tea towel caught in the triple, pulled it out, bike buggered

popette

I was just on the turbo, dropped my rag into the chainset (excuse me if I get all my terminology wrong). I pulled it out, hopped back on but now there is a loud scraping, metal on metal sound. It looks like the thing that guides the chain round onto the cogs at the front is bashing against the cogs.

What should I do to fix it?

Many thanks in advance. I know you lot are good - you sorted me out last time and I'm sure that you can do it again.

redddraggon

The front derailleur is bent? Bend it back

popette

oh right, so just physically bend the metal - no need to make adjustments with tools etc. Right, will go and try it now.

popette

A bit better - I realised that the chain was on the wrong ring at the front. Sorted that but the derailleur is still clashing with the cog. Tried bending but can't get it back right. I'll have to let Mr P have a look at it later I think. (he won't be happy chicken as it's his bike).
Thanks again

BigSpecs

Stop!Stop!Stop!Stop! Surely you should check to make sure it is not just out of alignment first? The position of the derailler (metal thingy) is controlled by the cables(stringy things) and screws (eeerr, screwy things) that are attached to it. The tension/ position of the derailler may have just been affected. I think bending it without knowing what you are doing first might not be the best idea? But then, who am I... :oops:

popette

BigSpecs wrote:

Stop!Stop!Stop!Stop! Surely you should check to make sure it is not just out of alignment first? The position of the derailler (metal thingy) is controlled by the cables(stringy things) and screws (eeerr, screwy things) that are attached to it. The tension/ position of the derailler may have just been affected. I think bending it without knowing what you are doing first might not be the best idea? But then, who am I... :oops:

hi Colin
you know more than me mate . If I were to adjust the screws/cables, what should I do? I guess if I turn the screw one way, watch to see how it affects position of derailleur and either keep doing it if it's going the right way or ............ I haven't a clue.
damn. I can crack open a computer no problems. Frustrating not to know what I'm doing.
I wonder if that sheldon brown bloke has articles on this. will have a look but I'm wrapping presents at the mo.
Thanks again.

hammerite

Pops, try you tube. I had to adjust mine and found a couple of really good clips on You tube on how to adjust the front derallier (sp?). I've not checked to see if this is the one, but I googled it and this come out (I can't check you tube at work as it's blocked!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7KKQy0OkUs

You could google "bike front gear adjustment" there should be a few "how to" guides.

BTW. glad it's just me that is clueless with the terminology!

el_presidente

Moral of story - don't try to do the drying up when you are on the turbo.

popette

el_presidente wrote:

Moral of story - don't try to do the drying up when you are on the turbo.

actually it was one of those muslin square things that one would use to mop up baby puke!! I wasn't trying to do that either though .
My sweat cover is on order!

popette

hammerite wrote:

Pops, try you tube. I had to adjust mine and found a couple of really good clips on You tube on how to adjust the front derallier (sp?). I've not checked to see if this is the one, but I googled it and this come out (I can't check you tube at work as it's blocked!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7KKQy0OkUs

You could google "bike front gear adjustment" there should be a few "how to" guides.

BTW. glad it's just me that is clueless with the terminology!

Thanks for that - really useful. I think I can manage that :? will let you know later on.
He had a nice scottish accent - lovely.

redddraggon

redddraggon wrote:

The front derailleur is bent? Bend it back

Sorry I jumped in a bit quick there, I perhaps should have put a bit more emphasis on the question bit. I have totally totally mangled my front shifter twice now and bending it has worked both times (though after the second time it's a bit reluctant to shift onto the big ring)

popette

I took a picture of it and sent to my cycling friend. He is brilliant - sent me a diagram from shimano with note on which screw to release and amended my picture with arrows on what I needed to do. How good is that eh?

whyamihere

Depends if his instructions worked or not.

cougie

Hope you learnt a lesson - don't yank things on a bike. I wouldnt be a happy bunny if that had happened to my bike !

Do you and your hubby both turbo on the same bike ? Thats handy !

geoff_ss

I use a slightly bent (and therefore unusable on the road) frame on the turbo with old stuff on it. Single ring and a very old Campag Record rear mech at the back.

Saves using a respectable bike that may get sweat damaged and an elegant lightweight frame isn't really needed when you're going nowhere I bent my frame myself (with a bit of help from a passing car) but I'm sure a pre-bent should be readily available from a bike shop's scrap bin. Fit the cheapest/oldest serviceable gear and Bob's your Dad's brother.

Geoff

popette

cougie wrote:

Hope you learnt a lesson - don't yank things on a bike. I wouldnt be a happy bunny if that had happened to my bike !

Do you and your hubby both turbo on the same bike ? Thats handy !

It's now his old bike - he just upgraded. He's not riding either of them at the moment though. We're about 3 inches different in height so using the same bike is just about ok for us.

peanut

if you haven't adjusted any of the cable settings then you should not need to now. They don't adjust themselves.
If you pulled the towel out with any force you have probably bent something ie the cage of the front mech which guides the chain on the front rings. The outer strip of the cage should be about 1-2mm off the big ring when directly over it and precisely parralel to it.
Its the only bit that you could have bent so Red dragon's advice is good

popette

The front mech (that sound right? - I can throw all these terms in when talking to OH and really impress him) seems to have shifted around the seat tube so that the cage on the derailleur was slightly rubbing against the big ring. I've adjusted it back - just unscrewed the fastening around the seat tube, moved it back (only a matter of mms) and it's not scraping anymore.
Now I've got to work off that bottle of wine I finished last night!

McBain_v1

LOL - came to this thread late but it sounds as though everything has worked out fine. Not a good idea to be shifting components around on the bike whilst doing a turbo session. Anyway, at least now you'll be able to do some of those Sportive rides next year!

Raph

"came to this thread late"

Same here - sound like the clamp bolt of the front mech to the frame isn't as tight as it should be if the mech just swivels around so easily. Also worth checking that the mech hasn't moved downwards - the cable pulls it downwards so if there's any swivelling there's often a bit of downward shift as well... though I suppose you'd know if it had cos it would hit the chainring while shifting...

Or has someone already mentioned that?

popette

Hi Raph,
The chain came off when shifting into granny ring. I managed to complete the workout on the middle and big ring but I need to adjust the front mech (getting the hang of the terminology now) so that doesn't happen anymore. I think you're right that it may have slipped down a bit.
Too tired and emotional to do it now - it was a big christmas night out last night. 8)

Raph

Someone's mentioned the outside plate of the cage being parallel to the chainrings (when you look from above), but also check that when you look from the side it passes the teeth of the large chainring by about 1 or 2mm. Check it again after tightening the clamp bolt cos that sometimes pulls it round slightly. Anyway, enough pontificating at ya, have a good Xmas!