Problems indexing gears
5 min read
Asked by: Shelley Oliver
Indexing problems can be caused by cable stretch, which is a normal part of the bedding-in process for new bikes or cables. Check that a bent or damaged rear derailleur isn’t to blame first. If it’s all good, here’s how to index or re-index your gears.
How do you fix gear indexing?
Quote from video: And you can micro adjust it very simply by turning this little dial here which is called the barrel adjuster. And that effectively makes the cable tighter or looser.
Why are my gears not changing properly?
Cable tension and limit setting
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.
How do you fix gears on a bike that won’t shift?
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 do my gears keep slipping on my bike?
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 reset my rear derailleur?
Quote from video: Into the groove. Into the clamp and then go ahead and Risa cure the bolt. Now this should be tight enough so that the cable can't pull through.
Why won’t my front derailleur shift up?
Common Front Derailleur Problems. Front derailleurs may cause sluggish or inaccurate shifting because (A) the derailleur body is not positioned properly, (B) the derailleur limit screws are not adjusted correctly, (C) the mechanism is dirty or (D) the cable is damaged or improperly tensioned.
What causes ghost shifting?
Here is a list of common issues that can cause ghost shifting: Cable not moving through housing smoothly. May be dirty housing, frayed cable binding, kinked housing… Replace housing and cable.
How do I change my gear 1 to 2 smoothly?
To move from first to second gear keep your hand on the gear lever, palm away from you, apply slight pressure to the left to stop the gear lever springing back to the central neutral position, and move the gear lever straight back.
How do you diagnose a manual transmission problem?
Symptoms of a Bad Transmission
- Odd sounds (whirring, squealing, bumping, or thumping)
- Grinding noise.
- Transmission jumps out of gear (into neutral)
- Difficulty shifting gears.
- Car stuck in one gear.
- Car that can’t get into gear.
- Leaking transmission oil.
How much does it cost to fix gears on a bike?
The cost to replace a cassette or freewheel can range anywhere from $25 to upwards of $300 on high end bikes and chainrings can run anywhere from around $40 to $250 on high end bikes.
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 is the B screw on a derailleur for?
Simply put, the B-Tension screw is there to control the gap between guide pulley (the upper pulley on the derailleur) and the bottom of the cogs.
What do the screws do on a rear derailleur?
Derailleurs are fitted with limit screws that stop the derailleur from moving too far inward or too far outward. If you look closely as the derailleur moves, you can see the limit screws stopping the derailleur at each end of it’s travel.
How do you adjust a Shimano rear derailleur?
How To Index Your Gears – Adjusting Your Rear Derailleur
What does gear indexing mean?
If the gears on your bike are properly indexed, each single click of the shifter will cause a single shift up or down the gears, front or rear. If you find you’re skipping a gear or that your shifting is getting stuck, then there’s a good chance you need to adjust your indexing.
What is index shifting on a bike?
In indexed shifting, there are notches in the shift lever that regulate the movement, and when everything is in harmony, a skill-less person shifts perfectly. Friction shifting is shifting without the notches.
How do I reindex my mountain bike gear?
Quote from video: To make sure your shifter is down into the highest gear. So I'm all the way to the bottom the block. Now. I'm just gonna pull absolute gently on that cables give it a little bit of tension. Before.
Why does my mountain bike chain click when I’m riding it?
A clicking noise often comes from your chain wanting to jump up or down a gear on the rear cassette. This can typically be fixed by adjusting the tension of the cable that runs from your shifter to your rear derailleur.
What gear should I use on a flat road?
High Gear. This one is great for descending, accelerating, or for use when you want to go nice and fast on a flat road. In a high gear, you travel a long way for each turn of the pedal.