Today was not a good day.....

[Motozulu]

Cheers will do - last night tonight then 9 off to get into it. Derailleur arrived today from chainreaction just waiting on the hanger now. So - what sort of grease/lube am I using when putting all this together? ie on the main bolt that fixes derailleur to the hanger? any loctite required anywhere? skewers look a bit manky - clean and lube em?

 

[lulubel]

I got my grease from my lbs. It's some kind of marine grease, I think. (The tube has a picture of a boat on it, anyway!)

 

[Motozulu]

Cheers Lulubel, I'll have a chat with him - got to go in anyway as I'm gonna see if he can source me a spare hanger - the one I ordered is coming from Asia and may still be a week away yet - Doh!

Be a good idea to have a spare anyway but the main reason is I don't think I can go a week without going out on the bike. You don't realise you have an addiction until you are denied something - Mrs Zulu is right - I'm bitten big style.

 

[Motozulu]

Right, bits here, bit of trial and error but have got the gears changing pretty sweetly through all cogs on the stand (spent all afternoon on it, splitting chains, fitting hanger and rear mech etc - all of this totally new to me) - test ride tomorrow - only concern I have is that no matter what I do with the B screw there is no discernible change in jockey wheel position - so I've settled for about halfway in. I know this is a crucial part and the jockey wheel is'nt touching the cassette but should I expect to see some movement of the jockey wheel up or down when I adjust the B screw?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

If the end of the B screw is connecting properly with the mech hanger the movement of the mech should be obvious when you turn the screw. Or at least it has been on the umpteen bikes I've adjusted B screws on. So if you can't see it move that implies something isn't right. Without the B screw what is there to stop the top wheel and cassette coming together or jamming the chain.

Are you adjusting it with the chain in largest rear smallest front?
Is the cage on the new mech the same length as the cage on the old?
Is the new chain the same length as the old or at least the right length?

 

[Motozulu]

Like for like mech, same chain (just with a quick link in) I think I need to go back and check I did it with largest rear, smallest front and make sure the screw is actually screwing against the hanger - cheers Greg.

 

[lulubel]

I think I need to go back and check I did it with largest rear, smallest front and make sure the screw is actually screwing against the hanger - cheers Greg.

Did you make sure the screw was against the hangar when you fixed the mech on? From what I recall - it's a while since I built the Surly - it's possible to attach it "crooked" so the screw doesn't reach the hangar.

 

[Cubist]

Did you make sure the screw was against the hangar when you fixed the mech on? From what I recall - it's a while since I built the Surly - it's possible to attach it "crooked" so the screw doesn't reach the hangar.

Like for like mech, same chain (just with a quick link in) I think I need to go back and check I did it with largest rear, smallest front and make sure the screw is actually screwing against the hanger - cheers Greg.

Lulubel may have it... I was about to say the same.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Did you make sure the screw was against the hangar when you fixed the mech on? From what I recall - it's a while since I built the Surly - it's possible to attach it "crooked" so the screw doesn't reach the hangar.

entirely possible to do that, it's all about the angle of the dangle when you first bolt the mech on the hangar.

 

[Motozulu]

Thanks for that - just had a last look and although for the life of me I could'nt actually see any movement - when I adjusted the B screw, after checking it was engaging the tab, I could hear a faint 'rumble' as I turned the crank - I assume this was the jockey wheel rubbing on the big ring - as I eased it back the noise disappeared and there is a healthy gap between jockey and ring. I've had it on the stand (£11.99 - Halfords ) and been running it up and down the cassette in all 3 chainrings and it changes pretty slickly - just got to get it out on the road for some more strenous testing...but have you seen the piggin weather? but thanks again all - the video tute was very helpful too.

I think you all deserve a

Edit -I been out up and down the road and the changing was perfick - obviously yet to really 'load' the chain - I'll be doing that tomorrow on the Sherbrook trail, but all seems good.

Ps Lulubel - still looking at bikes and I can see why you had a Cube - some fantastic deals around just now on 2012 models over here and the spec looks really good on all of 'em. Trying to persuade a dealer to give me 0% on a sale bike but the beggars are'nt having it, well, 6 months is the best so far on a £1,000 bike - I think Mrs Zulu would have something to say on the £150 a month going out of the account!