401flava

Hey,

My rear derailleur jockey wheel (the forward wheel,closest to the crank) hits the 7th cog (24t) in my 9sp cassette no matter how I adjust. The rd is a 5701-gs which can handle a 32t cog so it's not that. I don't know derailleurs, but I'm feeling like the derailleur mounting hole is too "high" in relation to the axle, and I've got to drop the derailleur down somehow. Is that what's going on? Is there a kinda dropbolt deal for derailleurs? The bikes got bolt on dropouts but it's a 20 year old Aegis so i don't like my chances of finding any parts, unless the bolt spacing is/was standard.

Aaaarrrrrgh! I've built this bike from frame up, and everything went pretty well, I learned a lot, but no mishaps. Now I'm ready to put on the chain and ride, and the rear derailleur is not playing well! I'm not gonna get frustrated until someone says "Sorry dude, yer skeerewed"
But seriously, am I jammed up or is there still hope?

edit: This issue is occurring WITHOUT the chain on, I was just shifting up and down before fitting the chain to check function. But I just thought "Hey, maybe with the chain tension, the forward jockey wheel will be pulled down and clear the larger gears no problem" Am I right there? Am I only hitting because there's no chain pulling the derailleur down? That's an easy fix

Shimagnolo

Have you adjusted the B-screw?

Park Tool Co. » ParkTool Blog » Rear Derailler Adjustments (derailleur)

2manybikes

Photos might help.

Andrew R Stewart 

Is the chain too long? Andy.

e_guevara

+1

The B-screw moves the derailleur body back so that the jockey wheel clears the larger sprockets when the RD swings inward.

Bill Kapaun

Put the properly sized chain on and report back.

IthaDan 

Yawp. My thought as well.

e_guevara

The OP did mention that there was no chain. So it wouldn't be a "chain too long" problem.

As Bill said (and what you may have surmised), putting a properly sized chain will put tension on the system that will pull the RD cage down.

Andrew R Stewart 

I missed this detail. I assumed that the Op would have fully set up the system before doubting things. Andy.

rydabent

This is what the "B" screw adjustment is for. Too many people think it is a chain tension screw, which it is not.

reddog3

"edit: This issue is occurring WITHOUT the chain on, I was just shifting up and down before fitting the chain to check function. But I just thought "Hey, maybe with the chain tension, the forward jockey wheel will be pulled down and clear the larger gears no problem" Am I right there? Am I only hitting because there's no chain pulling the derailleur down? That's an easy fix"

Without a chain you're not "shifting", you're just moving the DR. Install the right length chain and adjust the B screw and all's well.

401flava

Ok, I apologize for my ignorance. I just didn't know that chain tension would 'fix' this issue, but it seems to be about right with the chain on. I'm still a BIT too close to the 32t cog but I may need a tighter chain. I think this issue is solved and a big THANK YOU to all who replied. Now, onto the next issue!

cny-bikeman

On the next issue please wait until things are properly installed before you focus on something irrelevant.

401flava

Well, the thing is I wouldn't know that "things weren't properly installed" without learning what that means. To be fair, everything was properly installed, I just hadn't put the chain on yet and I stated as much at the outset. This is my first time doing anything involving a shifter, a derailleur, or a chain, so without the experience and the help, I couldn't possibly have known that a derailleur without a chain isn't 'adjustable'. Remember, we all have to learn things before we know them. My apology was more of a "in hindsight" kinda thing, not an admission of guilt lol. I was saying sorry I made that error, which NOW seems obvious but didn't then. I'm not sorry I started the thread. The only thing I'm guilty of is not being omniscient and that my friend is a universal affliction. If you're on a mission to scold everyone who doesn't know everything, you're gonna be reeeeeeeeeeeeeal busy.

As it turns out, it wasn't irrelevant at all... I did need to adjust the B-limit screw (which I learned from this thread) and I learned that the tightness of the chain directly affects the relative position of the derailleur (from this thread). I'd like to thank everyone who isn't negative for negativy's sake, and took the time to impart some knowledge in a constructive, helpful way! It's always been my understanding that that's what forums are about...

cny-bikeman

I'm sorry, but to think that a derailleur, whose function is to move the chain, is properly installed when there is no chain running through it, is not logical. It's irrelevant how much bike knowledge one has.