Shimano Deore Rear Derailer Problem

P Neuberger

I'm attempting to figure out why my right shifter - rear derailer will only
shift on the four outer most cogs. I cannot shift to the four inner most
cogs.

I bought a used mountain bike this fall. It's equipped with Shimano Deore
front and rear derailleurs. The rear derailleur (8 speed) only shifts
between the highest four cogs. It works accurately and smoothly on those
gears. However, the shift lever does not seem to to grab and connect the get
to the lowest or inner most four cogs. I assume that it simply needs to be
readjusted. It seems like this is something that would require a change to
the limit stop screws. I'll try to dig into this over the weekend.

I know I could take it to a shop but this is not really my "go to" bike. I
bought it to learn how to do better maintenance without screwing up my main
ride.

Any advice?

Paul Boyd

P Neuberger said the following on 14/11/2007 05:23:

> I know I could take it to a shop but this is not really my "go to" bike. I
> bought it to learn how to do better maintenance without screwing up my main
> ride.
>
> Any advice?

http://www.parktool.com/repair/

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Jim

P Neuberger wrote:
> I'm attempting to figure out why my right shifter - rear derailer will only
> shift on the four outer most cogs. I cannot shift to the four inner most
> cogs.
>
> I bought a used mountain bike this fall. It's equipped with Shimano Deore
> front and rear derailleurs. The rear derailleur (8 speed) only shifts
> between the highest four cogs. It works accurately and smoothly on those
> gears. However, the shift lever does not seem to to grab and connect the get
> to the lowest or inner most four cogs. I assume that it simply needs to be
> readjusted. It seems like this is something that would require a change to
> the limit stop screws. I'll try to dig into this over the weekend.
>
> I know I could take it to a shop but this is not really my "go to" bike. I
> bought it to learn how to do better maintenance without screwing up my main
> ride.
>
> Any advice?
>
>
>
>
>
Could be the limit stop screw like you mentioned. Figure out which screw
that is and loosen it up a bit.

http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

P Neuberger

"Jim" <jds@eradndk.net> wrote in message
news:gZC_i.3679$aN3.2622@newsfe12.phx...
>P Neuberger wrote:
>> I'm attempting to figure out why my right shifter - rear derailer will
>> only shift on the four outer most cogs. I cannot shift to the four inner
>> most cogs.
>>
>> I bought a used mountain bike this fall. It's equipped with Shimano Deore
>> front and rear derailleurs. The rear derailleur (8 speed) only shifts
>> between the highest four cogs. It works accurately and smoothly on those
>> gears. However, the shift lever does not seem to to grab and connect the
>> get to the lowest or inner most four cogs. I assume that it simply needs
>> to be readjusted. It seems like this is something that would require a
>> change to the limit stop screws. I'll try to dig into this over the
>> weekend.
>>
>> I know I could take it to a shop but this is not really my "go to" bike.
>> I bought it to learn how to do better maintenance without screwing up my
>> main ride.
>>
>> Any advice?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> Could be the limit stop screw like you mentioned. Figure out which screw
> that is and loosen it up a bit.
>
> http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

Thanks Jim - Awesome site! I'll use it. Hope to get a chance to use what I
learn on Saturday.

P Neuberger

"P Neuberger" <pjneuberger_rem_@cox.net> wrote in message
news:6Bv_i.2777$gd3.1239@newsfe18.lga...
> (stuff deleted) I assume that it simply needs to be readjusted. It seems
> like this is something that would require a change to the limit stop
> screws. I'll try to dig into this over the weekend.
>
> I know I could take it to a shop but this is not really my "go to" bike. I
> bought it to learn how to do better maintenance without screwing up my
> main ride.
>
> Any advice?
>

I took a cursory look at this problem yesterday. I can change the cable
adjustment to make the shifter work on the high gears or adjust cable back
to hot the low gears. The rear derailleur just doesn't have the range to hit
all eight gears. Changing the limit screw adjusters does not seem to help
this.
Could the problem be in the shift levers?

Jim

P Neuberger wrote:
> "P Neuberger" <pjneuberger_rem_@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:6Bv_i.2777$gd3.1239@newsfe18.lga...
>
>> (stuff deleted) I assume that it simply needs to be readjusted. It seems
>> like this is something that would require a change to the limit stop
>> screws. I'll try to dig into this over the weekend.
>>
>> I know I could take it to a shop but this is not really my "go to" bike. I
>> bought it to learn how to do better maintenance without screwing up my
>> main ride.
>>
>> Any advice?
>>
>>
>
> I took a cursory look at this problem yesterday. I can change the cable
> adjustment to make the shifter work on the high gears or adjust cable back
> to hot the low gears. The rear derailleur just doesn't have the range to hit
> all eight gears. Changing the limit screw adjusters does not seem to help
> this.
> Could the problem be in the shift levers?
>
>
>
So it shifts between the four smaller cogs (the outer ones) but will not
get up to the larger ones?

