Rear derailleur - downshifting problem
 

Hi, quick question. How do I adjust the rear derailleur when having problem with downshifting? I understand that I have to make the cable housing longer using the adjusting barrel located on the handlebar.

My question is which way to turn the adjusting barrel, so that the rear gear will downshift smoothly.

Thanks in advance!

You can learn something doing it trial and error by half turns and observing the effect. Keep count so you can always go back to where you started.

Or you can imagine it in your minds eye. As you correctly point out increasing the length of the housing effectively shortens the inner wire bringing the RD inboard, turn the barrel so it turns upward or out (counterclockwise).

BTW - in case you never learned the right hand rule for screws here's a handy way that will point the way in all situations. Make a loose fist with your thumb point out, like for hitchhiking, with your right hand. If you turn a RH screw the way the fingers point, the screw will move the way the thumb points. Anytime you're in doubt put your right hand near the screw and go. For left hand screws use your left hand.

FBinNY, thank you for your advice and sorry for my delayed reply.

I've almost resolved the downshifting problem by turning the RD adjusting barrel a quarter turn counterclockwise. Now downshifting works way better though it's not perfect. I believe another quarter turn in the same direction will do it.