STI Rear Shifting Problems

HarryB said:

When I adjust the tension for the rear derailleur so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the smallest cogs, the tension seems to be too
high when shifting among the largest ones (the chain attempts to climb
onto the next larger cog.) When I adjust the tension so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the larger cogs, it seems to be too low when
shifting among the smaller cogs (I need to nudge the shifter to move
the chain to the next larger cog.)

I have not replaced any components that would affect the shifting
other than replacing the derailleur cable. I've checked to see that
nothing is binding. The chain is relatively new and has been recently
lubed. I have flushed the shifter with WD-40 to no avail. I can feel
and hear the normal clicks when I move the shift lever.

The shifter is an Ultegra 9spd, the rear derailleur is an Deore XT and
the cogset is a Shimano 11-34T. Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

TIA,
Harry

The usual cause is drag in the cables, causing sluggish shifting to the
smaller sprockets, slacking cable tension to help this then results in
marginal shifting to larger sprockets. The easy fix is new housing and
cable.

It can also be bent derailer cage/hanger, improper position of the cable
on the end clamp (derailer), or accumulated slop in derailer and/or shifter.

HarryB said:

When I adjust the tension for the rear derailleur so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the smallest cogs, the tension seems to be too
high when shifting among the largest ones (the chain attempts to climb
onto the next larger cog.) When I adjust the tension so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the larger cogs, it seems to be too low when
shifting among the smaller cogs (I need to nudge the shifter to move
the chain to the next larger cog.)

I have not replaced any components that would affect the shifting
other than replacing the derailleur cable. I've checked to see that
nothing is binding. The chain is relatively new and has been recently
lubed. I have flushed the shifter with WD-40 to no avail. I can feel
and hear the normal clicks when I move the shift lever.

The shifter is an Ultegra 9spd, the rear derailleur is an Deore XT and
the cogset is a Shimano 11-34T. Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

TIA,
Harry

Did you lubricate the shifter once you flushed it out with WD40?
You have too much friction in the system. Friction adds up along the way.
It can come from the shifter, cable, housing, cable ends, bottom bracket passage, derailer, etc. Since it needs to all be connected together to work, it is hard to isolate the problem area(s).
I suggest working with a small amount of aerosol Triflow into the shifter. Give it a short blast, then work it in by shifting through all 9 positions. WD40 does a good job of cleaning and displacing moisture, but a poor job of lubricating.

HarryB said:

When I adjust the tension for the rear derailleur so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the smallest cogs, the tension seems to be too
high when shifting among the largest ones (the chain attempts to climb
onto the next larger cog.) When I adjust the tension so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the larger cogs, it seems to be too low when
shifting among the smaller cogs (I need to nudge the shifter to move
the chain to the next larger cog.)

I have not replaced any components that would affect the shifting
other than replacing the derailleur cable. I've checked to see that
nothing is binding. The chain is relatively new and has been recently
lubed. I have flushed the shifter with WD-40 to no avail. I can feel
and hear the normal clicks when I move the shift lever.

The shifter is an Ultegra 9spd, the rear derailleur is an Deore XT and
the cogset is a Shimano 11-34T. Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

TIA,
Harry

Hi Harry, you may have connected the cable wrong. There are two ways
to do it. One for shifting 9 speed the other for 8. It sounds like
that is the problem. Check online for the install instructions, or
take a look at another 9 speed that is working correctly.

Life is Good!
Jeff

"Jeff Starr" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

HarryB said:

When I adjust the tension for the rear derailleur so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the smallest cogs, the tension seems to be too
high when shifting among the largest ones (the chain attempts to climb
onto the next larger cog.) When I adjust the tension so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the larger cogs, it seems to be too low when
shifting among the smaller cogs (I need to nudge the shifter to move
the chain to the next larger cog.)

I have not replaced any components that would affect the shifting
other than replacing the derailleur cable. I've checked to see that
nothing is binding. The chain is relatively new and has been recently
lubed. I have flushed the shifter with WD-40 to no avail. I can feel
and hear the normal clicks when I move the shift lever.

