Rear Mech Adjustment Help

Dunedin397

Hello Everyone,

On my old 6-speed commute bike (a "rigid" mtb with slicks), I'm finding that the chain is reluctant to move to 6th gear, ie the smallest sprocket. The mech does move outwards, but just not enough to pull the chain over.

I'm sure the H screw is fine as I've moved it quite far out with no effect (I did move it all the way in to ensure it was working, doing so limited the mech's movement to 3rd gear) and I'm fairly sure the barrel adjuster is doing it's job.

Any thoughts on what might be wrong? The cassette, chain, free hub\wheel (I forget which it is) are only a couple of months old with no more than 300 dry-ish miles on them.

Cheers,

Dunedin

maddog 2

sticky cable

assuming the other gears are spot on and it's not the limit screw stopping the mech then basically the mech spring is not strong enough to pull the mech onto the smallest sprocket, due to a sticky cable.

without seeing it, that would be my guess. Re-lube or change the cable and try again. You could also give the mech a clean and oil to ensure the pivots aren't sticky.

Dunedin397

maddog 2 wrote:

sticky cable

assuming the other gears are spot on and it's not the limit screw stopping the mech then basically the mech spring is not strong enough to pull the mech onto the smallest sprocket, due to a sticky cable.

without seeing it, that would be my guess. Re-lube or change the cable and try again. You could also give the mech a clean and oil to ensure the pivots aren't sticky.

Thanks for that.

After reading my books and doing a bit of of Google-ing, I'm leaning towards thinking it's the spring and\or cable, so I think you're right.

My commute is only 10 miles and in the morning and I'll only change to gear 6 in the final mile as it's a decline and on the way home there's only 2 places I'll use gear 6 for a few minutes or so. Most of the time it's gear 4 or 5.

The bike itself and the kit is very old, at least 10 years but it does the job. Everything's been ok with the drivetrain, so I think what's happened is that after the soaking myself and the bike got last Wednesday and again tonight as maybe caused the mech to stick.

I'd be out there right now fiddling with it, but it's starting raining heavily again! I did give the mech pieces a good blast with the lubricant spray, but I'll do it again in the morning after cleaning it if the weather stays dry. I'll then give it a good soaking with the lubricant and lube the chain as well. If I've not joy I'll stop in at the lbs on Thursday and maybe get a new cable and perhaps a new mech.

Thanks again.

Dunedin