Gear Change

[Skipper]

Over the past few months the gears on my hybrid don't seem to change too well. I tend to only use the large wheel on the chain ring, so the problem lies in the cassette change, i.e. from gears one to eight. It seems the every few rides now I have to tighten the cable and readjust the settings. I clean everything at the same time, and lube the cable well. And everything works just fine. Then half a dozen rides later it needs doing again. The cassette isn't that old, but chain could be a little older. Could it be the chain is stretching? Have I only used a cheap Halfords gear cable? Any other solutions?

 

[smokeysmoo]

IMO cables are cables. I only use the cheapest generic cable inners my LBS has, and they are perfectly fine on both bikes.

Check the last section of gear cable that runs to the rear mech, I had an issue once where the inner cable was sticking in the outer at this point, and while I was able to index the gears they very quickly went pear shaped when riding.

I also put a smear of grease where the cable exits the rear mech, (bottom arrow above). Since doing this the problem has never recurred.

Undo the cable at the rear mech, pull it through the last section of outer cable at the chain stay and flush the outer with GT85 or similar, refit the inner and check. It might even need a new section of outer TBH, but I'd flush it through first and see how you go.

Another problem may be a bent rear mech hangar, you may not be aware of it, but if the bikes been dropped it may have knocked the hangar out of alignment, in which case the gears will never index properly.

 

[compo]

How old are your cables and cable outers. I could be worth replacing both the inner cable and the outer, especially the outer that curves round to the derailleur itself. As for cheap cables, I have been using cables from Asda, complete kit, inners and outers and ferrules for gears and brakes for £4. I have had no problems at all.

 

[Skipper]

Over the past few months the gears on my hybrid don't seem to change too well. I tend to only use the large wheel on the chain ring, so the problem lies in the cassette change, i.e. from gears one to eight. It seems the every few rides now I have to tighten the cable and readjust the settings. I clean everything at the same time, and lube the cable well. And everything works just fine. Then half a dozen rides later it needs doing again. The cassette isn't that old, but chain could be a little older. Could it be the chain is stretching? Have I only used a cheap Halfords gear cable? Any other solutions?

 

[BSRU]

If your only using the big front ring then your chain will be in very bad position when using larger sprockets on the rear, meaning the chain is going to need replacing more often.
When selecting which chain ring and rear sprocket to use, it is best to keep the chain in a straight as line as possible.
Look up "chain line".

 

[Cycleops]

It does seem like the cable is stretching and causing you to readjust at frequent intervals. Doesn't sound like the chain is the problem. Could also be that the pivot inside the changer itself may be loose, although less likely. Try a better quality cable.

 

[Graham]

Don't suppose the cable is slipping ever so slightly through the fixing bolt on the derailleur? Might be the one point on the cable that you don't want any lube.

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

When I had a problem like this,I could not find out what was happening until the cable snapped. It was a slow process of the cable breaking strand by strand at the nipple in the lever