Gear cables & 2 Birds

[Dags11]

My rear deraileur has been 'jumping' gears, and whilst I feel relatively ok with basic bike mechanics, I've decided to take the bike in to my local LBS. The chain/cassette are new and pre-date the 'jumping'

I've also been debating replacing the gear cables, the brakes have recently been changed with positive results.

Do I book the bike in for replacement cables & assume that the LBS would index/adjust the deraileur's & subsequently kill 2 birds with 1 stone?

 

[chillyuk]

I would have thought that adjustment of cables following replacement would be part of the job. Curing any other faults which may be present and could be causing your problem wont be covered by the cost of new cables unless you are well known to your LBS and it is only a couple of minutes extra work.

 

[phil_hg_uk]

My rear deraileur has been 'jumping' gears, and whilst I feel relatively ok with basic bike mechanics, I've decided to take the bike in to my local LBS. The chain/cassette are new and pre-date the 'jumping'

I've also been debating replacing the gear cables, the brakes have recently been changed with positive results.

Do I book the bike in for replacement cables & assume that the LBS would index/adjust the deraileur's & subsequently kill 2 birds with 1 stone?

Why dont you just pop in and tell them the problem you are having and see what they say.

 

[PpPete]

I would expect an LBS to index the derailleurs if they change the cables.... but whilst I'd understand your wish to have the LBS change the cables, be aware that cables stretch over time so even if the indexing is spot on as it leaves the shop, it will need doing again within a few months, so it's worth learning how to do that bit yourself. What i'm saying is that you are not going to kill the second bird - only wound it temporarily.

 

[Dags11]

Ah, thinking I would get billed for 2 jobs and, dons fingerless gloves & lights solitary candle, would prefer to pay for one

 

[chillyuk]

Ah, thinking I would get billed for 2 jobs and, dons fingerless gloves & lights solitary candle, would prefer to pay for one

Changing cables is easy. Adjusting and indexing is not too difficult. There are lots of tutorials and videos online, so do it yourself and don't pay any bills apart from spares. You will also be able to deal with roadside breakdowns involving cables as well.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Changing cables is easy. Adjusting and indexing is not too difficult. There are lots of tutorials and videos online, so do it yourself and don't pay any bills apart from spares. You will also be able to deal with roadside breakdowns involving cables as well.

Spot on.

Indexing is adjusted by turning the adjuster one way or the other, absolutely nothing more. Uses up a mere thirty seconds of your life.

 

[Dags11]

I have dipped my toe into the murky waters of indexing and it is pretty quick to do (even by my ham-fisted standards), but the issue is the chain moves up fine whereas on the down shifts it is jumping 2 sometimes 3 cogs as I move down to the lower gears.

I'm thinking (shot in the dark) along the lines of the cable in the shifters is loose/slipping. This area I have no idea about

 

[Kestevan]

Problem could simply be down to worn/cruddy cable outers.

Check that the cable can move freely within the outer at all points. It's quite common for the rearmost "bend" of gear outer round the derailleur to get glued up with road muck.

Your LBS should be able to supply you with a precut section complete with new end caps for a couple of quid.

 

[Dags11]

Took the bike into the LBS for their perusal
Just had a call from them that the shifter mech is u/s, shifts up ok - shifts down ok on the 1st 5 gears then effectively lets go to the bottom gear.
Needs new inners etc £70+ without labour
Fingerless gloves & candle indeed, looks like someone just fell onto their own sword, bah........

 

[CopperCyclist]

Ever dropped the bike? Or crashed? A bent derailleur hangar can also cause the sort of problems that you describe. Might be worth asking the LBS to have a look at that too.

They won't charge you extra for indexing if you get cables replaced - if they do, don't go there again!

 

[chillyuk]

It's the labour nowadays that is the killer, but then the LBS have a business to finance. However, what rear mech to you have on your bike. I have just last week bought and fitted a new Shimano Deore rear mech and fitted new inners and outers all through the bike and the total bill was a shade under £40. I have to admit though it is nice to drop off the bike at the LBS and let them get their hands dirty.

 

[Dags11]

Sorry, its the mech on the handlebars thats slipping.
Chillyuk - Its campag centaur thruout, with the carbon levers
http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/groupsetdetail/item_ergopowerCE10_catid_2.jsp
This has got me thinking £70 for some bits to fix one of the levers or £140 for a new pair, decisions.............

 

[PpPete]

Given that the Ergos are serviceable and there videos on You Tube of how to fix them - you could have a go yourself or sell them as Spares or Repair on Ebay to at least partially fund new ones.
Unlike Shimano STIs - if they break, they go in the bin.

BTW - convention has the word "shifter" describing the bit on the bars, and "mech" (accompanied by "front" or "rear" as required) for the bit that actually moves the chain..... the latter because few of us can remember how to spell derayleeore dirailur disraeli derailleur

 

[Dags11]

PpPete - thanks for the shifter pointers, BTW you may want to spell check deralieer........