Fitted new shifters, few problems.

Zidane

Finally this week I got together all the parts and tools I think I need to fit some new trigger shifters and Juicy brakes.
This is the first time I have tried anything other than basic maintenance so are there any tips to avoid any basic pitfalls ?
I have been reading up and it looks pretty straightforward and the only thing I am concerned about is fitting the gear cables. The nut which holds the front mech cable seems really hard to get to as the derailleur guard thingy seems to restrict access.
Other than that is it just a matter of getting the cables tight and then securing them with the nut ?
Thanks.

nicklouse

read parktools.

it is not hard.

Zidane

Thanks I have already read on Park tool, but I couldn't find anything about hooking the cable up to the derailleurs, so was unsure about that.
The nut which holds the cable in place on the front mech seems inaccessible to me because of the guard piece ? which goes next to it.

Zidane

Well, I feel stupid. I didn't have it in the lowest gear :oops:

Zidane

Only other snag I have run into so far is the front rotor (185mm Avid Sweep) is catching on the 185mm IS bracket.

Zidane

Another basic question I could do with some help on is how do I secure the shifter cable housings into my shimano trigger shifters ? I have tried oushiung them in and screwing them in but I just can't seem to get them to hold securely.
Any help appreciated, thanks.

stumpyjon

I may be misunderstanding your problem but are you saying that when you push the gear cable outer into the barrel adjusters they fall out again?

If so this is normal, they are only held in because the other end of the outer fits into the stops on the frame and the inner is running tight through the middle. One tip, make sure the barrel adjusters are fully wound in when you intially pull the cable tight, gives you more scope for fine tuning the indexing later. It's also worth tightening the cable and then move the mech up and down the gears, this helps to seat the outer cables properly. You'll probably need to retighten the cable at the mech end again before moving onto the fine adjustments.

Zidane

Thanks mate. I managed to get the cables hooked up, they're not perfect and need a bit of tuning, sounds like the chain is catching slightly on that top guard bit. but I am a lot happier than I was.
It's the brakes that have given me more grief, the rotor is still catching the mount adapter, even taking the paint off of it when I moved the wheel by hand.
Thanks again.

Zidane

Ok, I have sorted the brakes out, just the front rubs a little but I guess that will go as they bed in ?
The gears are almost right, just a couple of minor issues. I think the chain rubs a little bit on the front mech guard bit when I am in certain gears, and the rear mech sometimes skips a gear.
Are these things easily fixed ? Other than that I am a much more satisfied than yesterday.
Thanks.

Zidane

I have been having a few problems with the gears since I fitted the new shifters. I talked to a guy at my LBS and mentioned the symptoms I was having (chain on rear sprockets sounded like it was between gears and sometimes skipped a gear on it's own, when in high gears chain catches slightly in front derailleur cage) he said it sounded like it could be a cable tension problem.
So this weekend I was going to uncouple the cables and start again but I am unsure as to how tight they should be pulled when when I secure them, also do you have to hold the rear mech steady while you do it ?
Thanks for any help.

nicklouse

have a read of parktools.

you do not need to hold the mech. you just let it rest at max cable pull.

Zidane

Thanks Nick, I will have another try this weekend and see if I can get it back running as smooth as it was before I started tinkering I think I was pulling the cable too tight.
There is no barrel adjuster on my rear mech, should that be a problem ?
Thanks again.

cee

is there a barrel adjuster at the lever instead?

Zidane

Yes I think there is one at each shifter mate, these are the ones I have.
http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/Product/0/ ... spair.html

supersonic

New cables can 'stretch' - so this throws out indexing. Usually a tweak of that adjuster is all that is needed.

Zidane

Thanks again. I think I was pulling the cable way too tight, especially if they have to stretch too.
Going to try again tomorrow when I have more time.
Cheers.

Zidane

Had a crack at it this afternoon and it seems to be running much better. I still have a slight problem when in the lowest gears though where it is a bit noisy and it hops down off the largest sprocket to the next largest and back again.