rear derailleur problems

Sounds like you need to replace the chain and lubricate the drive train.

mattjf said:

I'm having problems with my Shimano 9-spd rear derailleur. Since bringing the bike out this spring, I've had minor shifting problems. I had a crash yesterday but didn't land on the drivetrain side. Coming home from the crash, shifting was fairly normal with no real issues.

Today I took the wheel off, chain off, cogs off, etc. to clean it all (I crashed into a lake basically. Long story 🙂).

Anyway, the chain is very loud, and when I'm in the largest cog, I'm unable to pedal backwards. I can rotate the pedals a couple turns and then the chain gets all caught up on the pullies. Shifting is way off, very loud, etc.

Should I just follow the steps to adjust the rear derailleur? What adjustment is responsible for not being able to pedal backwards without the chain getting messed up?

I have the same problems w/ my 105 set...tell me plz, how do you take your casseste and chain off to clean it. :o

Bikelyst said:

I have the same problems w/ my 105 set...tell me plz, how do you take your casseste and chain off to clean it. :o

Chain removal tool and a cassette removal tool. You can either buy them or ask a cycling buddy. if you ride with a group someone is bound to have one.

Note: It isn't absolutely necessary to remove either unless you are replacing them. You can clean both off them fairly well while they are on the bike. For the cassette just take a clean cloth and slide it back and force between each ring on the cassette to remove grease and dirt. For the chain, spray some degreaser onto a cloth and run the chain through the degreaser on the cloth and watch the gunk come off.

buckybux said:

Sounds like you need to replace the chain and lubricate the drive train.

Chain is fairly new (probably 600 miles) and the drivetrain is very clean and lubricated with ProLink.

Also, I have a powerlink on there to make removing the chain very easy. I'm obsessive about a clean chain, so I don't think thats what is causing the derailleur to get caught up.

-Matt

mattjf said:

I'm having problems with my Shimano 9-spd rear derailleur. Since bringing the bike out this spring, I've had minor shifting problems. I had a crash yesterday but didn't land on the drivetrain side. Coming home from the crash, shifting was fairly normal with no real issues.

Today I took the wheel off, chain off, cogs off, etc. to clean it all (I crashed into a lake basically. Long story 🙂).

Anyway, the chain is very loud, and when I'm in the largest cog, I'm unable to pedal backwards. I can rotate the pedals a couple turns and then the chain gets all caught up on the pullies. Shifting is way off, very loud, etc.

Should I just follow the steps to adjust the rear derailleur? What adjustment is responsible for not being able to pedal backwards without the chain getting messed up?

I'd go back to the beginning and work through step by step:
1. Make sure cassette and spacers are properly installed on the freehub. If it worked before disassembly but not after, this could be the problem. Also make sure that lockring is properly tightened.
2. Make sure the wheel is mounted straight in the frame.
3. Make sure cables and housing are not kinked or otherwise screwed up.
4. Check RD outer and inner limit screws.
5. Check RD cable tension.
6. Check to be sure that chain does not have any stiff links.

Not being able to pedal backwards suggests that the upper RD pulley is not centered under the cassette cog.