Newbie question - adjusting deraileurs

Badger_South <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Is there a clear/clearer procedure for doing this so I don't mess up the
bike, or should I take it into the LBS and watch them adjust it?

Try http://www.parktool.com/ or http://bike.shimano.com/
If you still can't figure it out, take it to your shop. Random fiddling will
just make it worse.

naaahhh fiddle away it's the best way to learn!!!

Quoted message said:

Try http://www.parktool.com/ or http://bike.shimano.com/
If you still can't figure it out, take it to your shop. Random fiddling

will

Quoted message said:

just make it worse.

Quoted message said:

naaahhh fiddle away it's the best way to learn!!!

Well, sort of. Just keep in mind that the screws are "limiting screws"-- they
limit the amount of travel in or out of the derailleur body. If the thing
needs to go farther one way to stop clicking on the chain, for example, you
need to be sure it "can" go farther, e.g., turn the screw in the direction
that increases the amount of travel. If you can't get enough travel to reach
some of your cogs, then you definitely need to turn the screw(s) in such a
direction that will also increase the amount fo travel. If you have already
reached max travel and still can't reach some of your cogs, then the thing may
need to be remounted or swapped out for a different derailleur.

Ken said:

Badger_South <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Is there a clear/clearer procedure for doing this so I don't mess up the
bike, or should I take it into the LBS and watch them adjust it?

Try http://www.parktool.com/ or http://bike.shimano.com/
If you still can't figure it out, take it to your shop. Random fiddling will
just make it worse.

The trouble with 'do-it-yourself' and guessing, is that there's a
temptation to turn it without first marking where it is at the start of
'tinkering', and then, it strikes you that maybe you can see it (the
derailleur) move, so you screw it in and out a bunch, without counting
turns, and learn 'no, you can't see it move'. Oops! ;-<

This diagram at parktool says it all, though, and I'm sure I can get it
now:

http://www.parktool.com/images/TTOL/der_hlimit.gif

Thx! ;-)

-B
PS, next time I have to take the bike in for something, I'll get the guy to
go over it. I'm usually in there once every six months for something.

PPS - I got the chattering to stop on the front chain. Yay, me. (don't ask
me which way I turned it)

Quoted message said:

If you have already
reached max travel and still can't reach some of your cogs, then the thing
may
need to be remounted or swapped out for a different derailleur.

Forgot one thing here. If max travel isn't enough after adjusting the screws,
check to be sure you still have tension on the derailleur cable at that point.
If not, you may be able to increase its travel by unclamping the cable, pulling
it tight, and reclamping it.

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

Quoted message said:

The problem is my front deraileur makes a slight clattering noise in the
biggest ring, -and- my rear deraileur won't go into the smallest ring. I
have the twist handlebar shifters and if I turn it -past- the "3" and hold
it there the clattering stops.

I've looked at Sheldon Brown's site and pondering adjusting my deraileur,
but I'm still having trouble.

I've located the adjustment screws (duh), but I'm unsure of which way to
turn them.

Is there a clear/clearer procedure for doing this so I don't mess up the
bike, or should I take it into the LBS and watch them adjust it?

Seems like it should be easy, but I'm worried I'll mess it up more,
especially since Sheldon's site talks about multiple adjustments and
adjusting the cable length also.

Sorry for the dumb question. ;->

Take a look at Barnett's Manual:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=38747

If I was you I'd save it all, and maybe even print some of it out.

C.Q.C.

From: [email hidden] (Badger_South)

Quoted message said:

The problem is my front derailer makes
a slight clattering noise in the biggest
ring, -and- my rear derailer won't go
into the smallest ring. I have the twist
handlebar shifters and if I turn it -past-
the "3" and hold it there the clattering
stops.

Quoted message said:

I've looked at Sheldon Brown's site and
pondering adjusting my derailer, but I'm
still having trouble.