Try loosening the cable all the way (by shifting). It should be on the
smallest cog. Then, with the rear tire supported and with you pedaling
by hand, see if you can use your hand to move the derailluer the full
range. What I mean by that is, shift it using your hand instead of the
shifter/cable. That should tell you if it's the shifter or the derailleur

Is it one of those "rapid rise" (or whatever they're called) derailleurs
where it wants to shift to the larger cogs when the cable is loosened?

P Neuberger

"Jim" <jds@eradndk.net> wrote in message
news:xkD%i.25360$L15.17351@newsfe08.phx...
>P Neuberger wrote:
>> "P Neuberger" <pjneuberger_rem_@cox.net> wrote in message
>> news:6Bv_i.2777$gd3.1239@newsfe18.lga...
>>
>>> (stuff deleted) I assume that it simply needs to be readjusted. It seems
>>> like this is something that would require a change to the limit stop
>>> screws. I'll try to dig into this over the weekend.
>>>
>>> I know I could take it to a shop but this is not really my "go to" bike.
>>> I bought it to learn how to do better maintenance without screwing up my
>>> main ride.
>>>
>>> Any advice?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I took a cursory look at this problem yesterday. I can change the cable
>> adjustment to make the shifter work on the high gears or adjust cable
>> back to hot the low gears. The rear derailleur just doesn't have the
>> range to hit all eight gears. Changing the limit screw adjusters does not
>> seem to help this.
>> Could the problem be in the shift levers?
>>
>>
> So it shifts between the four smaller cogs (the outer ones) but will not
> get up to the larger ones?
>
> Try loosening the cable all the way (by shifting). It should be on the
> smallest cog. Then, with the rear tire supported and with you pedaling by
> hand, see if you can use your hand to move the derailluer the full range.
> What I mean by that is, shift it using your hand instead of the
> shifter/cable. That should tell you if it's the shifter or the derailleur
>
> Is it one of those "rapid rise" (or whatever they're called) derailleurs
> where it wants to shift to the larger cogs when the cable is loosened?
>

On my rear derailer, loose goes to the smallest gear.

Good advice Jim.

It's the shifter. If I mess with the shifter enough I can actually get the
shifter to work with all the gears. It seems like the shifter is worn out.
I'm looking into that now. I will probably take the shifter apart to look
at it tomorrow.

Jim

P Neuberger wrote:
> "Jim" <jds@eradndk.net> wrote in message
> news:xkD%i.25360$L15.17351@newsfe08.phx...
>
>> P Neuberger wrote:
>>
>>> "P Neuberger" <pjneuberger_rem_@cox.net> wrote in message
>>> news:6Bv_i.2777$gd3.1239@newsfe18.lga...
>>>
>>>
>>>> (stuff deleted) I assume that it simply needs to be readjusted. It seems
>>>> like this is something that would require a change to the limit stop
>>>> screws. I'll try to dig into this over the weekend.
>>>>
>>>> I know I could take it to a shop but this is not really my "go to" bike.
>>>> I bought it to learn how to do better maintenance without screwing up my
>>>> main ride.
>>>>
>>>> Any advice?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> I took a cursory look at this problem yesterday. I can change the cable
>>> adjustment to make the shifter work on the high gears or adjust cable
>>> back to hot the low gears. The rear derailleur just doesn't have the
>>> range to hit all eight gears. Changing the limit screw adjusters does not
>>> seem to help this.
>>> Could the problem be in the shift levers?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> So it shifts between the four smaller cogs (the outer ones) but will not
>> get up to the larger ones?
>>
>> Try loosening the cable all the way (by shifting). It should be on the
>> smallest cog. Then, with the rear tire supported and with you pedaling by
>> hand, see if you can use your hand to move the derailluer the full range.
>> What I mean by that is, shift it using your hand instead of the
>> shifter/cable. That should tell you if it's the shifter or the derailleur
>>
>> Is it one of those "rapid rise" (or whatever they're called) derailleurs
>> where it wants to shift to the larger cogs when the cable is loosened?
>>
>>
>
> On my rear derailer, loose goes to the smallest gear.
>
> Good advice Jim.
>
> It's the shifter. If I mess with the shifter enough I can actually get the
> shifter to work with all the gears. It seems like the shifter is worn out.
> I'm looking into that now. I will probably take the shifter apart to look
> at it tomorrow.
>
>
>
I had a problem with the shifter on my son's bike. I acted as if it was
busted. I took it apart and it had all kinds of dirt, dust and crap
gumming everything up. A bunch of WD-40 and some lightweight oil had it
working in about an hour.

Just be careful and don't loose the little screws!