The shifter is an Ultegra 9spd, the rear derailleur is an Deore XT and
the cogset is a Shimano 11-34T. Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

TIA,
Harry

Hi Harry, you may have connected the cable wrong. There are two ways
to do it. One for shifting 9 speed the other for 8. It sounds like
that is the problem. Check online for the install instructions, or
take a look at another 9 speed that is working correctly.

Life is Good!
Jeff

Harry,

I made the mistake Jeff described. Drove me crazy, couldn't get the indexing
rght. Looked at the instruction sheet again and realized I had the cabling
wrong. Two minute fix, perfect shifting ever since.

Good Luck
Gary

HarryB said:

When I adjust the tension for the rear derailleur so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the smallest cogs, the tension seems to be too
high when shifting among the largest ones (the chain attempts to climb
onto the next larger cog.) When I adjust the tension so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the larger cogs, it seems to be too low when
shifting among the smaller cogs (I need to nudge the shifter to move
the chain to the next larger cog.)

I have not replaced any components that would affect the shifting
other than replacing the derailleur cable. I've checked to see that
nothing is binding. The chain is relatively new and has been recently
lubed. I have flushed the shifter with WD-40 to no avail. I can feel
and hear the normal clicks when I move the shift lever.

The shifter is an Ultegra 9spd, the rear derailleur is an Deore XT and
the cogset is a Shimano 11-34T. Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

TIA,
Harry

Although I was sure that nothing was binding, I replaced the cable and
housing. That didn't help. As best as I can tell the hanger isn't bent
and trying a different shifter didn't help either. Neither did another
derailleur. Finally I installed a different cogset and that was an
immediate improvement. Since the two cogsets are quite different from
one another, I couldn't get the second one to shift very smoothly, but
it sure shifted a lot better.

I do not understand what is wrong with the original cogset. It doesn't
appear that any of the cogs are bent nor are any of the teeth worn
very badly. It has about 7,000 miles on it, but since it's on a tandem
I guess it has probably had a rougher life than normal. Anyway, I'll
purchase a new one and hopefully this shifting problem will be over.

Thanks for the suggestions.
Harry

HarryB said:

When I adjust the tension for the rear derailleur so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the smallest cogs, the tension seems to be too
high when shifting among the largest ones (the chain attempts to climb
onto the next larger cog.) When I adjust the tension so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the larger cogs, it seems to be too low when
shifting among the smaller cogs (I need to nudge the shifter to move
the chain to the next larger cog.)

I have not replaced any components that would affect the shifting
other than replacing the derailleur cable. I've checked to see that
nothing is binding. The chain is relatively new and has been recently
lubed. I have flushed the shifter with WD-40 to no avail. I can feel
and hear the normal clicks when I move the shift lever.

The shifter is an Ultegra 9spd, the rear derailleur is an Deore XT and
the cogset is a Shimano 11-34T. Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

TIA,
Harry

Cable underneath the fixing bolt, not above or thru the little plate??

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

HarryB said:

When I adjust the tension for the rear derailleur so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the smallest cogs, the tension seems to be too
high when shifting among the largest ones (the chain attempts to climb
onto the next larger cog.) When I adjust the tension so that the chain
shifts smoothly between the larger cogs, it seems to be too low when
shifting among the smaller cogs (I need to nudge the shifter to move
the chain to the next larger cog.)

I have not replaced any components that would affect the shifting
other than replacing the derailleur cable. I've checked to see that
nothing is binding. The chain is relatively new and has been recently
lubed. I have flushed the shifter with WD-40 to no avail. I can feel
and hear the normal clicks when I move the shift lever.

The shifter is an Ultegra 9spd, the rear derailleur is an Deore XT and
the cogset is a Shimano 11-34T. Any ideas as to what might be wrong?

TIA,
Harry

Cable underneath the fixing bolt, not above or thru the little plate??

Correct. There is a groove which I assume is the proper location for
the cable.

It appears that the problem is with the cogset. I still don't
understand what went wrong with it since it doesn't appear that the
cogs are bent nor the teeth excessively worn, but when I swapped it
out with a different one, the shifting improved. I'm going to order a
new one.

Harry