Kinks in rear mech cable

steelo

I've just snagged the rear mech cable in the chainring while cleaning my bike. I've put the cable back into place and tried changed through the full range of gears and now the mech won't go onto the smallest cog. Therefore I tried adjusting the rear mech and now its bu**ered!

Is it better to rectify the rear mech, or swap out the cable, or both?

Is it wise to run a gear cable with a kink in it, or am I asking for it to break mid-ride?

It's an '07 Rockhopper.

supersonic

The kinked cable may bind in the cable housing, or start to stretch back out, which is not good for up shifts. You need to make sure the mech is working though - gear hanger straight, mech stops set?

Bikedevil

If the cable's kink, its not worth trying to run it, just run a new cable, an inner isn't expensive and it'll save on causing damage to more costly stuff or yourself

steelo

Is it worth upgrading the rear mech if I change the cable? I currently have a Shimano LX rear mech and if you ask me the spring which is supposed to return the mech back to the smallest cog when you shift up just doesn't want to know. I usually need to click the shifter 2 or 3 times to start the mech moving and then it drops 2 or 3 cogs at once.

If I had my way I would take a big hammer to the back end of my bike when it comes to trying to sort gears out!

And yes i've read park tool, sheldon brown, my instructions, i've even asked the old man. Deraillieurs and me just don't mix!

Bikedevil

change the cable, put some lube in the cable housing and reset the mech. If it still doesn't do what its supposed to then look at changing the mech. It could just be the mech needs a clean and lube.

neiltb

if ti's not shifting when you want it is more likely to be either....

a) the cable and housing needing a lube (cable might be sticking) replace the kinked one as that certainly won't help

b) Problem with the shifter, spray some wd40 in there while replacing that kinked cable.

spray some lube on the rear mech pivots while you're at it.