Lost my gears, can anyone help ?

[ThePainInSpain]

Whilst out riding a couple of days ago I was having trouble getting gears and at some points the triggers were doing nothing.

At last got around to having a look today and this seems to be the problem;

Using only the centre chainring of three on the front, I can go DOWN the gears i.e. from smallest to largest ring on the back. Because that puts tension on the cable.

When trying, then, to go up the gears, the tension in the cable is slackened, but the derailier doesn't move to the outside under it's own steam, so to speak.

I THINK the spring and the mechanism was gunked up with a mixture of oil and dust. So I've given it a really good clean with degreaser and it SEEMS to be working again.

At one point the inner cable was 'looped' out of the outer caseing because the derailer was not moving.


This is probably as clear as mud, but any suggestions would be appreciated.


BTW the bike is a Rockrider MTB.

 

[iAmiAdam]

Sounds like spring problems, like you said, clean and relube.

 

[chillyuk]

And check your cable through the outer that it hasn't gunked up and become sticky.

 

[biggs682]

my marin is awaiting a good clean so will check this out on that as well because it was stiff and slow changing when ridden last

 

[Zoiders]

Drive train problems, like the others said do a strip down, clean and rebuild preferably with new cables if needed instead of trying to chase one small fault. It's like the "my bike is making a clicking sound" question.

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Thanx for the replies.........

It was the cable.
Had a chance to have a real good look.
There was rust on the inner cable and it was rough. It was the section that is clipped beneath the cross-bar, so it's horizontal. Obviously when I've cleaned the bike, the water has got into the cable and settled.

Have cleaned it up with fine wire wool and coated it in Vasaline. Seems to be perfect now.