campy trouble shooting

onebigrider said:

I have a 2003 chorus groupo. I built my bike from the frame up. I cannot for the life of me get the rear derailuer to shift into my smallest cog. I also can not turn my low gear (small cog) screw without a great deal of force. Is my chain to long? someone give me a clue. It would kill me to bring it to a shop. I have also played with the barrel adjusters and no luck

The small cog is the HI limit. Got the cable attached in the right position at the RD? Don't you know how to size a chain?Take it to a shop.

The RD should rest (no cable tension) on the smallest cog position.
Have you tried loosening the cable?
Got any friends with a similiar setup you can compare it too?
It may be something really simple, and that would stink to bring it to your LBS and have it be a quick fix/ adjustment.
Good luck.

ArmOnFire said:

The RD should rest (no cable tension) on the smallest cog position.

Assuming correct hi limit adjustment.

Uh oh, you know what happens when we ASS U ME ?

onebigrider said:

I have a 2003 chorus groupo. I built my bike from the frame up. I cannot for the life of me get the rear derailuer to shift into my smallest cog. I also can not turn my low gear (small cog) screw without a great deal of force. Is my chain to long? someone give me a clue. It would kill me to bring it to a shop. I have also played with the barrel adjusters and no luck

If you question the chain length....
This is the easiest method for intial chain sizing that I have found:
sheldonbrown.comderailer adjustment.htmlOpen ↗

onebigrider said:

I also can not turn my low gear (small cog) screw without a great deal of force.

It's easiest to adjust the limit screws when the derailleur is not resting on the stop. You should be able to turn it though. As boudreaux said, the small cog is your high limit screw.

onebigrider said:

Is my chain to long? someone give me a clue.

Is the RD maxed out when you're in the smallest cog (or the second smallest one in this case)? Wait... that doesn't make sense. If your chain were too short it would'nt be a problem on the big/small combo. If it were too long it should still shift to the small cog too. I think... My guess is it's either the limit adjustment or (again like boudreaux already suggested) you have the RD cable routed or anchored incorrectly.

It may be a stupid question but if you diconnect the calbe to the RD does it drop on to the lowest cog. If so it sounds like you are pushing the RD up as you tighten the cable there by adding some tension to the cable and stopping it changing down.

Try, disconnecting the cable and see if it changes down to the smallest cog.
If you are sure you have the limit screw out and its still not shifting the RD hanger may be bent inwards slightly. A good LBS should be able to fix it.

If it does shift down, adjust all the barrel adjusters inwards and connect the calbe again without putting loads of tension. The shift up via the lever and adjust one of the barrels until it shifts up. Do this for another step up and then shift all the way down and hopefully it will go all the way.

Hope this help,

Dave N