something wrong with my bike

[Martin]

The derailleur sort of skips/gives way, but the gears don't change. It's happened to me on other bikes whenever I put too much presure (for example, by accelerating on the highest gear), but on this bike it started happening even if there is little pressure on it.

I haven't put any lubrication on it in a long time, could this be why its doing this?

 

[Brutuskend]

Could be the cogs are worn and the chain fails to engage properly. If this is happening in just the small cogs there is a very good possibility that that is the problem. The small cogs tend to wear faster due to the fact that there are fewer teeth (IE less chain wrap) and once they get "hooked" the chain will skip. If this IS the problem, replace BOTH the cogs AND the chain.

 

[virtueixi]

What if it is a new bike ( 1 year old ) and it happens on the 3rd gear cog in the front?

 

[loic2003]

yeap, worn cogs or dirty chain. Also check that the tension pulley is working ok (the two little cogs). I once had a cheapo bike where the pully would lock back when going to a low gear and wouldn't take up the slack when you moved up. This resulted in a slippy chain.

Good luck!!

 

[GasX]

I have nothing productive to add, but instead of starting a new thread, I will mention my derraileur problem here...

I have a Cannondale R800 Triple road bike and the front derrailleur is a bit "off"

To shift from the large wheel to the middle, I have to push the lever over and then push it back to get it to shift. Also, it simply does not go into the granny gear. Shifting up to the large chain wheel is smooth as butter, but it some times "clacks" until I make an adjustment.

I will probably take it to the shop to get fixed, but is this something I should be able to fix / play with myself?

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I have nothing productive to add, but instead of starting a new thread, I will mention my derraileur problem here...

I have a Cannondale R800 Triple road bike and the front derrailleur is a bit "off"

To shift from the large wheel to the middle, I have to push the lever over and then push it back to get it to shift. Also, it simply does not go into the granny gear. Shifting up to the large chain wheel is smooth as butter, but it some times "clacks" until I make an adjustment.

I will probably take it to the shop to get fixed, but is this something I should be able to fix / play with myself?

known problem with triple derailleur

you are better of with a compact crank set, almost all the advantages of a triple without the shifting problems of a triple

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
known problem with triple derailleur

If a complete inability to shift to the granny gear is a known problem with a triple, why do they sell them?

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I have nothing productive to add, but instead of starting a new thread, I will mention my dérailleur problem here...

I have a Cannon dale R800 Triple road bike and the front dérailleur is a bit "off"

To shift from the large wheel to the middle, I have to push the lever over and then push it back to get it to shift. Also, it simply does not go into the granny gear. Shifting up to the large chain wheel is smooth as butter, but it some times "clacks" until I make an adjustment.

I will probably take it to the shop to get fixed, but is this something I should be able to fix / play with myself?

There are two screws on the front dérailleur, one sets the high end limit, the other the low end limit. If it's not dropping to the granny gear the low end limiting screw my be set too tight. The center ring is adjusted via cable tension. If the chain rubs on the chain cage when you are in the center ring, the cable tension is either too tight or too loose.

EDIT: Also make sure the outer part of the front dérailleur chain cage is parallel with the big cog.

 

[David Brent]

cable tension is the most common cause of this. there's a good site that explains how to adjust this...i'll edit this post when i find it.

edit: found it.

http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer_adj.html

 

[mordantmonkey]

or you could just learn to adjust a deraileur yourself. pretty easy to do if you have a bike stand. a bit harder if you don't.

yeah what he said..most likely cable tension. they stretch a bit over time.

 

[freegeeks]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: freegeeks
known problem with triple derailleur

If a complete inability to shift to the granny gear is a known problem with a triple, why do they sell them?

triple derailleurs can be somewhat tricky to get them right

I ride a lot on "bad" roads (belgian blocks) and 2 of my friends seem to have weekly problems with their triples (shimano ultegra + campy)

 

[David Brent]

freegeeks said "play with myself"

:laugh: teehee

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

i had this problem not too long ago. the shop guy simply tightened the cable tension a bit with the adjustment nut where the cable connects to the derailluer.

visually, the derailuer should be aligned with the spocket, shift the bike so that the chain is on a middle rear sprocket and adjust.

 

[LS20]

see if there is a stiff link in the chain