Derailleurs – Science or what?

[Moodyman]

Been commuting on new bike for a month. Due to the expected cable-stretch, found the rear derailleur skipping. So, started fiddling with the barrel adjuster and the two Hi + Lo screws (retrospectively, I know that I shouldn’t have touched these), and after four hours last night and I gave up.

Visited Bike Doctor and similar websites this morning, and it looks like a piece of cake.

Why don’t bike shops tell you the basic elements of bike maintenance and fine tuning when you walk out with a new bike?

 

[mr Mag00]

in the same way garages dont show you how to service your own vehicle.

 

[Davidc]

Because they'd rather you paid them to do it!

 

[Spinney]

Been commuting on new bike for a month. Due to the expected cable-stretch, found the rear derailleur skipping. So, started fiddling with the barrel adjuster and the two Hi + Lo screws (retrospectively, I know that I shouldn’t have touched these), and after four hours last night and I gave up.

Visited Bike Doctor and similar websites this morning, and it looks like a piece of cake.

Why don’t bike shops tell you the basic elements of bike maintenance and fine tuning when you walk out with a new bike?

Cos they want you to bugger up the gears by fiddling with it yourself, and then pay them to fix it!

I did exactly the same as you when my gears needed fixing - messed it up to the point of making the bike unrideable, then went and found some videos on YouTube. Took me 10 minutes to sort it once I knew what I was doing!

 

[BentMikey]

in the same way garages dont show you how to service your own vehicle.

I've seen just the youtube video to match your avatar, mr Mag00:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4H8ihMJhow

 

[Dan B]

Did the shop not offer you a first service free?

 

[Moodyman]

Am due a first service in a couple of weeks, but I thought I'd fine tune it for this week's commutes. At least before I started messing with it, it was rideable. When I finished last night it wasn't. So caught the train this morning. So f88ked off with meself.

 

[ianrauk]

You live and learn Moodyman.
Once you get a grasp of how they work it really is quite easy to set up.
There are some good videos on You Tube that show how.

 

[dub-no-bass]

Why don’t bike shops tell you the basic elements of bike maintenance and fine tuning when you walk out with a new bike?

They gave me a manual with mine; noddy common problems in a thin booklet with full-on service details for every part in an attached CD.

I know what you mean though - after changing the front-ring gears on my new-ish road bike for the first time (in 4 months of ownership, hey, I've been avoiding hills up to now!), the chain now skips every seventh revolution of the pedals. I have no idea what to do to fix it, it's not in the manual, so it's back to the LBS for me

 

[just jim]

Do the job with a nice scewdriver that fits - I hate it when I chew up those little screws with a knackered old screwdriver!

 

[goo_mason]

They gave me a manual with mine; noddy common problems in a thin booklet with full-on service details for every part in an attached CD.

I know what you mean though - after changing the front-ring gears on my new-ish road bike for the first time (in 4 months of ownership, hey, I've been avoiding hills up to now!), the chain now skips every seventh revolution of the pedals. I have no idea what to do to fix it, it's not in the manual, so it's back to the LBS for me

Sounds like you might have a stiff link in the chain - every 7th revoultion that link will be hitting the rear cassette again and causing the skip.

 

[psmiffy]

If its not dangerous I never mess with the gear adjustement on the road - The best tool for adjusting the gears is a workstand - on tour if I am having problems at the end of the day I find a good tree and suspend the bike - The adjustment is easy then

Sounds like you might have a stiff link in the chain - every 7th revoultion that link will be hitting the rear cassette again and causing the skip.

- that sounds right to me

 

[Matty]

Having just switched to single speed for commuting duties, I've all ready forgotten what a derailleur is. The chap behind me this morning probably wishes he had less gears too after he was grinding and lurching away from every set of lights with what sounds like the same problem as OP!

 

[hackbike 666]

I've seen just the youtube video to match your avatar, mr Mag00:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4H8ihMJhow

You have too much time on your hands BM.

 

[BentMikey]

Err no. Coincidence is all. Family posted it on facebook.