Derailleur hitting spokes!? (Snapped?)

[BrynCP]

I took my bike into LBS for it's first "free" service last week. Since then I have done 2x12 mile journeys where I pretty much use two gears and 1x28 mile journey again where I pretty much used just 2 or 3 gears as it was flat.

Today I ventured to the hillier terrain and noticed that in the middle front ring and largest back ring, it was making an odd sound. I had been riding in this gear some time before the sound happened, and my first thought was a loose or broken spoke, got off and checked, nothing, rotated peddles, nothing.

Got back on, sound again, and I look down and I can see part of the rear gear mechanism (I don't know all the technical terms, but the lowest part that hangs down - the derailleur?) hitting the spokes I didn't use this gear combination again. It only does this when I am sat on it, if I rotate the peddles with the back wheel elevated and me off the bike, it's fine. The spokes when I am not on the bike don't look like they're bent out, it's hard to tell when I am on the bike.

I am beginning to think there is something wrong with the gears on this bike as from day 1:

• The right shifter did not "spring" back after shifting down. This seems to be sorted though since taking to LBS.
• The front shifter went entirely wrong just before taking to LBS. This seems to be sorted, as in it's not entirely wrong.
• The front shifter has always struggled getting into the middle ring, it seems to be half on smallest ring and half on the middle and my legs just spin. It's still like this I noticed today.

(Of course, being a new rider, it could well be my fault - poor maintenace, or doing something stupid. Equally could just be bad luck if I have got something in there, there were plenty of loose twigs on yesterday's journey)

Anybody ideas? I am going to struggle with work commitments getting into any bike shop.

 

[MontyVeda]

you could try adjusting the Low (L) screw on the dérailleur. This adjusts the inner limit it'll swing....

it needs to go far enough for you to get the chain on to the big cog, but not so far it goes off the other side of the big cog.

but i suspect from your description this may not solve the issue as it's the lower bit of the hanger hitting the spokes (?). When looking at it from the back of the bike, does it hang perfectly vertical or is it a bit twisted or bent towards the wheel?

 

[02GF74]

see above - the jockey wheels should be in line and verictal - if not, then either the hanger or the cage is bent or the mech's pivot worn.

 

[BrynCP]

Thanks. Not near the bike now but I will check those things tomorrow.

 

[BrynCP]

This is what's hitting the spokes - looks like it has snapped?

It's a bit dirty I need to clean it again.

 

[BrynCP]

Ok it doesn't look snapped, looks like they all have that gap, but they look tidier than that image, which looks a little bent?

It also looked like it was 90 Degrees but it was hard to tell in the dark.

 

[young Ed]

pics not displaying?
Cheers Ed

 

[BrynCP]

Sorry:

This is the bit rubbing against the spokes:

Zoomed out:

 

[young Ed]

if it is that bit of plastic it is not strictly necessary and can easily be removed
the plastic bit is also known as a pie dish, dork dish etc etc
Cheers Ed

 

[young Ed]

oh and what bike is that out of interest could we have a full on shot of the whole bike?
Cheers Ed

 

[MontyVeda]

can't tell anything from those pics @BrynCP.... can you put the derailluer on the biggest cog and take a photo from behind the back wheel, about the same height as the hub?

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Just edited my post as I was saying exactly the same as monty on the camera angle. imagine there's a straight line going from the middle of the camera lens through the rearmost part of the chain and running dead straight along the chain so from our perspective we can't see it going up to the front, nor should we have a clear view of the front cogs as we have here, the angle and height you've photo'd from is all skewed out for any meaningful view on whether the mech is out of kilter.

Also, the hanger, no offence intended in explaining what it is, you don't seem up on the technical terms. At the rear of your frame by the rear wheel dropouts will be a little (usually) silver connector piece that fits into the frame and onto which the derailleur is bolted, if you've dropped the bike or its taken a bit of a knock it will bend before the frame does and cause the sort of problem you describe. (Edit, an almost imperceptible bend will be magnified by the length of the rear cage too - maybe an idea to get a plumb line or v small spirit level on it)

I know you noticed it mid ride as well so this is a bit of a long shot for a cause, but have you turned the bike upside down, undone the rear wheel quick release (looks like it from the further picture) and ensured the wheel is properly set into the dropouts and not off centre at all?

 

[BrynCP]

Thanks all. I will get clearer pics tomorrow when home. I apologise they're not the best, had to take them in the wind while making sure the bike didn't fall!

The bike has never been dropped or taken any hit since I owned it (from new). I have never released the rear wheel, including to check if it's off centre, so I guess that is another thing to check.

 

[screenman]

Young Ed, would you encourage somebody who has limited technical ability to remove the plastic disc, or spoke guard as some call them? if so please explain in your own words why.

Internet experts, no wonder people are so confused.

 

[BrynCP]

Sorry Young Ed I didn't see your post. No, it's not the plastic.

This is the bike:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/2014.giant.escape.2/14980/66557/