do's and don'ts for front and rear gears

[philr]

Hello everyone.

just recently i have been finding my fitness levels and ability to climb hills a little easier. with this progress i have been able to go from my usual local hills where i would use the absolute lowest gear and spin, now i am finding it possible to spin with the front gear on the middle sprocket (3 front) and the rear in the lowest gear (largest sprocket).

i have noticed the front gear cage is now slightly rubbing against the chain and have experienced a little chain slip every now and again.

i now i asked a similar question when i joined the forum last year, but is the combination of middle sprocket and largest rear sprocket a bit of a no-no, with regards to the angle of the chain. or is a slight amount of adjustment needed. i have tried the barrell at the gear changer but that just pushes the cage in the wrong direction and makes it worse.

i cannot seem to be able to use an allen key to try and take up a bit of slack on the cable as my bike is an spec sirrus, and the allen key will not fit between the cage and the screw thing.

any help advice would be really appreciated

 

[MacB]

Phil, similar experience here, 2 weeks ago, I couldn't get out of middle chainring on front and was getting chain rub at either extreme on rear cassette. Tok to LBS and the tension was all gone in the front mech cable, they sorted that and tweaked the alignment as well. All FOC and no rub on any of the 9 gears when in middle chainring now.

I did avoid the combinations of small to smallest 2 rear and large to largest 2 rear. However can now do whole commute in middle ring so not used the small or big since. The big chainring only gives me 3 gears larger than the top of the middle ring and I just don't generate the power to need them yet.

 

[philr]

thanks for the info, i was hoping that most gears was ok as long as i was on the middle front, i think i will also have to take it to my LBS as i cannot work out how i can make any adjustments as the clearance would need a tiny allen key to fit it between the cage, unless the spec's are a bit of a problem in that field.

thanks again

phil

 

[MacB]

thanks for the info, i was hoping that most gears was ok as long as i was on the middle front, i think i will also have to take it to my LBS as i cannot work out how i can make any adjustments as the clearance would need a tiny allen key to fit it between the cage, unless the spec's are a bit of a problem in that field.

thanks again

phil

by the way, when I spoke to the LBS on the phone prior to taking in, the guy asked if I'd messed with the allen bolts etc. When I said I hadn't he seemed quite relieved!!!

 

[philr]

by the way, when I spoke to the LBS on the phone prior to taking in, the guy asked if I'd messed with the allen bolts etc. When I said I hadn't he seemed quite relieved!!!

point taken, no point in making a simple adjustment become a major costly repair as i would most certainly do...

 

[l4dva]

Hi, I had the same problem with mine when in the middle at the front if i went into either extreams at the back the chain would rub on the front deraileur. The mechanic at my LBS showed me that I can actually half push the front gear leaver and it will allow a little extra space for when im on the top smallest or top largest at the back. Maybe your gears have been set up the same way?

 

[philr]

good idea, just gave it a try but the mech on the handlebars only respond to a full turn no half click available which is a shame really.

for now i will try small sprocket on the front for hills but have a mid range gear on the rear until i can get to my LBS.

thanks anyway

phil

 

[HLaB]

Not that it really matters but Ive got a Spesh sirrus too. I avoid the large to large and small to small combination and use all the gears with the middle chainring I don't think its causing me a problem. I did have to do a little fettling with the front mech hanger to prevent the cage rubbing. I've only ever adjusted the large allen bolt on the opposite side which is readilly assesible and therfore the cage angle. This simple guide explains things.

 

[Randochap]

Campagnolo.

 

[philr]

thanks for the link, i will have a better look in daylight. see weather a slight adjustment to the angle is required in the cage.

randochap, i dont understand the meaning of your post, really lame newbie here

 

[yello]

randochap, i dont understand the meaning of your post, really lame newbie here

I think he's referring to the fact that on Campagnolo you can, what is called, 'feather' the front mech.

All that means is that the lever it is indexed for more than 3 positions. So if you shift onto the top ring and get chain rub then you have another click to move the mech a little bit more and get rid of the rubbing. It works.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

+1

Hi, I had the same problem with mine when in the middle at the front if i went into either extreams at the back the chain would rub on the front deraileur. The mechanic at my LBS showed me that I can actually half push the front gear leaver and it will allow a little extra space for when im on the top smallest or top largest at the back. Maybe your gears have been set up the same way?

 

[philr]

just a quick update,

took it in to my LBS (where i purchased it from)

they looked at the computer and said "YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO US A LITTLE WHILE AGO FOR ADJUSTMENTS, NEVER MIND WE WILL DO A SIX MONTH SERVICE THAT WILL ADDRESS ANY STRETCHED CABLES AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT MECH"

"HOW MUCH WILL THAT COST" i said

"NOTHING, ITS ALL PART OF THE SERVICE WHEN YOU BUY FROM US"

I WAS SPEECHLESS

++++1 FOR LBS

 

[spandex]

Yer that is stranded for most LBS.