Recumbent - Gear skipping

Hey there guys,
I've got a bit of a problem. My lowest gear keeps skipping around and eventually jumping off the cogs and usually to the left of the cog "cone". I tried adjusting my derailleur like my handy dandy bike repair book says to. Its a little better now, but not much. Any ideas? I am thinking that my LBS might be a little better suited, although I really don't like the shop, they're jerks to people who ride 'bents.

That would be "cluster" instead of "cone". But, anyway, the low limit screw of your deraileur should keep the chain from going beyond the largest cog towards the wheel. If you can't find instructions for that, trial and error will tell you which screw to adjust and which way to turn it. Are you on your smallest chainring when this happens? Is your chain worn, or are your cogs worn? Did you recently replace a worn chain but not the cluster? Is the cage of you deraileur bent or are the pulleys funky? If all else fails, sure, pay somebody to fix this.

Check for a tight link in your chain.

I just got the bike about 2 months ago. Would the chain be getting wonky already?. I am wondering if the cage is a little bent, It got knocked over when it was parked while I was at school. There is a bit of a scratch on the top of it, the cage doesn't look bent though. Hmm...Maybe I'll try and find myself a recumbent friendly LBS down in Eugene, OR.

If it got knocked over that could have bent the cage or the hanger.

Take a look from the rear and see if the wheels in the dérailleur cage look like they are in a line with the gear that they chain is in. If the line is skewed but parallel, look for a barrel adjuster on the cable as it goes into the dérailleur and bring it in line using the adjuster. For most setups, you will want to put in a counter clockwise turn to put a little more tension on it. Cables do stretch a little. If no barrel adjuster at the dérailleur, check for one on the back of the shifter where the cable exits.

If the line is angled, something is bent.

Any shop should be able to help you out. I've never charged anyone for a single dérailleur adjustment.

Aha! I found a new bike shop that isn't so snobby and stupid. They charged me 6 bucks to get it adjusted and oiled and all that jazz. Works like a charm now.
I am thinking of getting my front boom pushed out a bit cause my knees aren't bending enough. Also, I'd be able to add some chain so I could utilize all my gears(the chain is a bit too short now). How far out should I push the boom out? So I can reach the peddles with my "tippy toes" right?Just like an upright?

Aha! I found a new bike shop that isn't so snobby and stupid. They charged me 6 bucks to get it adjusted and oiled and all that jazz. Works like a charm now.
I am thinking of getting my front boom pushed out a bit cause my knees aren't bending enough. Also, I'd be able to add some chain so I could utilize all my gears(the chain is a bit too short now). How far out should I push the boom out? So I can reach the peddles with my "tippy toes" right?Just like an upright?

As far out as you can, without your shins, ankles, knees (or legs in general) hurting.

Hey there guys,
I've got a bit of a problem. My lowest gear keeps skipping around and eventually jumping off the cogs and usually to the left of the cog "cone". I tried adjusting my derailleur like my handy dandy bike repair book says to. Its a little better now, but not much. Any ideas?
It sounds as if you might have two issues going on:

Set screw needs adjusting to prevent the chain from "jumping off the cogs". This is dangerous if the chain is moving into the spokes themselves. I assume you have a spoke protector? If not then get this looked at immediately! On the rear derailleur there are two Phillips screws that control how far IN/OUT the chain will travel when shifted to the lowest or highest gears. Use the screw that is closest to the rear cluster to prevent having the chain bump up against the spokes.
As you face the rear derailleur there is another screw at about the 9 o'clock position which governs the amount of chain wrap you will get when using the rear derailleur. You need to make certain that enough chain is being wrapped around the cluster to prevent chatter when climbing under load.

Aha! I found a new bike shop that isn't so snobby and stupid. They charged me 6 bucks to get it adjusted and oiled and all that jazz. Works like a charm now.
I am thinking of getting my front boom pushed out a bit cause my knees aren't bending enough. Also, I'd be able to add some chain so I could utilize all my gears(the chain is a bit too short now). How far out should I push the boom out? So I can reach the peddles with my "tippy toes" right?Just like an upright?
While you want the boom on a recumbent extended out far enough, too far can be dangerous to your knees if hyperextention results (something different from what can happen on a DF). Seat yourself well back into the seat and put your HEEL on the pedal. Your leg should be comfortably straight. This will usually be the correct lenth for most riders or at most it may need to be refined by a quarter inch one way or the other. When you put the ball of your foot on the pedal you will have the corrent knee bend.

Chip
recumbenttrikestore.com

I've never charged anyone for a single dérailleur adjustment.
My French is a bit rusty, but isn't the accent over the second e? :rolleyes:

My French is a bit rusty, but isn't the accent over the second e? :rolleyes:

Yeah, I think so, but that's where my spell checker put it. Who am I to argue with Mr. Gates & Co.?