Bicycle Derailleur Adjustment

Bicycles have become an integral part of our lives. With their help, we rest, move to the store and back, and some even travel. And this is not surprising, since such a mode of transport as a bicycle is much cheaper than any average car. In addition, it does not harm the ecosystem, and is generally good for health. And of course, like any other technique, it tends to break.

It can be either a banal tire puncture or a quite serious breakdown, for example, a front fork fracture, etc. But still, the leading type of bicycle breakdown after a tire puncture is a gearshift switch. Most often this problem occurs with sports bikes, since city or pleasure bikes often do not have such a system.

And the principle of its operation is that with the help of cables, the mechanisms are tensioned or loosened, and the chain goes to the desired sprocket in front or behind.

How to set up a rear derailleur on a bike

- it's not tricky, and anyone who knows at least a little about the mechanisms can do it.

To independently configure all the mechanisms and put them into action, you need to do the following:

you need to check if the switch itself is bent. This can be determined by looking at the tensioner - it should be parallel to the sprockets on the rear wheel. If the whole point is in it, then you need to try to straighten it with pliers or other tools.
if everything is fine with the switch, then the cockerel is most likely to blame (this is the mount on which the switch is placed). Most often, it also bends, and it has to be straightened periodically, so that the first time it breaks, it must be replaced.

If everything described above is done or in order, then you can proceed directly to setting the switch itself.

This should be done as follows:

set the switch to the highest speed (that is, to the smallest star)
we find two screws - H and L. Turn the screw H so that the roller on the switch moves one mark with a smaller star
set to the lowest speed (big star), and turn the screw L until the roller is aligned with the big star
again set to the highest speed, and pull the cable. In this case, you need to make sure that he got into a special premium. You should pull on - tighter!
check switch! If the switch is very tight, or does not switch at all, then you need to slightly loosen the cable, or vice versa, tighten it.
If everything works well, then we can assume that the job is done.

Causes of a malfunction in the rear thrower

Reasons may be diverse is and a bent cock or derailleur, poor cable tension, corrosion on parts, etc. Usually such problems occur if the derailleur is set incorrectly or no one has used the bike for a long time, which caused corrosion on the parts thrower, and its movement is difficult.

Adjustment screws on the switch

The adjusting screws are the same H and L screws that are used when adjusting the rear derailleur. Their action is based on fixing the speed switch, which allows it not to hang out. Usually they are accessed only once, during the first setup, and they are not touched again. But in the event of a breakdown of the cockerel or switch, you simply cannot do without them. They are not too sensitive, so they can be safely twisted and adjusted as needed.

Ropes and shirts

Particular attention should also be paid to cables with shirts. The shirt is a cable braid. And special attention should be paid to them for the simple reason that if the cable or shirt is damaged, then at the most crucial moment it can break, and subsequently switching speeds will be impossible.

Therefore, they must be chosen very carefully so that there is no damage or traces of rust, and each cable has its own type of jacket. There are only three of them - this is the SIS braid, the SIS-SP braid and the twisted braid. Based on the selected cable, the right shirt should also be selected. Otherwise, it may happen that the cable will fray the entire braid, and it will fail.

Rear derailleur cock

The cock (or cockerel) is the part with which the switch is attached to the frame. In addition, it provides more reliable protection of the frame from all-round impact, such as a fall from a great height or a large bicycle overload. First of all, the rooster fails, and this saves the frame itself. After all, the rooster can always be changed, but the frame, if damaged, may not be repairable.

Therefore, this part is also very necessary, and if there is a need to purchase it, then choosing it, you should pay attention to the following characteristics: its alloy composition (what metals are used in the manufacture), quality (no chips and cracks) and of course the price .

It should not cost more than 500-600 rubles, of course it all depends on the desire of the buyer. You can buy those that are much more expensive, but this is overkill.

Chains and sprockets

These two parts are the main parts of the bike, since they are used to directly move. Most often, stars represent cassette, which consists of 6-7 stars. It all depends on the number of speeds on the bike.

Chains vary in pitch and length. The chain pitch is the size of one link on the sprocket or chain, and according to the pitch on the sprocket, you need to select a chain with the desired pitch. The length is basically the same everywhere, but it can be an individual size. Then it will take a very long time to look for it, or rivet it yourself.

Chain tensioner rollers

The tensioner rollers are part of a mechanism that provides high-quality chain tension during gear shifting or while the bike itself is moving. Without it, the chain will not stay level, which will not allow you to pedal or shift gears.

Steering wheel switches

There are two types of switches on the steering wheel - lever and cylindrical. Lever are a small lever located on the left or right on the steering wheel, with which the cable is tensioned.

Cylindrical - these are switches that are mounted together with a rubber or plastic handle on the edge of the steering wheel. Switching here occurs when the handle is turned up or down, followed by tension on the cable and moving the chain to the desired star located at the back. They guarantee high-quality and fast shifting without getting off the bike and right on the move.

How to fine-tune the rear derailleur

The most important factor when adjusting a switch is accuracy. Fine tuning can be done as described at the beginning of the article, but during implementation, special attention must be paid not only to the adjusting screws, but to the entire mechanism as a whole.

That is, when setting up, you need to monitor the state of tension of the chain and cables, the position of the rollers, etc., since with fine tuning they can go to the side, which will delay the repair time for some time.

How to set up a front derailleur on a bike

Adjusting the front derailleur is a little easier than the rear derailleur. Here an important factor is its correct and reliable installation on the frame, and everything else is done within 15 minutes.

The correct position of the front derailleur is when the chain is on the largest star, and a distance of 1-3 mm is maintained from the star to the frame. Then we can assume that the switch is set correctly.

you need to set the minimum speed, that is, the chain is on the back of the largest star, and in front on the smallest.
slightly loosen the cable tension and turn the screw L until there is a gap of 1mm between the chain and the frame
firmly fix the cable, before inserting it into a special groove.
set the highest speed
adjust the gap between the chain and the inner side of the frame with the screw H
checking performance
if switching is tight, then adjust with screws to the desired state
After all the manipulations, the bike should be washed and lubricated with all parts (chain, sprockets, etc.)

Steering wheel switches

The switches here are exactly the same as on the rear wheel. They are absolutely no different, and even located exactly the same.

Ropes and shirts

The cables do not differ from the rear derailleur in that they can be a little shorter, and even a little thinner. And shirts are also divided into three types, and each shirt has its own cable.

Useful Tips for Using Shifters on a Bicycle

Of course, breakdowns and adjustments can be avoided if all the rules are carefully followed.

Namely:

wash the bike and its parts as often as possible, and then dry it thoroughly, as dirt and corrosion are the main enemies of metal products
lubricate all parts with engine oil or grease (imported products do not do very well, and often do harm at all)
to climb on your own to repair mechanisms only in extreme cases, since inexperience can only aggravate the situation, so it is better to ask professionals or friends for help.

In conclusion, I would like to say that any thing can be repaired on its own, if everything is done correctly, following all the tips listed above. Or even start monitoring its condition from the very moment of purchase. And then you don’t have to fork out for new parts, which, moreover, also cost 2 times more than the bike itself.

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