Deralleur won't shift properly

[bokinator]

My deralleur refuses to shift up to 5th gear when I'm on 4th. Also, when I push the trigger to shift up to 5th gear, I don't feel any cable tension. Do I need new cables? The ones I have right now are roughly 2.5 years old and I occasionally ride in teh mud. If so, are there any specific shifter cables that are worth buying?

[XXX_er]

Altho you could have alot of other problems you probably need cables and housing after more than 2 years,I usually change mine at least every season

if you are gona do it yourself take the old housing to the lbs and have em cut you new pieces exactly to length and get a new inner cable.Whatever they are selling is likely gona be fine,i got a big roll of jagwire here at home and it works fine .

[M13]

2.5 yrs?

thats definately gotta go!

replace it, get it done by shop or a buddy who can do em and itd shift very good.

[switch]

Add some tension via the barrel adjust at the shifter. :)

[IFO]

2.5 years ???

HOLY crap is that ever way to long...

get new cables/housings before u try to figure any other part of your sihfters problems....:(

[Mr Ripper]

how does your bike even shift after that long :D Change the cable, for the price it is a no brainer. I change my shifter cable every few months

[CreamyCanuck]

It doesn't shift properly because you keep falling off log rides and ladders and bashing your derailleur. :friend:

[switch]

Originally posted by Mr Ripper
how does your bike even shift after that long :D Change the cable, for the price it is a no brainer. I change my shifter cable every few months
On my first MTB type bike, I didn't change cables or re-pack any bearings for the 5 years, and it worked fine.

But it did run better after getting a major tune-up. :)

[DangerousDean]

holy shit...

i replace my cables every year.... or even half way through the year :eek:

[UFO]

i cant remember if i changed your inner gear cable or not last time...im thinking probably not. if i did, it could be that the new cable is stretching and settling down.

i like to do all mechanical cables once a year, inner and outer. just get cheap stuff, the price increase with $$ cables isnt justified imo.

[switch]

I pay $2.50 for a shifter cable. The rear shifter cable gets replaced at least 3 times a year. The front once a year. Brake cables - don't have them any more, but they got changed when retraction is retarded.

After tightening down a cable, give it a good stretch by pulling on it hard. It always seems to finish stretching out within a ride.