Rear derailleur problems... kids bike

PaulC7

I've been trying to adjust the rear derailleur on my lads (7) Vertigo Etna but having problems getting it to change down a gear and also to have the gear shifter not too tight that he cant change gear.

I get can get it to change up the gears correctly but the barrel adjuster is most of the way out, if i adjust the barrel i can get it to change down the gears but it will miss one out usually gear 3 with 1 being the highest but then of course if wont change up correctly... i cant seem to find any middle ground.

Also the rear cassette has a quiet grinding noise coming from it sometimes... now being a young lad who doesnt really know how to look after his property as he should means that his bike has taken a good few knocks either by crashing, falling over or by being dropped.

So im wondering has he damaged it so a new derailleur and cassette is needed or is it me... i've spent the day adjusting my own and my partners bikes without problems.

nicklouse

sounds like time for new cables.

PaulC7

Something as simple as that?

cooldad

It normally is.

PaulC7

Ok then... off to Halfords tommorow then.

The Rookie

Nooooo, Wilkinsons do gear cable inners for 79p, much cheaper (and same quality) as Halfords......

Simon

PaulC7

Well as i said off to Halfords i went and a new cable was bought... would of gone to Wilkinsons but Best Buy are next to Halfords and their closing down so went to have a look at the bargains they had.

Got home and fitted new cable seems to of done the trick... after a lot of tinkering the gears are easy to shift and they also change up ok and down a little hesitant... im happy with it and he will is too.

The smile on his face was great cause yesterday i told him it was broke so we would be getting him a smaller fixed gear bike with stabilisers that way he wouldnt fall off it and he had no gears to break... so he wasnt to happy.

cooldad

When he stabs you in the middle of the night you know why.