Bicycle Mechanics - Clunky Shifting!? Helppp

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View Full Version : Clunky Shifting!? Helppp


bitterspeak
08-18-08, 09:16 AM
I am currently riding a Fuji Roubaix Pro with FR 105 and RD Ultergra. When I first got the bike (which was in April or May), the shifting was extremely smooth. But recently the shifting from the RD has become rather poor. Whenever I I downshift or upshift the rear derailleur, it feels very clunky when it changes gears. The chain feels like it's being dropped from one gear to the next and it feels like there is a slack. So after I shift, instead of having instant power, I pedal an inch of slack before the power is actually there (Let me know if I need to clarify on this).

I brought it to my LBS, and they said it was loose cable tension in the RD. So they did a quick fix and the downshifting felt better but my upshifting still felt a tad clunky. This past weekend, my cousin came to look at it and tried to spend some time with the bike. He tried tuning it with the adjustment barrel and tightening the cable tension even more but it seems to have gotten worse. He said I should try cleaning my chain or even replacing the shifting cables.

If this is important, the bike also fell derailleur side once. And I was wondering if this would matter at all? It wasn't a hard fall but it did scratch up the rear derailleur.

So I was wondering if you guys have any suggestions as to a possible solution. Advice would be much appreciated.


FLYcrash
08-18-08, 09:31 AM
Maybe your rear derailer hanger needs to be re-aligned.

rmfnla
08-18-08, 10:03 AM
Sounds like the shift cables need lubrication at the least, perhaps replacing.

<edit> Just noticed the part about your bike falling on the RD. FLYcrash is right, have the RD checked for alignment.


bitterspeak
08-18-08, 01:22 PM
The rear derailleur hanger seems to be straight and unbent. I'll double check the actual derailleur when I get home later tonight.

FLYcrash
08-18-08, 09:08 PM
Don't trust your eyes. It seems, from others' experiences, that a slightly bent rear derailer hanger can look unbent to the unaided eye but be bent far enough to cause funky, inexplicable drivetrain issues.

Check the following thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=446233&highlight=