Quoted message said:

I've located the adjustment screws (duh),
but I'm unsure of which way to turn
them. Is there a clear/clearer procedure
for doing this so I don't mess up the bike,
or should I take it into the LBS and watch
them adjust it?

Quoted message said:

Seems like it should be easy, but I'm
worried I'll mess it up more, especially
since Sheldon's site talks about multiple
adjustments and adjusting the cable
length also.

Quoted message said:

Sorry for the dumb question. ;->
-B

Sounds like you have GripShifts, or some clone. I don't, but all
shifters work the same way. They pull the cable a certain amount and the
derailer moves a certain amount. ALL adjusting screws are right hand
screws. i.e. "Righty tighty, Lefty loosey".

If the chattering stops when you turn the shifter past 3 (by this I
surmise you are now referring to the front shifter), then your cable is
too loose. There should be an adjusting barrel somewhere along the
length of the cable, most likely where it leaves the shifter. Unscrewing
this barrel will tighten the cable.

Put the bike in the big ring and unscrew the barrel until the chattering
stops (you should be in the smallest cog when you do this).

As for the smallest rear cog, when you shift into it (or try to), is the
cable leading to the rear derailer slack? If so, the high gear limit
screw on the derailler is too tight (they should be marked H and L, you
may need a magnifying glass and bright light to see them). loosen the
one marked H.

However, if the cable is still taut when you try to shift into the
smallest gear, then your cable is too tight. Look at the rear of the
derailer where the cable enters it. There, too, will be an adjusting
barrel. If possible, screw it in (righty tighty) until the chain will
shift into the small cog.

BTW, assuming they're valid, the only DUMB questions are the ones you
don't ask. Have fun! :-3)

- -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 18:27:31 -0400, [email hidden] (Chris Zacho

The Wheelman') said:

Sounds like you have GripShifts, or some clone. I don't, but all
shifters work the same way. They pull the cable a certain amount and the
derailer moves a certain amount. ALL adjusting screws are right hand
screws. i.e. "Righty tighty, Lefty loosey".

If the chattering stops when you turn the shifter past 3 (by this I
surmise you are now referring to the front shifter), then your cable is
too loose. There should be an adjusting barrel somewhere along the
length of the cable, most likely where it leaves the shifter. Unscrewing
this barrel will tighten the cable.

Thanks, Chris. Good advice.

-B

DDB said:

naaahhh fiddle away it's the best way to learn!!!

Quoted message said:

Try http://www.parktool.com/ or http://bike.shimano.com/
If you still can't figure it out, take it to your shop. Random fiddling

will

Quoted message said:

just make it worse.

DDB is correct, it is unlikely you break anything, and since it is not
working correctly now, you cannot make it much worse.
IMO the best way to learn is make the mistakes first.

--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado
(remove ".nospam" to reply)

Craig Brossman <[email hidden]> wrote in news:C2Ufc.1584$FB1.1474
@fe25.usenetserver.com:

Quoted message said:

DDB is correct, it is unlikely you break anything, and since it is not
working correctly now, you cannot make it much worse.
IMO the best way to learn is make the mistakes first.

You can make it worse by adjusting your derailleurs so poorly that your chain
falls under your crankset or into your spokes. IMHO, the best way to learn
is to read a good manual and understand what you are doing.

From: [email hidden] (Badger_South)

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Chris. Good advice.

Quoted message said:

-B

You're welcome. Did it fix the problem(s)?

- -

"May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 21:09:35 -0400, [email hidden] (Chris Zacho

The Wheelman') said:

From: [email hidden] (Badger_South)

Quoted message said:

Thanks, Chris. Good advice.

Quoted message said:

-B

You're welcome. Did it fix the problem(s)?

Almost. At least now, I'm tweaking in the right direction. Didn't realize
the "H" and "L" were actually marked on the derailleur. Had the wrong one
screwed out. So I put that one back in and am turning out CCW 1/2 turn each
time I ride.

-B