Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

rear derailleur unadjustable

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

rear derailleur unadjustable

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-06-14 | 11:03 AM
  #1  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

rear derailleur unadjustable

I FIXED IT\\\
HANGER WAS SLIGHTLY LOOSE\\
WHERE IS THE FUN IN THAT!>?\\\
wle
=======================

my rear derailleur cannot be set to work across the whole cassette any more

it used to work great, i haven;t done anything to it like wrecking

it;s old, but good
shimano 600
7 speed
index shifters, downtube, pretty simple

if i set it so the big ones index right, then the little ones ones don;t
vice versa

it has a lot of miles and years on it
possibly the hanger is bent slightly, maybe the jockey wheel has play, maybe the whole thing has play from side to side

if it was one of those, though, which one would produce my symptoms?

it acts like the cassette spacers aren;t equal, but they are
or like the shifter's 'cable winding drum' isn;t round, but how can that be?

i realize the shifter might be doing it, but i doubt that, it always worked right before

i also don;t think it;s due to friction in the housing, or where it goes around the BB
there is only about 8" of housing involved, so even if that was bad, there shouldn;t be a lot of slack or slop in that


wle

Last edited by wle; 04-10-14 at 07:05 PM. Reason: I FIXED IT
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 11:07 AM
  #2  
buffalowings's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 708
Likes: 0
Jockey wheels tend to have a bit of play (it's actually inherent in the design) I would wager that the derailleur hanger is slightly bent, because it sounds like you can get it to shift up/down ok, but not through the entire range.
buffalowings is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 11:07 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,637
Likes: 52

Bikes: Super Cheap gc3 approved Bike

Your limits could be messed up then. You need to relax the upper limit so it can shift into the largest cog. Way I do limits is shift into smallest cog and largest chainring. You can release the cable at this point since this is where you want the derailleur to be without any cable tension. Then shift into the largest cog and smallest chainring. You want to adjust it so the derailleur can shift into largest cog but not over. You want to make sure you can't shift beyond it and chain fall off. It's quite easy to do.

If the derailleur is bent so much that you can't shift up to the largest cog, then you probably need a new derailleur. Ebay has 'em cheap.

If it's derailleur hanger is bent, it's $20 to get it fixed at your LBS.
zymphad is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 11:10 AM
  #4  
iamtim's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,054
Likes: 4

Bikes: 2012 Motobecane Vent Noir; 2016 Mercier Kilo TT Pro

I put a new cable on mine a couple of months back and found that I was having the same issue. I adjusted and readjusted and re-ran the cable and effed with it for days but couldn't get it right. Out of sheer frustration I took it to my bike shop who looked at it and in 2 seconds told me what the problem was: I'd secured the cable on the wrong side of the, eh, nut/bolt thing, which changed the pull on the derailleur.

It's a dumb mistake, but make sure that's not it.
iamtim is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 11:12 AM
  #5  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

yes it does go up and down
it;s just the indexing that is off and can;t be set for the whole range
can be correct for either the bigs or the littles but not all
wle
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 11:12 AM
  #6  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

yeah i thought that was (cable attached wrong point) what it was but it wasn;t
i will try it in the ''other place'' to see if i am still wrong
wle
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 11:14 AM
  #7  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

i understand limits, as far as i know it isn;t that

wle
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 12:22 PM
  #8  
buffalowings's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 708
Likes: 0
Definitely a bent hanger..
buffalowings is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 12:46 PM
  #9  
milkbaby's Avatar
blah blah blah
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by buffalowings
Definitely a bent hanger..
+1 sounds very characteristic of a bent hanger.
milkbaby is offline  
Reply
Old 03-06-14 | 12:48 PM
  #10  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

k
that could be
i will try to make it more straighterer and see what happens
then maybe buy a new hanger
wle
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 04-09-14 | 03:48 PM
  #11  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

so what it was, was the hanger was loose a little
it was because of a repair i had made
tolerances slightly out before when i got a new hanger
i had used aluminum metal tape to add a few thousandths to make it tight
eventually it wore away somehow
so the der had more play than it should have had, side to side
fixed same way again
this time i will know though

plus i straightened it, it was ever so slightly angled, the hanger

wle
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 04-09-14 | 04:06 PM
  #12  
BoSoxYacht's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,281
Likes: 2
From: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it

Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS

Originally Posted by buffalowings
Definitely a bent hanger..
I'd bet this is the problem.

Also check to make sure the cable is moving freely. Cable friction can cause many shifting problems.
BoSoxYacht is offline  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 01:32 PM
  #13  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

actually it was 'hanger slightly loose'
wle
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 01:39 PM
  #14  
Nachoman's Avatar
well hello there
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,491
Likes: 390
From: Point Loma, CA

Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)

Bent hanger.
__________________
.
.

Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
Nachoman is offline  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 01:50 PM
  #15  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

loose
why does everyone keep replying bent?
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 02:22 PM
  #16  
RollCNY's Avatar
Speechless
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 8,842
Likes: 39
From: Central NY

Bikes: Felt Brougham, Lotus Prestige, Cinelli Xperience,

Because many people read the OP and skip the rest. Your "I fixed it" post lies mid thread, and gets missed. Remember that BF has the attention span of a gnat.
RollCNY is offline  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 02:29 PM
  #17  
Nachoman's Avatar
well hello there
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,491
Likes: 390
From: Point Loma, CA

Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)

Originally Posted by RollCNY
Because many people read the OP and skip the rest. Your "I fixed it" post lies mid thread, and gets missed. Remember that BF has the attention span of a gnat.
How long is the attention span of a gnat?
__________________
.
.

Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
Nachoman is offline  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 02:30 PM
  #18  
RollCNY's Avatar
Speechless
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 8,842
Likes: 39
From: Central NY

Bikes: Felt Brougham, Lotus Prestige, Cinelli Xperience,

Originally Posted by Nachoman
How long is the attention span of a gnat?
Wut?
RollCNY is offline  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 02:40 PM
  #19  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

fixed it
hanger was slightly loose
wle
wle is offline  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 02:50 PM
  #20  
Homebrew01's Avatar
Super Moderator
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,987
Likes: 1,169
From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut

Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales

Bent hanger








Of course, you could update your original post such as "FIXED: Hanger Was Loose", but that would take all the fun out of it.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.

FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Homebrew01 is online now  
Reply
Old 04-10-14 | 07:06 PM
  #21  
wle's Avatar
wle
Thread Starter
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 245
Likes: 10
From: atlanta ga

Bikes: road: 1999 GT road:40Kmi+ // 2001 fuji finest AL:9Kmi+//1991 schwinn paramount ODG:0.1Kmi+

ok i done done that
i tink
wle

fixed it
hanger was slightly loose
wle
fixed it
hanger was slightly loose
wle
fixed it
hanger was slightly loose
wle fixed it
hanger was slightly loose
wle

Last edited by wle; 04-10-14 at 07:06 PM. Reason: fixed it hanger was slightly loose wle
wle is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Dorian7
Bicycle Mechanics
12
10-28-14 12:19 PM
General Geoff
Bicycle Mechanics
6
03-14-14 03:12 PM
bennie222
Bicycle Mechanics
3
03-09-11 05:08 PM
sirious94
Bicycle Mechanics
10
03-01-10 01:49 AM
DArthurBrown
Bicycle Mechanics
4
01-17-10 08:55 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 © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.