks all for the info! I'll give it a go on the way home tonight.

[janus77]

The adjuster's on the derailleur, too easy. see how she goes on the way home.

Should be interesting trying to make adjustments on the roll! hehehe.

[Kalgrm]

With the barrel at the RD, you'll probably end up needing to put your bike on a stand to do the adjustment. Give it a go anyway, but if it doesn't work out, you'll know what to do when you get home.

Cheers,
Graeme

[janus77]

screwed it a couple of clicks counter-clockwise before leaving work, seems to have helped, might need to muck around with it to get it just right.

thanks

[sogood]

screwed it a couple of clicks counter-clockwise before leaving work, seems to have helped, might need to muck around with it to get it just right.

Please don't "muck around". Go and read the Shimano manual or one of the other info sites on the net. With the adjuster, you can actually over adjust and end up losing one cog on one of two ends.

[rustychisel]

Sorry, just got back, anyway the advice you've been given is good. Get down behind the bike (in line with the cogs and the mech) and have a good squizz at what happens when you shift the barrel adjuster, paying particular attention to lining up the mech cage (below) with the cogs.

Also, examine your cable run carefully, often when a change is slow or sticky it can be that the cable run is impeded by crud, lack of lubrication, worn cable or cable outer.

[janus77]

Gears are running sweet, must've gotten lucky on the first turn. hehe.

As far as lubricating the cables goes, do you just squirt a bit of lube onto the end points or what?

[Bnej]

As far as lubricating the cables goes, do you just squirt a bit of lube onto the end points or what?

Usually you won't need to do it, but if there is sticky crud around where the cables enter the outers then a bit of light lube and a wipe with a rag should fix it.

Only if the cable is dragging slowly, you should be able to feel it at the shifters/brake levers - the lever won't return as quickly as the spring would be working against a bit of friction.

[janus77]

Yeah, i don't think I'm having any problems in that department, the gear movements when I release the gears are fast enough.

[Mulger bill]

Sounds like a bit of cable stretch is all then, nice fix Janus.

Shaun

[Aushiker]

G'day

I found this video really helpful in learning how to adjust the RD.

Andrew