Derailleur hitting spokes

krfletcher said:

About a week ago I noticed that the rear derailleur, a shimano, on my
trek hybird started to hit the spokes of the rear wheel in lower gears.
I don't remember anything happening to it, but I guess something could
have knocked it out of place. I tried adjusting it myself and fiddling
around but nothing I did changed it's position. Does anybody know how I
can adjust it so that I can use the lower gears again? Thanks.

I strongly suggest you visit your local bike shop and have this checked.
This is not something to fool with.

Possible causes are a bent dropout on your frame or a bent derailleur.

Try sighting the wheel from behind. The wheel should be straight, and
centered in the frame, and the deraileur cage should be perfectly
vertical. DON"T try pulling on the cage to straighten it.

See:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

Art Harris

krfletcher said:

About a week ago I noticed that the rear derailleur, a shimano, on my
trek hybird started to hit the spokes of the rear wheel in lower gears.
I don't remember anything happening to it, but I guess something could
have knocked it out of place. I tried adjusting it myself and fiddling
around but nothing I did changed it's position. Does anybody know how I
can adjust it so that I can use the lower gears again? Thanks.

If adjusting the "L" screw doesn't suffice, or if it results in not
being able to use your low gear before the derailer hits the spokes,
then your derailer hanger is bent. Replace the hanger or have it
straightened at a _good_ bike shop.
--
Rick Onanian

"Harris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

krfletcher said:

About a week ago I noticed that the rear derailleur, a shimano, on my
trek hybird started to hit the spokes of the rear wheel in lower gears.
I don't remember anything happening to it, but I guess something could
have knocked it out of place. I tried adjusting it myself and fiddling
around but nothing I did changed it's position. Does anybody know how I
can adjust it so that I can use the lower gears again? Thanks.

I strongly suggest you visit your local bike shop and have this checked.
This is not something to fool with.

Possible causes are a bent dropout on your frame or a bent derailleur.

Try sighting the wheel from behind. The wheel should be straight, and
centered in the frame, and the deraileur cage should be perfectly
vertical. DON"T try pulling on the cage to straighten it.

See:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

Art Harris

Had this a couple of times - both times worn pivots in the mech -
replacement mech sorted it.

East to spot - take tension out of cable and try wobbling pivots around - if
they wobble then that's it
No amount of adjusting will solve it and you could end up bending a
perfectlt good hanger.

Russ

krf-<< About a week ago I noticed that the rear derailleur, a shimano, on my
trek hybird started to hit the spokes of the rear wheel in lower gears.
I don't remember anything happening to it, but I guess something could
have knocked it out of place. >><BR><BR>

Either the der hanger is bent or the limit screw needs to be turned in or both.
Spend $5 and have a LBS do it, and watch.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

krf-<< About a week ago I noticed that the rear derailleur, a shimano, on my
trek hybird started to hit the spokes of the rear wheel in lower gears.
I don't remember anything happening to it, but I guess something could
have knocked it out of place. >><BR><BR>

Either the der hanger is bent or the limit screw needs to be turned in or both.
Spend $5 and have a LBS do it, and watch.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Try out the limit screw first - it will take you only a minute. I had a
similar problem and found that even though my derailleur was bent, I had
just enough clearance to adjust the limit screw to keep using it for a
long time. If that doesn't work, take it to the bike shop.

-Collin

krfletcher <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

About a week ago I noticed that the rear derailleur, a shimano, on my
trek hybird started to hit the spokes of the rear wheel in lower gears.
I don't remember anything happening to it, but I guess something could
have knocked it out of place. I tried adjusting it myself and fiddling
around but nothing I did changed it's position. Does anybody know how I
can adjust it so that I can use the lower gears again? Thanks.

There is a limit screw, but if the top jockey wheel is in the correct
place, just bend the cage back. I do this by grabbing the jockey-wheel
cage and pulling.....

LGF