Help with gear adjustment, where to start

[gillelive]

I am usually ok with diy and a basic bike maintenance but I am struggling a bit with the gears on an older bike. My wife offered her old steel MTB to a friend (it's about 12 years old), she only wants it to go around the local park nothing too adventurous. Anyway, I said I would tidy it up for her and check all was ok! I have replaced the knobbly tyres (walls cracked), adjusted the brakes, cleaned/lubed chain and cassette (15 speed) and given it a good clean. The problem I have is with the gears. I know where all the adjusters are but I can't seem to set them right. So the bike sadly went back in to the shed last night. I will try and explain what is happening and perhaps someone here can offer some advice.

First of all where should I start? Is it best to get the front cogs sorted first or the rear cassette?

Problem with front cogs:
- 3 of them, I can move up and down small and middle cog but can't get on to the big cog

Problem with cassette:
- first of all I could move up and down all 5 cogs but when moving up from 3 to 4 (3 being smaller) the chain would rub against the derailleur but strangely not on the way down from 5 to 4

- after a bit of adjustment I think I have completely buggered everything up - school boy error! I can not get the chain in to 1 (smallest) and it's jumping all over the rest of the cassette

I don't really want to spend any cash at my lbs as she may only use the bike a few times but if I can get it sorted myself and she finds she likes the ride then she may invest in something better.

Any help appreciated and sorry for the longish post, hopefully I have explained my problem.

 

[tyred]

Before doing anything, make sure all cables are well lubed and working freely. I would start with the back derailleur and then when it working, move to the front.

Read this for a basic guide.

 

[Stu1961]

Just been tuning my gears for the first time............advice was to ALWAYS get the rear gears working FIRST.

I used this video for setting the front derailleur......make sure you follow it from step 1.

Take your time

 

[gillelive]

Before doing anything, make sure all cables are well lubed and working freely. I would start with the back derailleur and then when it working, move to the front.

Read this for a basic guide.

thanks for the guide, just the job, made some adjustments tonight and think I am almost there....all seemed ok when on the stand but after I rode it round the garden found that it wouldn't shift to small cog on cassette so a little more adjustment tomorrow should do the trick....

 

[gillelive]

Just been tuning my gears for the first time............advice was to ALWAYS get the rear gears working FIRST.

I used this video for setting the front derailleur......make sure you follow it from step 1.

Take your time

thanks for that, good to know he said that front chain ring adjustment is tricky, made me feel a lot better....