Rear derailleur spot the difference

[roubaixtuesday]

Ages ago swapped the inner cable ahead of upcoming tour. Couldn't get it to index properly, so replaced outer too. Convinced myself it was OK but couldn't quite get it properly indexed across the whole range. Seemed to get even worse on final test ride yesterday; started worrying about bent dropout as only remaining possibility.

Happily, problem now (I think!) solved.

Spot the difference before:

And after:

 

[Big John]

You've anchored the cable correctly in the 'after' photo and the cable looks nearer to the chain stay than 'before'. You turned the gizmo for holding the cable 90°. Do I win a prize? 🤔

 

[roubaixtuesday]

You've anchored the cable correctly in the 'after' photo and the cable looks nearer to the chain stay than 'before'. You turned the gizmo for holding the cable 90°. Do I win a prize? 🤔

A jam sandwich on its way to you! I thought the tab on the plate was to hold the cable in place; it's actually too locate the plate correctly against the RD.

 

[EckyH]

That cable fixing plate makes funny things possible: https://hubbub.bike/hubbubs-original-shimergo-solution/
There are several bikes here with that - it works good enough for me.

E.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

That cable fixing plate makes funny things possible: https://hubbub.bike/hubbubs-original-shimergo-solution/
There are several bikes here where that - it works good enough.

E.

Ha. One of my moments of paranoia yesterday was that I'd managed to fit an 8 speed rather than 9 speed block, hence the slightly off indexing. Ironically perhaps it would actually have worked perfectly with an 8 speed block installed as it was!

 

[Dogtrousers]

So it's the little plate on the pinch bolt thingy? A reasonable looking, but wrong, positioning nadgers the indexing?

This makes me extra satisfied with my decision to always get the LBS to do my recabling. The ways to bugger up indexing and mis-feed cables are so many and varied.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

This makes me extra satisfied with my decision to always get the LBS to do my recabling. The ways to bugger up indexing and mis-feed cables are so many and varied.

I don’t disagree, but draw the opposite conclusion for my own situation.

When a cable snaps a long way from home or LBS, I now know better how to fix it.

Last tour, we had one snap in the Cévennes; when it next happens I won't make this mistake.

The other lesson is always to take a photo before you start so you don't put it back wrong!

 

[winjim]

Not something I've ever been caught out by. No siree, not me, never ever, swear on my life, cross my heart and hope to die stick a needle in my eye.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I don’t disagree, but draw the opposite conclusion for my own situation.

When a cable snaps a long way from home or LBS, I now know better how to fix it.

Last tour, we had one snap in the Cévennes; when it next happens I won't make this mistake.

The other lesson is always to take a photo before you start so you don't put it back wrong!

Makes sense for you. But the worst case for me is going to be riding a few miles to a railway station in Kent in a high gear. I can live with the risk.

And having had a cable snap inside a brifter once I now replace (or rather, get someone to replace) my gear cables fairly regularly as that was seemingly unfixable (my LBS fixed it for me somehow, using secret magic).

100% agree on the take a photo first. Whenever I do work on my bike I take a ton of photos. It doesn't stop it ending with me going the the LBS saying "I've buggered this up, can you do it properly please".

 

[winjim]

Quick check in this specific situation is that the cable should pull in a straight line. The bend in the top photo is a clue something's wrong.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I use friction shifters. The indexing is spot on, anytime I refresh the cables and outers.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

And having had a cable snap inside a brifter once I now replace (or rather, get someone to replace) my gear cables fairly regularly as that was seemingly unfixable (my LBS fixed it for me somehow, using secret magic).

This is the most common place for a cable to snap, and agree re replacing regularly. I discovered this half way through following the TDF route in the Yorkshire Dales. 50 miles in the Dales with two gears is a lesson you don't forget quickly!

Ever since, I airways carry a spare cable. Removing the end from the brifter isn't actually difficult, though it does require a small screwdriver for an access port. All my bikes include such in the kit.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I use friction shifters. The indexing is spot on, anytime I refresh the cables and outers.

Their pernicketyness and fragility and the fact that I find maintenance almost impossible is the reason for the hate part of my love-hate relationship with brifters. I still use them though.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Their pernicketyness and fragility and the fact that I find maintenance almost impossible is the reason for the hate part of my love-hate relationship with brifters. I still use them though.

That is why i just prefer fuss free friction shifting with no maintenance other than when I decide to refresh cables. My 1984 racer with down tube shifters; kept it till 2002 and never replaced cables, shifters or derailleur. If I eventually am forced into higher speed derailleurs / cassettes; I do not need to replace the shifters.