Gears - help please!

livb
livb Posts: 59
edited June 2010 in Road beginners
I have just bought my first road bike and I'm having some trouble with the gears. The ones at the back change fine, but the one at the front, worked fine to start with and now won't change to the smaller cog at all (sometimes making a bit of noise)! I've looked at it when stationary spinning the pedals with the wheel in the air and the mechanism doesn't seem to make any effort to pull the chain over.

I've only taken it for two short rides to get used to the position, clips and gears, so please help. Also will it be harmed at all by just riding in the highest gear until i can fix it, it didn't seem to be a problem today?

Thanks

Comments

  • tri-sexual
    tri-sexual Posts: 672
    if there is no movement in the mech at all then it is probably a cable issue (not fitted properly or broken) rather than a adjustment problem

    no harm will be one to the bike if used on the large chain ring
  • livb
    livb Posts: 59
    Thanks for the help

    How could that of happened if it's new and was working before, could it have been me fiddling to get used to the gears? :S

    Does it usually cost a lot to fix?
  • Jaydoubleyou
    Jaydoubleyou Posts: 41
    Hiya,
    I know it might sound a bit daft but you are trying to change gear on the chainring with the right lever? If you are using the wrong lever it will just make a noise and nothing will happen.
    I am not trying to imply that you don't know what you are doing, but if you are completely new to road bikes and gear changing it can seem a bit weird.
    Just a thought :)
  • livb
    livb Posts: 59
    Hi,

    Thanks, any help is useful

    I was doing that to start with, but I've got the hang of them now, and it does nothing with either lever, so unfortunately I don't think that's it
  • Jaydoubleyou
    Jaydoubleyou Posts: 41
    Well at least thats one thing ruled out!
    Assuming you haven't been fiddling with the gear adjustments it can't be much, and even if you have, it shouldn't be a big job for your LBS to sort out.
    If it is a new bike you should get a free six week service. I would take it in a little early.
    In the meantime, riding everywhere on the big ring should do wonders for those leg muscles!
  • justresting
    justresting Posts: 292
    If you bought it from a local ( easy to get to ) bike shop just take it back for them to look at, its probably summat n nowt and I would be dissapointsd if they charged you anything!
    ' From the sharks in the penthouse,
    to the rats in the basement,
    its not that far '
  • livb
    livb Posts: 59
    Thanks everyone for your help

    I bought it from a cycle shop that sold it over ebay (probably a bad move), then took it to a local one for a service to check it, I guess it'll have to go back there then.
  • tri-sexual
    tri-sexual Posts: 672
    if it was working before and now it no longer works its probably because the gear cable to the front mech was not tightened properly.
    use the left gear lever which control the front mech, you should see the cable move at its end where the front mech is, is the cable attached securely? if not the cable would move without activating the mech itself. the cable should be clamped onto the mech so when the gear lever is used, the cable will lengthen or shorten which will move the mech from side to side which in turn derails the chain and change gears on the front chain ring.
    its a very easy fix but if you really have no idea, take it to a shop because some minor adjustments may be required for it to work properly. it will save you loads of time and money when you cant do it and you will probably stop you buggering up the cable end.
  • livb
    livb Posts: 59
    I tried checking what the cable was doing, and it doesn't seem to move at all when I try to change gear

    Thanks again
  • tri-sexual
    tri-sexual Posts: 672
    the cable should move when gear lever is used, if cable moves but front mech doesnt move from side to side then it isnt fitted properly at the front mech

    if the cable doesnt move at all when gear lever is used then the cable is not fitted correctly on the lever end or the cable has snapped somewhere along its length before it reaches the front mech
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    He is stuck on the big ring. It can only be one of three things.

    Seized front mech. Unlikely on a new bike.

    Cable too tight and not releasing far enough. This could also jam the shifter if the mech is being forced against the limit stop. Most likely cause.

    Faulty shifter not releasing. Could be broken (warranty claim) or dammage caused by above. In this case did you mess with it.
    My Fleet.
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    You don't mention what make and model it is.

    On a left hand Shimano 105 shifter, you need to click twice otherwise it's the trim that needs adjusting probably because of cable stretch. However, some shifters do break if forced :cry:
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • livb
    livb Posts: 59
    I've just checked again now, they are shimano sora and also the cable that isn't moving does seem much tighter than the other one.

    I am a little worried now too, because when I was getting used to the gears I got confused and I think I may have pressed the wrong one a few times :S

    Are these problems generally expensive to fix?

    Thanks everyone for the help again
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    Well what I would do is this, but it's up to you. It's possible the cable is actually too tight to release the downshift.

    1. Loosen the cable on the Front Dérailleur whilst it's on the big cog.
    2. Flick the gear/brake lever as though to place it on the big cog, this double checks it's position.
    3. Now pull the cable tight and tighten the bolt holding it.
    4. Spin the wheel and click the downshift trigger and see what happens.


    If all else fails take it to a local Bike shop who will advise if it's just the adjustment or the shifter. I think Sora triggers are fairly robust so I doubt it's broken.
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • livb
    livb Posts: 59
    Thank you very much, I've followed your steps and the problem is fixed, saved me some money too :)
  • livb
    livb Posts: 59
    Spoke too soon, 2 miles down the road they stopped working again and the cable is tighter again. Does this mean that it is actually broken?
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Time to take it into the shop.
    Console yourself by knowing if you had to give up one piece of equipment or you would die, it would be the front mech..... all else fails you can use a pointy stick to shift into other ring.
    Wasnt me that thought up thhat... just read it somewhere
  • Buckled_Rims
    Buckled_Rims Posts: 1,648
    Well the next thing I can suggest is to adjust the L and H screws. This is more difficult to explain, but not hard once you understand what it does. It's well worth studying Parktools excellent service guide:

    http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=75

    If that fails, then the LBS it is :cry:
    CAAD9
    Kona Jake the Snake
    Merlin Malt 4
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    Are you operating the button fully. The short click is only to trim the cage to prevent chain rub. You must push it fully down to change gear. If the cable is still tight after shifting (or attempting to) then something is stopping the shifter releasing the cable properly, either you or a fault on the shifter.
    My Fleet.

Categories