slipping gears

secretsam
secretsam Posts: 5,098
edited October 2007 in Commuting chat
Hmmm, now someone's going to say "get on the road advice thingy" about this, but anyway...

The Sirrus has developed a nasty habit of slipping gears, keeps popping between them and jumping up and down without me changing, especially when I put a stomp on (eg uphill)

What's going on? Haven't whacked the mech or anything, don't think it's all worn...

It's a Shimano Sora at the back. Am not familiar with index gears, bike 2 still has the old fashioned "It's in there somewhere" system :roll: ...is it adjustment, perhaps?????

Please help, it's driving me nuts and can't be doing the bike any good...

It's just a hill. Get over it.

Comments

  • el_presidente
    el_presidente Posts: 1,963
    edited October 2007
    scrap it and get a singlespeed




    otherwise, sounds like the cable has stretched so the indexing isn't dialled in. there'll be a thing somewhere called a barrel adjuster, twiddle that a bit til it's dialled back in again

    google it on Sheldon's site & I'm sure he'll give you chapter & verse

    EDIT try this from Park tools

    http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=64
    <a>road</a>
  • hamboman
    hamboman Posts: 512
    cables have stretched?
  • Pat920
    Pat920 Posts: 55
    Have you taken the rear wheel off recently? If you have, undo the quick release, give the wheel a shake and do it up again (this has caught me out before).

    Otherwise, set the gear change to the middle gear and spin the pedals. Eye in the shifter mechanism - is it lining up with the middle cog or is it slightly off? Adjust the shifter with the barrel adjuster at the end of the cable until it aligns. With mine, the direction you turn the top of the adjuster is the direction the shifter moves.
  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    hamboman wrote:
    cables have stretched?

    This can happen with a new cable. Quarter to half turn of the barrel adjuster sould rectify.

    The OP might want to check that the chain isn't worn?
  • Another way to use the barrel adjuster; stick the chain on the smallest cog. Twiddle the adjuster until the chain is rattling on the next cog. Then back it off by a quarter turn each time until the rattling ceases. Voila your indexing is dialled in.
    <a>road</a>
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,098
    Thanks everyone

    Sounds like you've nailed it, needs adjustment, bingo-have also taken rear wheel off recently so that may be a factor

    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • Gambatte
    Gambatte Posts: 1,453
    easy way to check if cables stretched.
    ride the bike and change down to the small cog at the back.
    If you dont have cable outers running full length, check the inner cable as it runs exposed down the front of the frame or along the top tube. This shouldn't have any slack. If it has, it needs adjusting to take it up with the already mentioned barrel adjuster.
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,098
    Thanks all, think I identified the problem - when I put my front light in, it was catching on the gear adjuster next to the lever

    Had a bit of a twiddle which seemed to fix it but think I've overdone it...bike now running on 4th gear when indicator says 3rd, and changes are slow and erratic

    Oh bu99er I think I've f :evil: cked it, trip to the LBS workshop no doubt... :cry:

    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • I think you might find that the chain is worn, if it jumps when you "stomp" it
    15 * 2 * 5
    * 46 = Happiness
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,098
    cupofteacp wrote:
    I think you might find that the chain is worn, if it jumps when you "stomp" it

    Nope, that's not a problem, it's a recent thing since I've been using lights a lot :roll: so think I've knackered the adjustment, and am not up-to-speed on indexing so am not confident enough to DIY. Bike 2 has old fashioned hunt-the-gear shifters which I'm more than happy sorting out myself!!!!

    It's just a hill. Get over it.