CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

DIY gear maintenance

(14 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by miggy_magic
  • Latest reply from miggy_magic
  • This topic is resolved

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  1. miggy_magic
    Member

    Both my bikes have problems with their gears/drive train.

    Bike #1 has a new rear wheel/cassette but now the chain jumps all over the place when I cycle. If you listen carefully, you'll hear me cursing all the way up Leith Walk tonight. Bike #2 can't shift between the front rings.

    Over the years I've used shops to fix these kind of issues but now I'd like to learn how to do it myself and save a packet.

    Problem is, I like to get practical, interactive, hands-on training rather than reading Sheldon's website (as good as it is) or watching YouTube videos. I could have a bash myself but it would be a case of trial-and-error, and I don't have the time and patience for that.

    And as far as I can tell, the Edinburgh Bike Co-op does training but it covers a whole load of stuff, most of which I know, and it might be a waste of a day off work.

    The Bike Station advertised evening maintenance courses but it looks like they no longer run them. They didn't respond to my query either.

    So, does anyone know of anywhere else in town that does hands-on gear maintenance classes?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    Bike 1 sounds like it needs a new chain to go with new block.

    Bike 2 - does front mech move if you push it with your hand? If so strip cable and grease or replace - unless it's the shifter.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. miggy_magic
    Member

    Thanks chdot.

    Bike 1 - the chain was replaced at the same time, I should have said. They should all be compatible (8 speed). I think it's some tweaking of the derailleur that might be required. But how to tweak, I don't know.

    Bike 2 - Yes, it moves but the cable is sooo slack it just dangles down when I shift from small to big ring (i think). I also think the front derailleur itself isn't aligned with the big ring any more. It's as if someone accidentally bashed against it in my work's bike shed.

    Have you or anyone ever been to the Bike Station 'fix your bike' sessions?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. Dave
    Member

    It's quite simple to adjust the rear mech if that's all that you need to do.

    There is just one control (the barrel adjuster on the gear cable) and it affects all gear changes simultaneously. All you need to do is twist it until the pre-set gaps between each cog line up with the pre-set gaps of each 'click' of the shifter.

    Imagine you have two sheets of lined paper, you're simply trying to line them up by moving the top sheet up and down with the barrel adjuster.

    Put it in the biggest cog at the back, change one at a time until it doesn't work, then either turn anti-clockwise (if it jumped two for one click) or clockwise (if it didn't jump when you clicked). If you start in the smallest cog at the back you'd need to reverse these, obviously..

    A quarter turn at a time, and you need to go back to first gear and start over after each adjustment.

    Let us know how you get on!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. miggy_magic
    Member

    Dave and chdot - cheers for that. The lined paper analogy is helpful, that's the kind of example that helps my simple brain. I have resolved to give this a bash myself, surely no harm can be done???!! :-)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. Dave
    Member

    No problem. What confused me for ages was that I thought the barrel adjuster somehow adjusted each gear individually (i.e. when it always skips from 7-8th you need to go to 7th and twist it, or 8th and twist it).

    Actually the gear changer (on a 9-speed Shimano/SRAM) is precision engineered to take up exactly 4.34 mm per click, and by no coincidence the sprockets are 4.34mm apart.

    All you need to do is tweak the cable so that one sheet of 4.34mm lined paper exactly corresponds with the other.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. cb
    Member

    "There is just one control (the barrel adjuster on the gear cable)"

    Depending on the bike there may be a barrel adjuster at the gear leaver end of the cable too.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. miggy_magic
    Member

    Just a quick note to chdot and Dave to let them know I successfully fixed my problematic gears. A few bob saved by doing it myself. Normal shifting resumed. Thanks again.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. Dave
    Member

    Excellent, well done! There are some genuine mysteries best dealt with by the LBS but gear problems aren't one of them, I think.

    (Although unfortunately it means we're taking trade away from local bike shops by giving advice..?)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. steveo
    Member

    Perhaps but given how busy the Bicycle Works is i doubt they'd notice and if others aren't as busy as they are then i humbly suggest they are too expensive

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. Wendy
    Member

    Miggy magic - the Bike Station have run the evening maintenance classes but aren't running them at present. No definite plans to run the evening classes in the near future, but I'll keep the forum updated when they are due to run again.

    Fix Your Own Bike sessions run on a Wednesday 4pm - 8pm, and a Saturday, 12 pm to 4pm. It costs £4 an hour to hire the workstand, and you get access to all the tools, oil and mechanics are there to help you out, as well as free tea and coffee. More info on the website: http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/fyob/

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. miggy_magic
    Member

    Wendy - thanks for getting in touch, much appreciated. Shame the classes aren't going to be run any time soon, I'm sure there would be lots of interest!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. steveo
    Member

    The coop run classes though not free ones i'm sure they'd pay for them selves pretty quickly for some one who commutes every day.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. miggy_magic
    Member

    Hi steveo, yes I saw the description of the co-op class. I think I know about 60-70% of the topics so wasn't convinced it would be as good value, especially as I'd need to take time off work. The evening classes at the Bike Station would've been perfect. Anyhoo, problem solved for the time being thanks to CCE wisdom :-)

    Posted 13 years ago #

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