Newbie Shimano Deore XT question

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My old 'junker' has the above gears but for some reason, I'm unable to shift to
the highest gear (of the three on the pedals). Are there any 'common' reasons
for this? It would shift to high gear a couple of times last week but not now.
I've made NO CHANGES in anything to do with the gears. It's an old set of gears
probably going back to about 1994 or 95. BTW, I'm new to this type of gearing
system so as far as I know, maybe you have to have the system in a specific rear
wheel gear to go to the high gear on the pedals.

Anyone have a link to a maintenance page for Shimano Deore XT system? Went to
their website but really didn't find anything useful re maintenance etc.

thanks

twitch

Twitchell wrote:
> My old 'junker' has the above gears but for some reason, I'm unable to shift to
> the highest gear (of the three on the pedals). Are there any 'common' reasons
> for this? It would shift to high gear a couple of times last week but not now.
> I've made NO CHANGES in anything to do with the gears. It's an old set of gears
> probably going back to about 1994 or 95. BTW, I'm new to this type of gearing
> system so as far as I know, maybe you have to have the system in a specific rear
> wheel gear to go to the high gear on the pedals.
>
> Anyone have a link to a maintenance page for Shimano Deore XT system? Went to
> their website but really didn't find anything useful re maintenance etc.

Loose or frayed gear wire?

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

In article <a1403$48559bc9$5041@news.teranews.com>, A Muzi says...
>
>Twitchell wrote:
>>My old 'junker' has the above gears but for some reason, I'm unable to shift to
>>the highest gear (of the three on the pedals). Are there any 'common' reasons
>>for this? It would shift to high gear a couple of times last week but not now.
>>I've made NO CHANGES in anything to do with the gears. It's an old set of gears
>>probably going back to about 1994 or 95. BTW, I'm new to this type of gearing
>>system so as far as I know, maybe you have to have the system in a specific rear
>> wheel gear to go to the high gear on the pedals.
>>
>>Anyone have a link to a maintenance page for Shimano Deore XT system? Went to
>> their website but really didn't find anything useful re maintenance etc.
>
>Loose or frayed gear wire?
>


To a layman, they look OK. I'm prolly wrong about having it in high gear in the
past. I looked at high gear and there was no rust, no oil nor any indication it
has been used.....so maybe it's just used only two of the three gears.

twitch

On Jun 15, 3:31 pm, Twitchell <Twitchell_mem...@newsguy.com> wrote:
> My old 'junker' has the above gears but for some reason, I'm unable to shift to
> the highest gear (of the three on the pedals). Are there any 'common' reasons
> for this? It would shift to high gear a couple of times last week but not now.
> I've made NO CHANGES in anything to do with the gears. It's an old set of gears
> probably going back to about 1994 or 95. BTW, I'm new to this type of gearing
> system so as far as I know, maybe you have to have the system in a specific rear
> wheel gear to go to the high gear on the pedals.
>
> Anyone have a link to a maintenance page for Shimano Deore XT system? Went to
> their website but really didn't find anything useful re maintenance etc.
>
> thanks
>
> twitch

http://sheldonbrown.com/gearing/index.html

In article <52d9f3a6-cecc-450c-a32d-03122d53077e@h1g2000prh.googlegroups.com>,
Dan O says...
>
>On Jun 15, 3:31 pm, Twitchell <Twitchell_mem...@newsguy.com> wrote:
>>My old 'junker' has the above gears but for some reason, I'm unable to shift to
>>the highest gear (of the three on the pedals). Are there any 'common' reasons
>>for this? It would shift to high gear a couple of times last week but not now.
>>I've made NO CHANGES in anything to do with the gears. It's an old set of gears
>>probably going back to about 1994 or 95. BTW, I'm new to this type of gearing
>>system so as far as I know, maybe you have to have the system in a specific rear
>> wheel gear to go to the high gear on the pedals.
>>
>>Anyone have a link to a maintenance page for Shimano Deore XT system? Went to
>> their website but really didn't find anything useful re maintenance etc.
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> twitch
>
>http://sheldonbrown.com/gearing/index.html

thanks

twitch

In article <a1403$48559bc9$5041@news.teranews.com>, A Muzi says...
>
>Twitchell wrote:
>>My old 'junker' has the above gears but for some reason, I'm unable to shift to
>>the highest gear (of the three on the pedals). Are there any 'common' reasons
>>for this? It would shift to high gear a couple of times last week but not now.
>>I've made NO CHANGES in anything to do with the gears. It's an old set of gears
>>probably going back to about 1994 or 95. BTW, I'm new to this type of gearing
>>system so as far as I know, maybe you have to have the system in a specific rear
>> wheel gear to go to the high gear on the pedals.
>>
>>Anyone have a link to a maintenance page for Shimano Deore XT system? Went to
>> their website but really didn't find anything useful re maintenance etc.
>
>Loose or frayed gear wire?
>

