Can’t index gears with both chainrings

Asked by: Jenny Ramirez

Why can’t I change gears on my bike?

Usually, bikes don’t shift because the derailleur’s indexing or limit screws are out of adjustment. Cable or housing damage/impingement are not uncommon, and severe chain or gear wear can also contribute. Physical damage to the shifter or derailleur is rare and usually obvious, but it’s the first thing to rule out.

Why is my derailleur not shifting down?

The most obvious and common causes for poor shifting are down to poor adjustment and the most common thing to go out of adjustment is cable tension. Indexed drivetrains rely on correct cable tension so that the shifters pull the derailleur to the intended spot.

Why won’t my rear derailleur shift up?

Turn the barrel adjuster counter-clockwise if the chain won’t shift up to the larger cog. If you’ve turned the barrel adjuster more than a full turn and it hasn’t solved the problem, you may need to adjust the cable tension near the rear derailleur itself by loosening the cable anchor so you can pull the cable tight.

How do you fix gears not shifting?

Quote from video: So double-check that you have the shifter shifted all the way down to where the cables loose or it could be that you need to adjust the cable.

Can you change bike gears when stationary?

The changing of gears itself is unlikely to cause any damage, you’re just going to move the derailleurs back and forth until the chain prevents them moving further.

Why are my gears hard to shift?

The most common reason why a manual transmission is hard to shift is due to a faulty clutch or hydraulic clutch system. It can also be damage to the gearbox, like damaged gears or faulty synchronizer rings. Check the gearbox fluid level, since it could also cause shifting issues.

How do you fix a Shimano shifter that won’t shift?

Quote from video: And get some slack in your cables. And then just unhook the cable housing from the cable. Stop there and that'll allow you to get some slack there and shift it through the full range. Without.

How do I know if my derailleur is bent?

Quote from video: When we're trying to shift. Down becomes quite erratic or vice-versa. The key is to look at the rear derailleur we can see it's bent slightly inward.

How do I know if my rear derailleur is worn out?

All derailleurs wear out at some point. Check for wear by pulling laterally on the lower cage. Compare this movement in the linkage of a new derailleur. Sloppy pivot and linkages will produce inconsistent shifting, and the only solution is a new derailleur.

What does the B screw do on a rear derailleur?

The B-gap or B-tension screw is located at the very back of your derailleur. It pushes against a tab on your frame’s derailleur hanger, allowing you to adjust the distance between your rear derailleur’s top pulley and the cassette.

How do you fix ghost shifting?

Quote from video: Guess what the problem was solved. So i replaced i fixed this problem by replacing the uh rear derailleur cable inner cable on this bike.

Why does my chain slip under pressure?

These include worn out or misaligned derailleur pulleys, old or malfunctioning shifters throwing off the indexing in some gears, or broken/bent teeth on one or more cassette cogs. Build up of dirt and grime on drivetrain components will also cause shifting issues, including skipping chains.

Should I stop Pedalling when changing gears?

While you are shifting gears, you must keep pedaling in order for the chain to move from one gear to the next. When you’re in a particular gear and pedaling, the chain is pulling on the teeth of that gear.

Do you pedal backwards when changing gears?

In general you should not backpedal while shifting. On a derailleur-style bike you must be pedaling forward, and most newer internal gear bikes expect you to be pedaling forward when shifting as well.

How should a beginner change gears on a bike?

A Quick Summary on Shifting

1. To shift onto a different chainring/gear up front, use your left shifter.
2. To shift one of the rear gears (and how you’ll shift most often), use your right shifter.
3. For smoother shifting, pedal lightly while using the shifter.

Why is my bike derailleur not working?

If derailleur does not succeed in shifting the chain into the next largest ring or hesitates, add cable tension. Once you get to the largest cog, shift back into the smallest rings. If there is any hesitation or the chain will not shift back into the smaller rings, remove cable tension until the shift is successful.

Why can I move my shifter but it won’t move into gear?

The real reason for a faulty gear shifter differs from vehicle to vehicle. However, the most significant probable cause is a poor construction or attachment of a flexible cable to the gear selector and transmission connection.

Why is my motorcycle not shifting properly?

A motorcycle will not shift properly if there is improper chain tension, low clutch fluid, too much slack on the clutch cable, and/or the clutch is worn-out. If one of any of these things are present, the rider’s ability to control a motorcycle’s inputs will diminish, and the safety of the rider will be sacrificed.

How do I fix my derailleur?

Quote from video: Pull the chain out and you're ready to remove the old derailleur. Most railers are fastened on with a hex bolt. So you'll need your allen keys for this most of the time you can reuse your shift cable.

How much does it cost to fix a derailleur?

There can be a range of prices for replacement derailleurs, starting around $20 and going all the way up to $700.

How much does a derailleur adjustment cost?

Derailleurs – (per derailleur) $25 labor for derailleur adjustment and lubrication. If cable and housing needs to be replaced, labor is $25 plus the cost of the cable and housing. If a bent derailleur needs to be aligned, there is an additional $15-20 labor cost.