trying to fix gears/derailleurs has put me in a bit of a pickle

[msa969]

I am in London UK and I tried to fix my gear shifting on my racing bike, for a look time the gear shifting did not work properly, so I basically did not bother with the gear shift, instead rode the bike as fixie. Anyway today, I looked at some online youtube video on gear fixing/derailleurs and the gear shifting started to work.
I am still clueless on the front and back derailleurs etc, but did some guestimate, suddenly I got the gumption to tinker some more and now the gears have come of its casing and I am in a real bother.

I have no clue how to put it back, what should i do?
I am guessing a bike shop will fix the gear change properly but how much will it cost? (Note, right this moment I have very little spare cash due to unforeseen circumstances)

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Photos would help.

" The gears have come off its casing " appears to be the problem but isn't particularly clear as to what exactly has gone wrong.

Do you mean the cassette (cogs) coming off the axle or the rear derailleur being unbolted from the hanger or the front mech not on the downtube anymore?

Or something else?

 

[jefmcg]

+1 on the photos.

If we can't help, wheel it into the LBS. They'll be able to tell at a glance what needs fixing. It would either be adjustment, replacing cables, or possibly also replacing chain/cassette. If you are happy with the price they quote, book it in. If not, you at least have a base line quote.

I was in a similar circumstance to you, except that someone had tried and failed to fix my bike. The LCC at the time was running maintenance nights, and that helped me sort out what was wrong and understand how to fix it myself. Google for maintenance nights in your suburb. A local club may run one, for example.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I would guess that what the OP means is that he has unscrewed the adjuster from the rear mech?

 

[msa969]

My rear derailleur has been unbolted from the hanger, or hole. I will upload photos soon.
What is LBS? I am in London UK
What is LCC?

 

[jefmcg]

My rear derailleur has been unbolted from the hanger, or hole. I will upload photos soon.
What is LBS? I am in London UK
What is LCC?

LBS, local bike shop.

LCC - London Cycle Campaign. As far as I know, they only had maintenance nights in Richmond and surrounds, and that ceased a year or so ago.

Whereabouts in London are you? It's a big city.

 

[msa969]

i am unable to put the derailleur back into the hole and tighten the screw,
i have tried a lot of times but unable to put it the hole and screw it on so it is snug

 

[Ajax Bay]

Picture, just to provide assurance/focus to the advice we can give. Does the bolt (making a guess here) come away from the derailleur (RD)? Can you carefully screw that bolt, by itself, into the hole (threaded) in the hanger? If you can't then maybe you have stripped threads on the hanger (new hanger required from LBS). If you can then you should be able to hold the RD in place and bolt it to the hanger. I doubt "some online youtube video on gear fixing/derailleurs" suggested you undid this bolt, btw.

 

[Karlt]

I was thinking that. You don't touch that bolt to adjust anything; it just holds the thing on.

 

[jefmcg]

@msa969 It would help a lot if you could share photos. Also, if you share the first part of your postcode, it's likely someone can recommend a good shop nearby.

 

[Ajax Bay]

It would help a lot if you could share photos

I think he won't be able to, as a new member (today).
Thanks for the forum change, mods.

 

[msa969]

I undid the nut which i have labelled as A with an Allen key, unintentionally, so the derailleur came off.
Now after several attempts I tried to put it back on, on what I believe is called the derailleur hanger, anyway as you can see I have put the derailleur back on but the bike is not peddling very well, also I am certain the derailleur is not sitting properly because as shown by the picture the yellow arrow pointing downwards, there is a gap, this is because there is a protruding edge which needs to be turned all the way so it sits flush on the other side of the derailleur hanger. However it is very difficult to get the derailleur with its protruding edge to fit snugly in the derailleur hanger with one hand and the other hand tighten the nut with the Allen key.

I am hoping a friend will come around tomorrow to give me a hand.

 

[Cubist]

Are you trying g to do this with the chain on? Try unshipping it from the front chain ring to release the spring tension, and have another go.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

My rear derailleur has been unbolted from the hanger, or hole.

If the chain is still in place, take it off the front chainrings and give yourself some slack to work with and then try again.

It sounds like you may have crossed or stripped the threads, either of which would make bolting it back together quite tricky.

It sounds like your local bike shop would be a good best option

 

[Karlt]

The two largest cogs on the freewheel seem rather short of teeth as well. Would I be correct in saying this bike is somewhat vintage?