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Problem with Rear Derailleur

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Old 09-08-14 | 12:21 PM
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Problem with Rear Derailleur

My Mountain bike was working perfectly last week. I went for a ride at the weekend and the rear derailleur has developed a problem. There is no spring in the derailleur. The lowest jockey wheel has moved towards the crank and the chain is sagging, previously the lowest jockey was properly inline with the upper jockey wheel. The cable is still in the same position as it was when the derailleur was working correctly. Feedback appreciated as I need to go for a ride.
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Old 09-08-14 | 01:16 PM
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Pictures would help, as would knowing what type of derailleur it is. Sounds like the spring could have broken in the derailleur body, you could try making sure that it is good and clean. Try pushing it by hand and seeing if there is any spring tension fighting you.
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Old 09-08-14 | 01:27 PM
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Was any type of maintenance done, the derailleur or wheel removed, or did you have any type of incident while riding just before the problem arose? It can feel like the spring is broken if the derailleur was allowed to rotate or was reinstalled so that it is not sprung against the stop on the hanger.

Last edited by cny-bikeman; 09-08-14 at 01:34 PM.
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Old 09-08-14 | 01:28 PM
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I agree with Higgins that it sounds like a broken derailleur spring.
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Old 09-08-14 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by higgins617
Pictures would help, as would knowing what type of derailleur it is. Sounds like the spring could have broken in the derailleur body, you could try making sure that it is good and clean. Try pushing it by hand and seeing if there is any spring tension fighting you.
I have tried pushing the derailleur and there is no spring tension. I was thinking a spring must have broken inside the body but wasn't sure. Its a SRAM X7 Derailleur. Photo attached.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
photo 1.JPG (40.0 KB, 40 views)

Last edited by Robbo2015; 09-08-14 at 01:44 PM.
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Old 09-08-14 | 01:46 PM
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Time for a new RD.
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Old 09-08-14 | 02:58 PM
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Bikes: 2008 Novara Randonee - love it. Previous bikes:Motobecane Mirage, 1972 Moto Grand Jubilee (my fave), Jackson Rake 16, 1983 C'dale ST500.

It is possible the spring broke, but if you ask for help it's considered a part of the process to answer diagnostic questions (Post #3 above). Depending on the answer you may save yourself the cost of a new derailleur.
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Old 09-09-14 | 12:15 AM
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Originally Posted by cny-bikeman
Was any type of maintenance done, the derailleur or wheel removed, or did you have any type of incident while riding just before the problem arose? It can feel like the spring is broken if the derailleur was allowed to rotate or was reinstalled so that it is not sprung against the stop on the hanger.
No maintenance completed on the bike for a few weeks, as I said previously it was working fine before the ride were the rear derailleur became faulty/stopped working correctly. No incident happened while riding. I was only 2 minutes into the ride.
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Old 09-09-14 | 06:10 AM
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Bikes: 2008 Novara Randonee - love it. Previous bikes:Motobecane Mirage, 1972 Moto Grand Jubilee (my fave), Jackson Rake 16, 1983 C'dale ST500.

OK, thank you for clarification. It would seem then that the spring is the logical culprit.
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Old 09-09-14 | 07:22 AM
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Yes looking in the window of the RD you should see a short what some people call a "screen door" type spring. Your LBS might have one they kept from a bent or broken RD.
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