Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Weird Rear Derailleur position. What gives?!

Search
Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Weird Rear Derailleur position. What gives?!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-15-12, 10:04 PM
  #1  
Pro Paper Plane Pilot
Thread Starter
 
wunderkind's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,645
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Weird Rear Derailleur position. What gives?!

Hi,

I got this Sora RD3400. I don't know what is it. But the pulley cage seems to be at an on angle. For the life of me, I can't figure out why the springs this forward. Can anyone tell me what is wrong? Do I need to tighten/loosen anything?



wunderkind is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 10:08 PM
  #2  
I let the dogs out
 
AlphaDogg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 1,934

Bikes: 2011 Fuji Roubaix 1.0, 2003 Ti Merlin Solis, & 1994 Raleigh MT200

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
That's very strange. The fact that the chain is drooping off from the pulley tells me that chain tension is not holding it in place--that and the fact that it's in your smallest cog. Try rotating the cage back. Maybe it's caught on something.
AlphaDogg is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 10:33 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
chriskmurray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,134

Bikes: Borealis Echo, Ground Up Designs Ti Cross bike, Xtracycle, GT mod trials bike, pixie race machine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
There is a tab on the derailer body that the pin sticking out of the outer cage catches on that keeps it from doing that. My guess is that tab broke and caused the spring that tensions the cage to either break or come out of its seat.
chriskmurray is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 11:05 PM
  #4  
Pro Paper Plane Pilot
Thread Starter
 
wunderkind's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,645
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by chriskmurray
There is a tab on the derailer body that the pin sticking out of the outer cage catches on that keeps it from doing that. My guess is that tab broke and caused the spring that tensions the cage to either break or come out of its seat.
Wow. I am bummed if that is the case! Can you tell me how to check for this pin?
I can swing the cage back. But it keeps springing forward.
wunderkind is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 11:11 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
chriskmurray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,134

Bikes: Borealis Echo, Ground Up Designs Ti Cross bike, Xtracycle, GT mod trials bike, pixie race machine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by wunderkind
Wow. I am bummed if that is the case! Can you tell me how to check for this pin?
I can swing the cage back. But it keeps springing forward.
Do you see the little pin on the derailleur cage just above where it pivots off the derailleur? As you swing it back look for a little knuckle on the derailleur that is probably pretty chewed up. You may be able to build something back up to act as a stop if that is the case and the cage tension feels normal when pulled back into place, but that is rarely the case. How old is the derailleur?
chriskmurray is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 11:13 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
chriskmurray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,134

Bikes: Borealis Echo, Ground Up Designs Ti Cross bike, Xtracycle, GT mod trials bike, pixie race machine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
It looks pretty new, Shimano does offer a 2 year warranty on everything below dura-ace and XTR so you may get lucky and have them replace it for free because the derailleur is likely shot but you may get lucky.
chriskmurray is offline  
Old 09-15-12, 11:42 PM
  #7  
Pro Paper Plane Pilot
Thread Starter
 
wunderkind's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,645
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Weird, my post reply disappeared.

Well you are right. I inspected the RD and indeed a piece of something as you described were sheared off. I thought these are made of metal! It is brand new. So I'm gonna start an RMA with the seller. Grr!!! I am so looking forward to ride tomorrow! Thanks chriskmurray.
wunderkind is offline  
Old 09-16-12, 12:02 AM
  #8  
Retro Grouch
 
onespeedbiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Santa Cruz
Posts: 2,210

Bikes: Yes

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Are we talking about the tab that holds B angle adjustment screw?

From Park Tool;
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
der117.jpg (34.2 KB, 159 views)

Last edited by onespeedbiker; 09-16-12 at 12:05 AM.
onespeedbiker is offline  
Old 09-16-12, 06:34 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 700

Bikes: Cannondale CAAD10 Team, Giant TCR

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
It's the derailleur cage return spring.



(Images taken from the ParkTool website)

The spring tab might have broken off.

Like what the previous poster said, return it to the shop for a replacement. The Sora RD is non-rebuildable.
e_guevara is offline  
Old 09-16-12, 07:33 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
chriskmurray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 1,134

Bikes: Borealis Echo, Ground Up Designs Ti Cross bike, Xtracycle, GT mod trials bike, pixie race machine

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by wunderkind
Weird, my post reply disappeared.

Well you are right. I inspected the RD and indeed a piece of something as you described were sheared off. I thought these are made of metal! It is brand new. So I'm gonna start an RMA with the seller. Grr!!! I am so looking forward to ride tomorrow! Thanks chriskmurray.
It is usually just soft aluminum and this piece really should not see much load at all unless it got hit in shipping so softer materials is usually not a problem. Since it is new, get the shop that sold you the bike to replace it. Glad I could be of some help.
chriskmurray is offline  
Old 09-16-12, 09:30 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Your chain is not properly wrapped around the upper jockey wheel. google "rear derailleur" and look at the photos.
lostbob88 is offline  
Old 09-16-12, 09:31 PM
  #12  
I let the dogs out
 
AlphaDogg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 1,934

Bikes: 2011 Fuji Roubaix 1.0, 2003 Ti Merlin Solis, & 1994 Raleigh MT200

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by lostbob88
Your chain is not properly wrapped around the upper jockey wheel. google "rear derailleur" and look at the photos.
Ah! I didn't notice that. OP, did you build your bike? If it came stock like that, somebody deserves to lose their job.

Edit: oops.

It is wrapped correctly. This is what my 105 5700 rd looks like (it's near parallel because it's in the big-big combo... I know, crosschaining is bad....)

AlphaDogg is offline  
Old 09-16-12, 10:07 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 700

Bikes: Cannondale CAAD10 Team, Giant TCR

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by lostbob88
Your chain is not properly wrapped around the upper jockey wheel. google "rear derailleur" and look at the photos.
It is correctly threaded on the RD. The cage is stretched out because of loss of spring tension on the cage.
e_guevara is offline  
Old 09-16-12, 10:43 PM
  #14  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 19
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Guess it is...Purchasing new glasses!
lostbob88 is offline  
Old 09-16-12, 11:27 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Kimmo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Melbourne, Oz
Posts: 9,545

Bikes: https://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=152015&p=1404231

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1528 Post(s)
Liked 718 Times in 510 Posts
Disassemble the lower pivot and inspect. I'd say 50/50 fixable/replacement.
Kimmo is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Spookytooth22
Bicycle Mechanics
5
09-08-16 08:39 PM
urbanescapee
Bicycle Mechanics
3
02-28-16 12:00 AM
Wiggles_dad
Classic & Vintage
1
05-23-15 10:09 AM
balindamood
Classic & Vintage
2
09-09-12 04:01 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.