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Greasing gear cables | Messing around with broken gears

  • 22-04-2007 11:59am
    #1
    DadaKopf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,731 ✭✭✭


    I was at a bicycle maintenance workshop yesterday, and time ran out to deal with my favourite problem: dodgy gears.

    It's a relatively new bike, and the cables have stretched a bit. I managed to tweak them back into line, and they work - when I'm not on the bike. When I'm on it, going between 2 and 3 on the front gears don't move up.

    I was told I need to grease my gear cables, which means removing them. But I can't find any comprehensive instructions online.

    Can anyone help out?


Comments

  • #2
    hunnymonster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭hunnymonster


    I'm not exactly sure what you mean but I often use the park tool website for repair info
    Park Tools



    Should you need bikes to practise your new skills on I have several could do with a service;)


  • #3
    DadaKopf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,731 ✭✭✭DadaKopf


    No thanks!

    Basically, I need to remove the bike cable to grease it, but amn't sure how to get it back on in tip-top shape.


  • #4
    Turbulent Bill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,638 ✭✭✭Turbulent Bill


    See the advice at the bottom of this page:

    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cables.html

    If you really do need to lubricate them, maybe try the lightest oil you can find (slightly heated if necessary) and run it down between the cable and its casing.


  • #5
    Mucco
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 717 ✭✭✭Mucco


    DadaKopf wrote:
    I was at a bicycle maintenance workshop yesterday, and time ran out to deal with my favourite problem: dodgy gears.

    It's a relatively new bike, and the cables have stretched a bit. I managed to tweak them back into line, and they work - when I'm not on the bike. When I'm on it, going between 2 and 3 on the front gears don't move up.

    I was told I need to grease my gear cables, which means removing them. But I can't find any comprehensive instructions online.

    Can anyone help out?

    Don't remove them.
    Just move the chain to the largest sprocket or cog, then, without pedalling, move the gears back to the smallest cog/sprocket. This slackens the cable and should allow you to move the cable outers from the braze-ons. You can then clean and oil the cable. Don't use grease, as all sorts of dirt will stick to it.
    It definitely helps smooth gear changes.

    M


  • #6
    DadaKopf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,731 ✭✭✭DadaKopf


    Here's my update.

    I didn't clean the cables, but I oiled around the outer housings (hoses) and just gave the front cogs and derailleur a good oil and a clean, then re-oiled the mechanism and chains (with WD-40).

    Then I spend HOURS twiddling around with the fine-tuner on the gear lever, and later twiddling with the hi-lo screws on the derailleur. Eventually, I got it more or less working front and back. Only the 1st rear gear is rattling against the derailleur in 3rd gear on the front. But I think I can live with that.


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  • #7
    daymobrew
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,570 ✭✭✭daymobrew


    DadaKopf wrote:
    Only the 1st rear gear is rattling against the derailleur in 3rd gear on the front. But I think I can live with that.
    By "1st rear gear" I am assuming that you mean the largest cog - if so, you shouldn't use that combination. It puts quite a strain on the chain as it tries to move straight across the cogs but bend when it leaves them to move to the other cog.


  • #8
    DadaKopf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,731 ✭✭✭DadaKopf


    No, I mean the biggest cog on the front with the smallest at the back.


  • #9
    daymobrew
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,570 ✭✭✭daymobrew


    DadaKopf wrote:
    No, I mean the biggest cog on the front with the smallest at the back.
    Then it sounds like the front indexing is off - the front derailleur is not moved enough (or is moved too much) when you go to that top gear. Which side of the derailleur does it rub against? bike or leg side?


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