Upgrading gears on MTB

dazzatheman

Hi there, Please can someone help me with the gear issues im having right now? I needed to buy a new rear deraileur so i purchased the Deore 8/9 speed for my Specialized Hard Rock. Im having a nightmare getting the gears to run smooth and for all the gears to function. Ive also seen that they are now back to front on the shifts (8 is first gear for example). Im now considering changing the front deraileur and the shifts to Deore so that they are all compatible. Seeing as the Hard Rock is an 24 speed, im sure i will need to change the cassette and chain as Deore is for 9 speed cassette. Do I therefore need to change the wheel. Im having a hard time knowing where to go with all this, so if anyone can help it would be really appreciated. Dazza

caw35slr

> Ive also seen that they are now back to front on the shifts (8 is first gear for example).

There are two kinds of reart derailleur. One of your rear derailleurs is a Rapid Rise mech and the other isn't. What does that mean? Well when the shifter feeds cable to a Rapid Rise rear mech it shifts to a lower gear. When you give cable to a regular rear mech it shifts to a higher gear.

Some people refer to Rapid Rise as "low normal"and regular rear mechs as "high normal". What is better? Heh, that is down to preference. I personally like low normal, but others don't.

So you have replaced one with the other. It'll work fine, but it might take some getting used to. :-)

> Im now considering changing the front deraileur and the shifts to Deore so that they are all compatible.

Why? All the shifter does is pull cable in and let it out again. Whether pulling the cable shifts up or down is down to the mech type. Save your cash.

> Seeing as the Hard Rock is an 24 speed, im sure i will need to change the cassette and chain as Deore is for 9 speed cassette.

Wrong.

You have an 8-speed cassette and a compatible 8-speed shifter. Current Deore rear derailleurs are compatible with 8 and 9 speed transmissions. Hooray!

Rapid Rise 8/9 speed Deore M530 mech here: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=13775

You should do some reading before you spend any more. I sounds like you have all you need (albeit with "the other" rear mech). If I were you, I'd try to swap that mech for one that is the same (in terms of whether it is low or high normal) as your current one.

Then get a new gear cable.Get a decent, pre-stretched one (it will need less adjusting later). Finally read up on how to set up and properly adjust all aspects of your rear mech. It is really quite easy! Try the Shimano web site (look for technical documents, put M530 into the search field) or the Park Tools web site.

Prowlus

Personally I'd switch to an all Sram based gear system . When I had a XT / deore groupset on my hellcat , I had constant problems with the chain skipping or even coming off entirely!
My current bike now uses an all SRAM arrangement and I've never looked back even after 7 months of constant use , all it needed was a tighthening of the cables on the front mech

andyturner28

There's nothing wrong with Shimano gears as long as they are set up properly. I have had a go on a freind's bike which has Sram gearing (SX7 i think) and i thought it was crap. I have a couple of year old XT mech and 08 XT shifters and the only problems i have had are due to cable streatch, which is easily sorted by fiddleing with the barrel adjuster. Shifts are perfect and instantaniouse every time. The only realy annoying thing about Shimano mech's was that they hit the chainstay, but that has been rectified with the 08 XT. Oh and the only reason the chain would "scip off" is if the high and low screws are not set correctly.

If i was you, as you have already fitted it to the bike and would unlikely be able to swap it, i would give the rapid rise mech a go. Depending on what sort of riding you do you might find it better than than the normal. If you mainly do XC and ride up a lot of hills, then you will be able to get into a low gear much quicker.

To set it up properly, first wind the barrel adjuster on the mech all the way in, and unscrew the shifter barrel a couple of turns. Release the cable all the way out so the chain is on the largest sprocket, with the front on the middle chainring. Now take up any slack in the cable, and just fine tune the shifts using the mech barrel adjuster. Then just set the high and low limit screws on the mech and job done. If you have any problems Park Tools will get you sorted.

Hope this helps,

Andy.

dazzatheman

Thanks for all the help chaps. What is the website for park tools - cant seem to find it

stevieboy

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

Very useful guides - especially on setting up gears from scratch

caw35slr

> Personally I'd switch to an all Sram based gear system .

LOL. This chap needs a new cable and a decent set of insrtuctions, not a new transmission, IMHO. Shimano and SRAM both make very good kit that will only work properly if you've set it up right.

RTFM and all will be OK.

Oh, and buy a decent cable. XT is good enough unless you're a real mud-plugger (pre-stretched and only 8 quid front and back from CRC).

If our LBS is half decent they can do it for you, but there's no substitute for knowing how to do this yourself. Trailside repairs become much easier with even a small amount of knowledge.

andyturner28

Definately get pre stretched cables! I didn't know they existed untill recently and will be changing mine again very soon.