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Questions and answers about sports

Gear shifting after changing cassette

5 min read

Asked by: Gouri Wilson

Why does my bike keep shifting gears?

When your bike chain skips between gears while you’re riding, or shifts twice instead of once when you try to change gears, the most common culprit is a loose cable. Your bike cables naturally stretch over time.

Do I need to change chain when changing cassette?

You should change your chain at the same time as the cassette and/or chainset. “A worn chain on a new cassette or chainrings will only accelerate the wear,” says Chris McKenney.

How do you fix gears not shifting?

Quote from video: You might need to actually detach. The cable from the derailleur all together to allow the case to move over and then reattach and readjust the cable at that.

Why are my bike gears not shifting?

This is usually caused by an overly tight gear cable or the low limiting screw that needs adjusting. You can test this by shifting to the lowest gear and seeing if your front derailleur is in line with the smallest chainring. If not, try adjusting the limiting screw. Alternatively, your gear cable may be too tight.

What does ghost shift mean?

Also known as the “midnight shift” or “third shift”, contractors hired by the brands will essentially make more products than they’re supposed to even after “official production” has finished, running the production machine off the books by having factory workers come back for an extra undocumented out of hours shift.

Does chain length affect shifting?

Proper chain length makes a big difference with shifting. It’s not intuitive — that’s for sure — but lots of front shifting problems are solved by setting chain length (and tension) correctly.

Can I use a new cassette with an old chain?

The chain and cassette wear together. If the chain was very worn, and you put a new chain onto an old cassette, at best it will wear the new chain faster than it should. At worst it will not engage properly and can skip or you may get poor shifting or even break the new chain.

Is an 11 34 cassette good for climbing?

All other things being equal, the 34T sprocket on the 11-34T cassette is going to give you the easiest gear. If your bike is currently fitted with an 11-28T cassette, switching to an 11-34T cassette will make climbing less of a struggle.

How many miles should a cassette last?

Cassette lifespan can range between 4000 to 10000 miles, and this is affected by the cassette itself and maintenance frequency.

Why is my derailleur not shifting down?

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.

Does changing transmission fluid help shifting?

Transmission fluid makes sure you can shift smoothly by lubricating the parts of your transmission. It also cools them down, so you won’t have to worry about your clutch or solenoid overheating.

What is shifting under load?

The shifting under load is a load for which neither the chain or the gear is designed to resist: by doing that you are inducing microscopical damages to the metal, accelerating the wear of components.

Can you fix bent derailleur?

How to repair a bent derailleur hanger. You have two options here: try bending the hanger back into alignment, or replace it with a brand new hanger.

How do you shift gears without a clutch?

Quote from video: Without the clutch you're going to simply ease. Off the gas. Pull the gear selector into neutral. And then give it a little bit of gas you're going to want to sort of blip the throttle.

Why does my bike chain slip when I pedal hard?

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.

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.

How do I adjust my bike shifters?

Quote from video: Here the cage tail is too far inward. And the body needs to be rotated counterclockwise manufacturers have different mounting systems Clent style derailleurs allow both rotation and height adjustment.

How do you reset gears on a bike?

Quote from video: Here is your front derailleur at the front of the bike here this one has two chain rings therefore. You have two gears.

What gear should I bike in on flat road?

For riding on flat roads, it is recommended to use the middle gear. It is a common choice among bikers as it helps you reduce pressure from your feet onto the pedals.