Maintenance Help

[peterw_diy]

It’s likely just that you need to tighten the rear shift cable a bit by turning an adjusting barrel so the derailleur pulley lines up with the rear cogs. More than you wanted to know: http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

[DismalScientist]

It could be a stretched chain, a misadjusted adjusting barrel (if brifters, pod shifting, or indexed lever shifting) or either you didn’t put it properly in gear or the lever is insufficiently tightened for friction lever shifting. What kind of shifters do you have?

[rcannon100]

Also, start with the simple. Thoroughly clean and lube the chain and the derailers and your cables.

[brendan]

This is totally the appropriate time to suggest going to The Bike House saturday or sunday clinics and learning how to diagnose and adjust the derailleur. Also, several bike shops/stores have free basic maintenance classes.

B

[n18]

First, check the bike store where you bought it from, it may have included free tune ups.

Second, there are a lot of YouTube videos about bike tune up. The problem that you mentioned is very common even for new bikes. It’s usually fixed by adjusting one thing that doesn’t require any special tools. The one you need to adjust is the “Adjusting barrel” in the picture at the link that peterw_diy posted. However, to understand how to adjust it requires watching some YouTube videos about Rear Derailleur Tune Up. In many of these videos they refer to two adjusting screws: High and Low. It can be confusing which one is for which, because many talk about high gear or low gear, then say big or small gear. Here is what H and L stand for:

• H: The smallest cog. Many manufacturers refer to it as “The High Gear”. This is what you use to go downhill faster. I prefer the term “High Speed” for less confusion.
• L: The biggest cog. Many manufacturers refer to it as “The Low Gear”. This is what you use to go uphill. I prefer the term “Low Speed” for less confusion.

Here is a play list by someone who explains how to fix or replace bike parts in an easy to understand manner. The best videos are at the bottom of the page:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6D2D4EB862ECE34F

Most bike tune ups and part replacement can be done by common tools, like screw drivers, Hex, and adjustable wrenches. The ones that require special bike tools are:

• The Bottom Bracket($30 to $45, I have them).
• Cassette/Freewheel(The 7 to 10 gears attached to the real wheel) replacement require tools that cost $8-$23.
• Chain replacement($0 if the new chain comes with missing links and has the same number of links as your current chain, $17 otherwise).
• Not really a special bike tool, but for peddle replacement you might need Loctite Thread Locker. The blue is the recommended one, which makes it possible to remove later with hand tools. The red one is permanent and intended for other applications(Can be removed by heating the parts to 500 Degrees F, so don’t use it). The blue one is available from Home Depot or Lowe’s for $6.50.

Everything else as far as I know doesn’t require special tools for most bikes.

Some notable videos from the play list above:

How to Take Apart and Service the Bottom Bracket on a Bicycle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXQA4kNmhPA

How to True (Straighten) a Bicycle Wheel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6eOamGK2tY

How to Take Apart and Clean a Rear Derailleur on a Bicycle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psMCpico6OM

How to Replace a Chain on Bicycle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qzchwI9SVs

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