Some pics....for what it's worth....


http://imgplace.com/image/view/e1ce529594aee170d9823501e011b13b

http://imgplace.com/image/view/7cd539b66f36812bb8e293158ca9323a

http://imgplace.com/image/view/dc08b8f2b5d4decaa141f87ba8b76661

twitch

>> Twitchell wrote:
>>> My old 'junker' has the above gears but for some reason, I'm unable to shift to
>>> the highest gear (of the three on the pedals). Are there any 'common' reasons
>>> for this? It would shift to high gear a couple of times last week but not now.
>>> I've made NO CHANGES in anything to do with the gears. It's an old set of gears
>>> probably going back to about 1994 or 95. BTW, I'm new to this type of gearing
>>> system so as far as I know, maybe you have to have the system in a specific rear
>>> wheel gear to go to the high gear on the pedals.

>>> Anyone have a link to a maintenance page for Shimano Deore XT system? Went to
>>> their website but really didn't find anything useful re maintenance etc.

> A Muzi queries:
>> Loose or frayed gear wire?

Twitchell wrote:
> Some pics....for what it's worth....
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/e1ce529594aee170d9823501e011b13b
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/7cd539b66f36812bb8e293158ca9323a
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/dc08b8f2b5d4decaa141f87ba8b76661

Those photos are no help to your question.

Shift to low in the front. Does the wire sag? Use the cable adjuster if
it does to set it just 'not slack', shift again.

I assume it shifts fine when you yank the wire with your hand, i.e., the
limit screws are set correctly.
--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Twitchell wrote:

>> Some pics....for what it's worth....

>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/e1ce529594aee170d9823501e011b13b
>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/7cd539b66f36812bb8e293158ca9323a
>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/dc08b8f2b5d4decaa141f87ba8b76661

One thing jumps out from this picture:

http://imgplace.com/image/view/7cd539b66f36812bb8e293158ca9323a

You have a problem with your bottom bracket - the bearings for the axle to
which your cranks are attached. The flange of the fixed cup should be tight
against the frame: yours is several millimetres offset. That would explain
your shifting problems, and is likely to cause more trouble very soon if you
don't fix it.

You need to remove the cranks and re-install the bottom bracket correctly.

James Thomson

James Thomson wrote:
> Twitchell wrote:
>
>>> Some pics....for what it's worth....
>
>>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/e1ce529594aee170d9823501e011b13b
>>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/7cd539b66f36812bb8e293158ca9323a
>>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/dc08b8f2b5d4decaa141f87ba8b76661
>
> One thing jumps out from this picture:
>
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/7cd539b66f36812bb8e293158ca9323a
>
> You have a problem with your bottom bracket - the bearings for the axle to
> which your cranks are attached. The flange of the fixed cup should be tight
> against the frame: yours is several millimetres offset. That would explain
> your shifting problems, and is likely to cause more trouble very soon if you
> don't fix it.
>
> You need to remove the cranks and re-install the bottom bracket correctly.
>
> James Thomson
>
>


Good observation! I noticed that too.

Lou

On 15 Jun 2008 15:31:13 -0700, Twitchell <Twitchell_member@newsguy.com>
wrote:

>My old 'junker' has the above gears but for some reason, I'm unable to shift to
>the highest gear (of the three on the pedals). Are there any 'common' reasons
>for this? It would shift to high gear a couple of times last week but not now.
>I've made NO CHANGES in anything to do with the gears. It's an old set of gears
>probably going back to about 1994 or 95. BTW, I'm new to this type of gearing
>system so as far as I know, maybe you have to have the system in a specific rear
>wheel gear to go to the high gear on the pedals.

How old's the chain? If you let it get really bad, it becomes so flexible
that it doesn't shift well any more.

Jasper