so heres the scoop.

i just bought a 1998 univega rover 300. here is a link to its info:
https://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/B...ga&Model=Rover 300&Type=bike

you can skip the next paragraph if you just want to hear the problem.

when i bought the bicycle it was missing the cable for the rear derailler. i bought a cable for it and installed it in the gripshift how it looked like it was supposed to be. everything looked good, so i closed up the gripshift and tightened the set-screw. i then greased the cable allitle then ran it through the housing. i ran it down the tube of the bicycle and through the bottom bracket guider. i then greased it again and ran it through the housing closest to the rear derailler. i put the shifter in the gear that made the cable the loosest and then pulled the cable tight and tightened the clamping bolt.

when i go to shift the cable into a different gear, when starting in gear 7, it is hard to pull and will not shift. when i am pedeling it shifts but skips 3 gears and goes into gear 3. it feels almost as if the cable is to tight, but when i loosen the cable it dangles off the bike becouse of how loose it is. the grip shift says saram on it but the derailler is shimano.
i am just wondering if this is becouse of the way i installed the cable or becouse a parts issue.
i will be happy to give any ifo on the bike as requested.
thank you in advance.

First things first and that's compatibility of the lever and RD. Sram makes twist-grips for Sram RD's and Shimano RDs, but they're not the same. The ones for Sram usually have numbers like 7.0, 9.0, X.0 etc., the ones for Shimano have names like Comp, Rocket, etc. So step one is checking that you have a shifter that matches the RD.

The next stem is to check for smooth cable movement. Start by shifting to high gear and, while pedaling, pulling the bare wire away from the frame at the down tube as if drawing a bow. Watch the action of RD and see if it moves smoothly. Shift to low gear this way, and hold it there, while you use the twist grip to shift one gear at a time. You should feel it drawing your hand back smoothly with each click. If you feel the cable isn't moving in either of the above tests, you either have worn or sticky housings, or maybe the wire it trapped under something. Now it's just a bit of detective work.

i havnt any clue what an RD is. im sorry but i am not very skilled in drive trains. i have stayed with single speed for almost forever becouse a friend said drivetrains cuase headaches. i have spent the last hour trying to figure this out. i am not quite sure what you meen by pull it like a bow. the gears dont shift or "turn" at all becouse the cable apears to be tight. im sorry but i have alot of learning to do.

Apology not accepted because it isn't called for. Nobody is born knowing about bikes, and has be a newbie for a while.

RD is shorthand for rear derailleur, because others and I are frugal with our keystrokes.

RD= rear derailleur, also know as Mech in England and Austrailia
FD = front derailleur
Shifters, levers, twisters, brifters etc are the shift levers or whatever.



You'll see more shorthand, and will pick it up as you go along.

ok thank you. i will try to diagnose the problem with your tips. i had no idea running a cable could be this complicated as it seems almost barbaric when you think about the process it goes through to shift.

Likesbikes36: Perhaps you did not replace the cable correctly; many of them need the cable to make a full wrap around the inner mechanism before exiting into the cable housing. Take a look at this video and see if you got it right: https://bicycletutor.com/grip-shift-cable/

Also you mentioned that you greased the cable; maybe the grease is too viscous and is not allowing the cable to move freely. Try flushing out the cable housings with WD-40 or something similar an try some light oil instead. You may not need any lubricant at all as modern cables and housings have slippery plastic coatings.

When you have the cable installed properly and moving freely, follow this procedure to adjust your derailleur; go from start to finish and do not omit any steps.
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...nts-derailleur

I think the word you're looking for is elegant.

i found the problem! it was a broken piece of plastic(not even 2 centimeters long) in the grip shift. i was so excited to fix it. but allass now the cable is to short..... gunna have to wait a day or two to get a new one when i have time. But thank you all for your help.
also, to kimmo, it is quite elegant actually. but explaining it dosnt seem so much.