Perils of self teaching from Youtube - gear cable ruined?

[Ajax Bay]

your cable run doesn't appear correct - it should be in the guide slots under the part of the dérailleur

Well done, Jenkins. The erroneous line taken by the OP's cable will also have contributed to the friction he experienced.
Apex/Rival/Force Rear Derailleur Barrel Adjuster Kit part number: 11.7515.005.000 if it is damaged (probably isn't).

 

[Dogtrousers]

I would then surmise that turning the black adjuster counterclockwise pulls the silver part in.

Ah! My bike with indexed gears is a SRAM Apex. I can never remember which way to twiddle the twiddler. On the rare occasions that I need to re-index the mech I have to twiddle and watch the mech move. It always seems counterintuitive.

This thread, with its exploded diagrams, has been a minor education for me. So thanks, @Roadhump

I'll have forgotten it all when I next need to do any twiddling though.

Why don't they just use a knurled adjuster with a lock nut like you get on brakes?

 

[Roadhump]

I had better stop before this gets too costly, having read @Jenkins post I re-routed the cable, but nothing changed, I think I have damaged things too much before routing it properly. I thought one possible explanation was a faulty shifter. This was because its operation had become very loose when slackening tension and very tight and difficult to ratchet up when trying to move it down the gears. So I removed it from the handlebars and took the cover off. When I did so, I moved one of the shifter levers and the coiled spring flew off; unfortunately I didn't have a good look at it beforehand so I couldn't tell how it should be fitted to the mechanism - I think I worked out where the inner ends slots in, but I cannot tell where the outer end should go, hopefully anyone reading this will be able to tell what I am on about from the below photo:

After a lot of fiddling about I managed to put it back together, but I didn't know if the coil was properly fitted. I managed to reconnect the barrel adjuster, but when I came to fix the derailleur end of the cable there wasn't enough slack and I couldn't clamp it - that might have something to do with the cable being internally routed through the frame but I'm not sure about that.

Interestingly (or maybe not?) the barrel adjuster at the shifter end of the cable does have a spring, unlike the derailleur end, as can be seen from yet another photo:

Anyway, sometimes you have to admit you are beaten, and I am well and truly beaten on this one. It will probably cost me a new cable and a new shifter, but at least I have learned something about the workings of gear cables and shifters, hopefully provided some interest for others, and having used the word so often in the past couple of days, I can now spell "derailleur" without having to look it up in a dikshonry.

P.S. Thanks for all the help and interest.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I moved one of the shifter levers and the coiled spring flew off; unfortunately I didn't have a good look at it beforehand

I know I shouldn't, and it's very mean of me, but this made me laugh quite a lot. Mainly because it's exactly the kind of thing I do.

 

[summerdays]

I've taken that cover off and had problems... I can't remember exactly... but I remember having a thread on here I'm sure....

Ah I've found the thread but I can't see why I had the cover off twice.... did I thread the cable through incorrectly... not sure! I remember MrSummerdays finding it less funny than me!

 

[smutchin]

My guess is that the end of the spring (circled) should be slotted into the hole indicated by arrow. But I must emphasise that this is a guess...

 

[smutchin]

It got "removed" - pulled too hard with pliers in an effort to keep the cable tight - when I was messing with the cabling last year I'd deal with it if I could be bothered.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj7kv6Hgo7SAhUBwxQKHfuSAr8QFggcMAA&url=http://www.wiggle.co.uk/transfil-pack-of-100-anti-fray-inner-cable-end-caps/&usg=AFQjCNEy34lJiC9MvpVbspf89IM4AmI0BA

Usually I have loads of cable end caps loose in my spares box, but last time I found myself short, I went into my LBS and they gave me a handful for free. I offered them money but they wouldn't take it.

Also this:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-tools-pro-inner-cable-puller/rp-prod122321

Seriously, I can't overemphasise how much easier it is using a proper cable pulling tool rather than pliers (I don't think mine is this X-Tools one but it's very similar). Aside from a good set of allen keys, one of the most useful bike tools I ever bought.

 

[Roadhump]

My guess is that the end of the spring (circled) should be slotted into the hole indicated by arrow. But I must emphasise that this is a guess...

View attachment 337663

I think that is where I put it, my first attempt was in the half moon shaped hole just above the silver circle shape to the right of your circle, but that wouldn't stay so I tried the other place - as I say, I think I put it in there, but can't remember exactly. Thinking back, I wouldn't be surprised if I have damaged the shifter before I opened it up due to forcing it up another ratchet click when it tightened. It is a 10 speed device but even when it was at its loosest (after my forceful attempts to get it to move) it would only move 4 or 5 clicks.

 

[growingvegetables]

I had better stop before this gets too costly, .... I thought one possible explanation was a faulty shifter.

Oh dear. Been there, done that. And no, you don't get a T-shirt for such foolhardiness, however well intentioned .

Faulty shifters - the devil's own. My theory. Amply reinforced by taking a couple of bust shifters into an LBS ... and seeing the mechanics turning pale with absolute panic, as I explained what I wanted repaired.