Bicycle Mechanics - Can't get into smallest cog (rear)

I can't get into the smallest cog on the rear, i've even completely unscrewed the whole H limit screw off

Any ideas?

Detach the cable. Does it get into the smallest cog now? If so, re-attach cable and adjust. If not, you may have a bent hanger and/or derailler.

I assume you mean the gear changer cable?

hmm.. i might just leave it rarely go that fast anyway...

you just might have adjusted the der one gear off so that on the big cog, you would still have one click left if you released the inner stop. did that on my tandem once, drove me nuts trying to sort it out.

Yeah, you're off by one cog on the indexing. Loosen the cable-tension with the barrel adjuster until it drops into the smallest cog. Then it should be spot-on. However, if it's off-by-one on the way up compared to on the way down, then you've got excessive cable-friction somewhere.

Ok, thanks :)

I think when you ride more and shift more and the temps go higher, the cable stretches a tiny bit and requires adjustment. At least with my old school levers. That reminds me - after yesterday's big ride I have to make that very adjustment.

Set your shifter to the highest value... that will set the cable to its loosest state. Then detach the cable from the derailleur and it should go right over the smallest cog. Then reattach the cable and it should be realigned. If not.. take it to your LBS.

If you can't work on it yourself, I'd have a LBS check it out... there may be other things wrong with the bike too.

Yeah, a bent derailleur hanger can cause this problem too.

Cables don't stretch, housing compresses. Same effect though.