Gear shifting - help?

[jimmy1985]

I bought a Claude Butler San Remo 07 from a guy I'm at Uni with, for £50. It's like new, and is a nice bike, which being my first road bike was nice and cheap.

However, one problem comes from the fact that I've never used shifters, and when I peddle, and flick the shifter, I get no resistance from the gears at all.

The shifter does not even feel like it clicks against my thumb, as well as the fact nothing happens either with the gears or the cables from the shifter to the cogs.

The chain 'grates' when I peddle, which sounds horrible.

I know very little about bikes and don't really want to start tampering with the bike myself unless I know how to fix the problem, as you can imagine, it's not great going into the LBS and admitting you don't have a clue how to even use the shifter either. I also don't really want to pay for a service if I can sort the problem myself.

Hoepfully someone on here can offer me some advice (which varies from, take it into your LBS).

Cheers.

 

[Steve Austin]

I really don't like suggesting folk take bikes to their LBS to fix simple problems, but you have to measure your technical competence against the damage you could cause to your bike and then you. A complete service is worth its weight if you know nothing, and will cost very little for what it is worth.
Its impossible to give you a complete rundown of what the possible problems without asking loads of questions, so here goes?

What shifters has it got?
Has it been left outside for a while?
Has it got signs of rust?
is the chain rusty?
have you got any oil?
Have you been here?

Might be worth checking Park tool for a bit, or reading a manual about how stuff works. Then come back with some questions.

 

[jimmy1985]

Shimano 7 speed shifters.
Its like brand new, hardly even a scratch on the paint work.
Chain is like new, I doubt its even done 10 mile, I've never had it out in the rain, I don't think it's ever been the case tbh.
I have oil for it if need be, but I don't think its the quality of the chain tbh.

I might just swallow my pride and go into my LBS and just tell them I don't have a clue, I don't want them thinking they can take me for a ride, as I don't know what needed or not tbh.

Any further advice would be helpful, thanks for the reply.

 

[Radius]

Well, first of all when you say 'grates' it sounds like your front derailleur is rubbing on the chain. Horrible sound and not terribly good for the bike either.

Now, it might be badly set up, in which case you can try and brave it and do it yourself, or take it to the LBS this time until you're more familiar.

First of all though, you could try testing out the 'trimming' function that Shimano front mechs / STI shifters tend to have (not sure about Sora). To do this, just stand over the bike, and push the left hand brake lever inwards slowly (simulating a shift upwards on the front mech), and if the trimming function is there, you should see the mech move a little, and stay where it moved to, hopefully out of the way of the chain.
If it's rubbing on the other side, try just pressing the down shift 'ear' on the inside of the hood on the left hand lever. If neither of these work then I think the best solution is the ol' LBS I'm afraid.

The other test is just to lift up the back wheel somehow (with a stand, or just get someone to hold it [or hold it yourself, it is possible]), turn the cranks, and see if it will shift up or down on the right hand lever (press either the inner 'ear' down or the brake lever inwards to go up or down respectively). If nothing happens, then unless you think you can index the gears, it's LBS again.

Apologies if you've done this, but if not HTH, and isn't too confusing

 

[Mr Pig]

Do you know to back off the pedal pressure as you change gear? The chain needs to lift up off the gear and drop back down onto the next one. If you're putting pressure on the chain it can't do this. You need to keep the pedals rotating but back off the pressure.

 

[Radius]

Do you know to back off the pedal pressure as you change gear? The chain needs to lift up off the gear and drop back down onto the next one. If you're putting pressure on the chain it can't do this. You need to keep the pedals rotating but back off the pressure.

But if he's not feeling anything from the shifters either, that says cable tension to me. Surely it'd be a nasty clunk and splutter if there was too much load on the pedals when trying to shift....

 

[Mr Pig]

Surely it'd be a nasty clunk and splutter if there was too much load on the pedals when trying to shift....

Yeah, but I'm just trying to eliminate the possibility. If the guy has never used these kid of gears before you never know.

 

[Radius]

Fair 'nuff

 

[Mr Pig]

I'm near Airdrie jimmy. If you're ever down this way and can bring the bike I'll sort it out for you no problem.

 

[jimmy1985]

Yeah, but I'm just trying to eliminate the possibility. If the guy has never used these kid of gears before you never know.

I didn't know this, but as mentioned, I'm getting no resistance from the flick switch at the handlebars.

I reckon I might just have to take it into the shop tbh.

Thanks anyways to everyone.

 

[swee'pea99]

The LBS sounds like your best bet. But you could have a poke around here first - see if anything helps.