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

Ghost shifting problems,,,,HELP!!!

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.

Ghost shifting problems,,,,HELP!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-13-13 | 08:02 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
squatchy
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Denver

Bikes: S-works Roubaix, S-works Tarmac, Gary Fisher Promethius, Tommasini Competion, Eddy Merckx Corsa 01

Ghost shifting problems,,,,HELP!!!

So I just bought a new (used s-works Roubaix) off ebay. Ultegra grouppo. After putting it together and dialing it in for initial fit I took it out for a spin. It started ghost shifting and I couldn't smooth it out with the tensioner on the road so I took it home and put it on my stand. I disconnected the cable and set the limiter screws and then got it working nice on the small end of the casset, nice cable tension, good stop in 10th gear. As I started working up towards first it started getting noisy and the a little glitchy and then by the time I got to the top (1st gear) it would ghost shift.


To get it to work nice up on top I had to dial the tensioner in the opposit direction that I had to go on the bottom end. Once it got sweet in 1st gear as I would then work it down towards ten, the same thing would happen. Started getting noisy in the middle ,,, as I got closer to 10th it got glitchy and eventually when if would finally get into 10th it would ghost shift again and I would then have to feather it in the opposite direction of the answer on the other end to smooth it out.

I bought a new chain because the old one was right at the end of it's life. It didn't change anything. I lubed my cable and brifter and still have same problem. I'm pickeled between the top and bottom end. nI took it to my LBS and had them check to see if my hanger was bent and it was fine. The head mech was gone and the guy that was on shift tried to fix my problem and he couldn't find an answer either.

Lastly, the bike came with 6700 brifters and a 6600 rear derailure. Could that be the issue even though there both 10 speed?

I don't know what to do and hoped someone else could advise before I have to start buying new parts. I guess I could try a different wheelset,,, or put a different cassett on it before I start buying new parts.

None of the parts have any scuffs to indicate any drops/wrecks ect

Thanks

Ryan
squatchy is offline  
Reply
Old 04-13-13 | 08:09 PM
  #2  
Mr. Jim's Avatar
Bike Nerd
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 579
Likes: 1
From: Mid- Michigan

Bikes: mid 80's Fuji Supreme (commuter), LeRun unicycle thingy Raleigh Centrurion

What size frame and what year? I want to look at the geometry charts, short chain stays can contribute to ghost shift issues. I had a tri bike with that issue.
Mr. Jim is offline  
Reply
Old 04-13-13 | 08:15 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
squatchy
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Denver

Bikes: S-works Roubaix, S-works Tarmac, Gary Fisher Promethius, Tommasini Competion, Eddy Merckx Corsa 01

I missed in the intro above as I have bikes almost the same. My problem is on a 61cm S-works Tarmac 2010 not on my Roubaix.!!! Sorry for any confusion.
squatchy is offline  
Reply
Old 04-13-13 | 08:18 PM
  #4  
Thread Starter
squatchy
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Denver

Bikes: S-works Roubaix, S-works Tarmac, Gary Fisher Promethius, Tommasini Competion, Eddy Merckx Corsa 01

It almost seems like my brifter thinks the cassett is a bit wider than it is
squatchy is offline  
Reply
Old 04-13-13 | 08:25 PM
  #5  
Mr. Jim's Avatar
Bike Nerd
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 579
Likes: 1
From: Mid- Michigan

Bikes: mid 80's Fuji Supreme (commuter), LeRun unicycle thingy Raleigh Centrurion

Geometry doesn't appear to be an issue, is the rear cassette possibly not original (like maybe a sram cassette having issues with a shimano setup?)
Mr. Jim is offline  
Reply
Old 04-13-13 | 08:55 PM
  #6  
Thread Starter
squatchy
 
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Denver

Bikes: S-works Roubaix, S-works Tarmac, Gary Fisher Promethius, Tommasini Competion, Eddy Merckx Corsa 01

No, it's a shimano cassett and I checked it at the bike shop with a piece of new chain and it's not worn past specs either
squatchy is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-13 | 03:45 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: NW UK

Bikes: 1992 Marin Eldridge Grade, 2007 Kona PHD and 199? Trek 1000 (current build project)

Is the cable attached to the cable stop correctly on the RD?

If they're not mounted right, it can subtly change the throw of the dérailleur.


Last edited by Continuity; 04-14-13 at 03:48 AM.
Continuity is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-13 | 06:26 AM
  #8  
Retro Grouch's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Whenever I encounter a bike with a rear shifting problem that doesn't respond to normal tuneing, the first thing that I do is to check the derailleur hanger alignment. Most of the time - that's it.

9 and 10-speed cassettes are quite sensitive to less than perfect hanger alignment. A bike that has recently been shipped, especially without a factory packing job is suspect. If it was my bike I'd take it to a shop and have them check the alignment with their gauge. That's about a $15.00 or $20.00 service. Even if it turns out to be spot-on, it's worth it to rule out hanger alignment as the source of your problem.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-13 | 06:34 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: NW UK

Bikes: 1992 Marin Eldridge Grade, 2007 Kona PHD and 199? Trek 1000 (current build project)

Originally Posted by squatchy
...I took it to my LBS and had them check to see if my hanger was bent and it was fine.....
Unfortunately, this appears to have been ruled out as the cause already...
Continuity is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-13 | 06:56 AM
  #10  
Retro Grouch's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Originally Posted by Continuity
Unfortunately, this appears to have been ruled out as the cause already...
"The head mechanic was gone." I have my doubts.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-13 | 06:59 AM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: NW UK

Bikes: 1992 Marin Eldridge Grade, 2007 Kona PHD and 199? Trek 1000 (current build project)

Haha - good point....
Continuity is offline  
Reply
Old 04-14-13 | 07:20 AM
  #12  
Kimmo's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,563
Likes: 735
From: Melbourne, Oz

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

You need to ensure the RD is shifting to each cog properly by looking at it shift from behind, with no chain in the way. If the cogs line up with the jockey wheel but it won't shift the chain, you could try letting out the B screw to get the jockey wheel closer, or maybe your cogs are worn (since you have a fresh chain, it's not that). Otherwise, your RD isn't indexing properly for some reason.

Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
Whenever I encounter a bike with a rear shifting problem that doesn't respond to normal tuneing, the first thing that I do is to check the derailleur hanger alignment. Most of the time - that's it.
And the rest of the time, it's an incorrectly clamped cable. The only other thing that could cause the derailleur to shift further than it should is shifter/RD/cog spacing mismatch. If it's not shifting as far as it should, it might also be damaged cable housing.

BTW, any Shimano RD should work with that shifter and the correct 3.95mm 10s cog spacing, except 8s Dura Ace and MTB stuff called Dynasys or something (10s MTB AFAIK).

Last edited by Kimmo; 04-14-13 at 07:29 AM.
Kimmo is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
subgrade
Bicycle Mechanics
6
04-30-19 07:28 AM
yuv_cohen
Bicycle Mechanics
9
08-26-16 04:24 AM
El Gato27
Bicycle Mechanics
6
10-14-15 07:42 AM
Dorian7
Bicycle Mechanics
5
10-05-14 04:22 AM
SHPBike
Road Cycling
5
06-06-13 06:30 AM

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 © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.