Problem with front mech? Causes and solution?

Goomba Fletch

Hey guys, proper novice to bike maintenance here!

Had my first serious MTB (a 2009 Pinnacle Peak 4.0) for about 3 months now, so far I've only got out on it properly once at Dalby red but until my employer can sort my cycle to work thingy out I've had to commute on it.

I've never owned a serious bike before so this is still all new to me, I've been trying to slowly absorb tech and maintentance info by lurking here and pestering to lads at Evans who sold me it. I've tried to keep on top of cleaning it but with my work schedule and the weather I haven't had the chance to give it a proper wash for a few weeks now (2nd floor flat so I need to take it outside to clean). I managed to give the cassette and chain and stuff a quick scrub last week but conditions being what they are it got rammed with muck again in about five minutes.

Last week I found that when I shift gears, the front mech will shift up, but not back down. When I looked it seems to me that the cable attached to it is really loose, is this my problem? I'm worried that I haven't given it enough TLC through the winter, is it my poor cleaning that's caused it?

Lurking on the forums I've noticed that Sheldon Brown seems to be regarded highly so I checked this article out, but I'm still not entirely clear on what the problem is or how it happened.

Cheers for any help or advice though, I'll take it on board and hopefully avoid this happening in the future! Think I'm going to have to get some tools and know-how, instead of just being a tool ha!

Thanks!

Wooliferkins

A couple of possibilities. Either your cables have stretched or your mech needs a lube and isn't moving as advertised or a combination of the two.

nicklouse

sounds like gunked up cables.

clean/lube or replace.

Goomba Fletch

Cool, thanks guys. Sounds like I haven't been cleaning it as much or as well as I should. Ah well, lesson learned, I'll give it a jolly good scrub down tomorrow and take it down to my local Evans to show me how to sort the cables.

Much gratitude for the snappy responses!

mickedwards61

Is there loads of muck and crap around the mech and cable? I only ask because I had a similar problem whilst out on a ride, and it was basically all the mud built up around the mech stopping it shifting back down

diy

nicklouse wrote:

sounds like gunked up cables.

clean/lube or replace.

+1 yep its almost certainly this..

Pull the cable out wash out the cable outer and then re-lube it with a teflon spray or chain wax. If the cable is notchy then you might as well change it given the cost.

If it keeps happening consider switching to full outers - particularly if you like the muck.

Seriously I wouldn't waste money getting my LBS to clean my cables.

CharlesThomas

Sounds like its the cables needing cleaning.

Alex over at BicycleTutor.com did a nice video tutorial on that very thing. I find video works best (next to hands on help) when I'm learning new MTB Maintenance skills.

Here the link http://bicycletutor.com/adjust-front-derailer/

Hope that help some.