XT Derailler Help

[Jaysin]

ok so here's my situation with my derailler.....I am not the best at Explaining things, but bare with me:P

I was riding along today, and tried to get it into a lower gear cause I was goin downhill, but it wouldnt shift? So I was like ok, then tried it again and it still wouldnt.....so I tried to get it into a higher gear, and the lever had so much give to it, I had to push it way farther in then I had ever had to before....and now most of the time it wont even shift......

I tried tightening up the cable, but to no avail....

If anyone could understand that, please feel free to give your .02!

Thanks

Jaysin

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by Jaysin
tried to get it into a lower gear cause I was goin downhill, but it wouldnt shift? So I was like ok, then tried it again and it still wouldnt.....so I tried to get it into a higher gear

Did you mean to say:

"I tried to shift into a higher gear to go downhill, but it didn't shift. Then I tried the reverse by shifting into a lower gear, but the trigger had more play than usual."

It'll probably be easiest to just redo the rear derailleur adjustment from zero.

1. Set high and low limit screws.

2. Pull cable taut and secure it.

3. Adjust indexing. (See Park Tool site for instructions.)

Also, oil your cable. If the above doesn't work, replace the cable and/or housing and start again. Report back if you still have problems.

[BiG D]

When my derailure did that I found out the cage was bent, so i took it off and made my bike single speed...

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by BiG D
When my derailure did that I found out the cage was bent, so i took it off and made my bike single speed...

Easiest solution of all.:lol:

[Jaysin]

I think I might just take it into the shop, because I am not one with the rear derailler:( Is there a good website that shows how to retune your derailler??? And what the screws do, like which one does what

[sanrensho]

It really isn't that hard to do yourself and requires almost no tools.

Having to go to your LBS just to tune your derailleur/indexing is so annoying that I just learned to do it myself. However, I did find that it took a few tries to get used to it. The absolute worst you can do is further mess up your already messed up shifting, or end up with a single-speed bike.:D

Park Tool (http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml#drivetrain)

[Jaysin]

Well I just called the Norco shop here, and denny said it was more than likely the cable, casing, housing etc.....but now I fucked around with my R. Derailler:(

Why do I hafta know so little about how to maintain a god damn bike.

[Fruit]

I suggest, turn the screws and look at what happens.

Then think a little and set it up right

shame you cant buy common sense.

Ill let you off for not knowing what the b tension screw does but the others say on them what they do?

Look at any shimano mech manual on their website, full instructions in microsize print:D

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by Jaysin
Why do I hafta know so little about how to maintain a god damn bike.

Nobody is born with an innate knowledge of how to fix bicycles. Read the Park Tool site, or better yet, pick up the Zinn repair book. Then fiddle around with your bike until you get the hang of it.

As a last resort, you can always bring it into the shop and ask the mechanic to show you what he's doing.

[Jaysin]

Originally posted by sanrensho
Nobody is born with an innate knowledge of how to fix bicycles. Read the Park Tool site, or better yet, pick up the Zinn repair book. Then fiddle around with your bike until you get the hang of it.

As a last resort, you can always bring it into the shop and ask the mechanic to show you what he's doing.

I am definately going to look into some of those books/courses!

Thanks for your help:)

[Hepcat]

1)Adjust the low and high screws on the derailleur. Low are your big cogs and high are you small cogs. When you turn the screw clockwise it moves the adjustments inboard.
(L) (H)
-> ||||| <-

2)Adust cable tension. Shift to the smallest cog. Tighten cable by hand. It should shift from your smallest to second smallest cog without hesitation and without jumping two cogs if it is adjusted correctly.

Buy Lennard Zinn's book, it rules the rest.

[Bryce]

its pretty straightforward, if you put the bike in the stand and start fiddling you'll figure it out, its not like bleeding Hayes or anything