One noisy gear in the middle of a range?

[beanzontoast]

On my hybrid that I use for commuting - relatively new and low mileage - I generally stick to the biggest ring up front. The fastest gear on the derailleur at the back (7 speed) runs nice and smooth, the next gear down is noisy (and the noise is from the rear I think), the next gear down is nice and smooth again as are all the rest.

I've not come across just one noisy gear in the 'middle' of a range before. I'd have expected the fastest gear to be affected as well as the one next to it if the problem was at that end.

What's my most likely adjustment to solve this?

 

[GrasB]

May be the indexing is oh-so-slightly out but the end stop is in the right place which will hold the rear derailleur at the right point for the smallest sprocket hence running nice n' quiet. It could need a small amount of cable tension adjustment.

 

[Moodyman]

As GrasB.

Use the barrel adjuster very slightly to get it bang on()

 

[beanzontoast]

May be the indexing is oh-so-slightly out but the end stop is in the right place which will hold the rear derailleur at the right point for the smallest sprocket hence running nice n' quiet. It could need a small amount of cable tension adjustment.

That confirms my only thought (other than there being something wrong with that one gear ring at the back, perish the thought) - cable stretch. Will have to make sure I don't mess up the other gears in the process - I hate adjusting gears. Bit like sawing the legs of a stool to make the seat level!

 

[lulubel]

Bit like sawing the legs of a stool to make the seat level!

And if you are ever in that position, as an ex-carpenter, my advice would be just to get rid of the stool and sit on the floor.

Same end result, less sawing

 

[beanzontoast]

And if you are ever in that position, as an ex-carpenter, my advice would be just to get rid of the stool and sit on the floor.

Same end result, less sawing

He he... brings back memories of the time I tried to concoct a very simple homemade three slot cabinet to house some radio gear. Could I get the blinking shelves level / the same width? I tried the 'measure twice - cut once' thing, but I still ended up dismantling it twice before abandoning using the ruler and just cutting it to fit the gap instead!

 

[Banjo]

On my hybrid that I use for commuting - relatively new and low mileage - I generally stick to the biggest ring up front. The fastest gear on the derailleur at the back (7 speed) runs nice and smooth, the next gear down is noisy (and the noise is from the rear I think), the next gear down is nice and smooth again as are all the rest.

I've not come across just one noisy gear in the 'middle' of a range before. I'd have expected the fastest gear to be affected as well as the one next to it if the problem was at that end.

What's my most likely adjustment to solve this?

With it being a fairly new bike the cable probably wants tightening a bit. turn the adjuster half a turn out at a time and see if that does it. On my hybrid 4th gear is the first one to make a noise if the cable is a bit slack.

 

[TheDoctor]

Sounds just like cable stretch to me.
That won't affect the fastest gear, as there the mech is held in place by the limit screws - the cable is irrelevant.

 

[byegad]

If you cannot adjust the noise away, and the gear is the one you use most of the time! It's worn out replace the cassette.

 

[beanzontoast]

Gone! The barrel adjuster on the handlebars sorted it with a 3/4 turn. I've been putting up with it for a month and it's gone in 5 seconds!

 

[GrasB]

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