Won't shift onto biggest cog



Quick question for those of you who are a lot more mechanically
inclined than me.

The shifting on my bike (Jamis Xenith Comp with Ultegra derailer)
hasn't been all that crisp lately. Upshifts were a bit slow while on
the big chainring but not so bad on the small chainring, so I figured
the derailer hanger was a bit bent.

When I eyeballed the hanger, it didn't seem so bad, but I removed the
derailer and tugged it out a hair to make it as in line with the cogs
as I could.

Now, for the life of me, I can't get the bike to shift on to the
largest cog. The rest of the shifting seems okay but with the
exception that when I try to get it onto that largest cog, it almost
hops up there and bounces back and forth between the largest and
second to largest.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks.
 
On May 27, 7:15 am, [email protected] wrote:
> Quick question for those of you who are a lot more mechanically
> inclined than me.
>
> The shifting on my bike (Jamis Xenith Comp with Ultegra derailer)
> hasn't been all that crisp lately. Upshifts were a bit slow while on
> the big chainring but not so bad on the small chainring, so I figured
> the derailer hanger was a bit bent.
>
> When I eyeballed the hanger, it didn't seem so bad, but I removed the
> derailer and tugged it out a hair to make it as in line with the cogs
> as I could.
>
> Now, for the life of me, I can't get the bike to shift on to the
> largest cog. The rest of the shifting seems okay but with the
> exception that when I try to get it onto that largest cog, it almost
> hops up there and bounces back and forth between the largest and
> second to largest.
>
> Any suggestions are welcome.
>
> Thanks.


If the der hanger is bent, go yo a bike shop that has the proper tool
to check it and then adjust RD. Shift to highest gear(smallest cog),
adjust limit screw, barrell adjust all the way in, secure der cable to
under bolt and plate(not thru), shift to next cog, align chain/pulley
with cog, shift up until last/lowest gear(biggest cog), adjust that
limit screw.
 
[email protected] wrote:
> Quick question for those of you who are a lot more mechanically
> inclined than me.
>
> The shifting on my bike (Jamis Xenith Comp with Ultegra derailer)
> hasn't been all that crisp lately. Upshifts were a bit slow while on
> the big chainring but not so bad on the small chainring, so I figured
> the derailer hanger was a bit bent.
>
> When I eyeballed the hanger, it didn't seem so bad, but I removed the
> derailer and tugged it out a hair to make it as in line with the cogs
> as I could.
>
> Now, for the life of me, I can't get the bike to shift on to the
> largest cog. The rest of the shifting seems okay but with the
> exception that when I try to get it onto that largest cog, it almost
> hops up there and bounces back and forth between the largest and
> second to largest.
>
> Any suggestions are welcome.
>
> Thanks.


Maybe you've given away the last click in the shifter by having the
cable slack in 10th gear

--
/Marten

info(apestaartje)m-gineering(punt)nl
 
> The shifting on my bike (Jamis Xenith Comp with Ultegra derailer)
> hasn't been all that crisp lately.


Just a noob here, but if this is the rear derailleur, check for play in
the upper plastic cog the chain goes around. The manual I've read says this
is the main source of shifting sloppiness.

rms
 
In article <4c8537d3-02e7-4307-90d4-
[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
>
>Quick question for those of you who are a lot more mechanically
>inclined than me.
>
>The shifting on my bike (Jamis Xenith Comp with Ultegra derailer)
>hasn't been all that crisp lately. Upshifts were a bit slow while on
>the big chainring but not so bad on the small chainring, so I figured
>the derailer hanger was a bit bent.
>
>When I eyeballed the hanger, it didn't seem so bad, but I removed the
>derailer and tugged it out a hair to make it as in line with the cogs
>as I could.
>
>Now, for the life of me, I can't get the bike to shift on to the
>largest cog. The rest of the shifting seems okay but with the
>exception that when I try to get it onto that largest cog, it almost
>hops up there and bounces back and forth between the largest and
>second to largest.
>
>Any suggestions are welcome.
>
>Thanks.

Will it stay on the largest cog if you shift by pulling the cable and holding
it onto the cog? If so then there could be too much play in the cable. If
it won't shift and stay by pulling on the cable, try resetting the limit
screw on the derailleur and then the "b" screw.
 
On May 27, 8:15 am, [email protected] wrote:
> Quick question for those of you who are a lot more mechanically
> inclined than me.
>
> The shifting on my bike (Jamis Xenith Comp with Ultegra derailer)
> hasn't been all that crisp lately. Upshifts were a bit slow while on
> the big chainring but not so bad on the small chainring, so I figured
> the derailer hanger was a bit bent.
>
> When I eyeballed the hanger, it didn't seem so bad, but I removed the
> derailer and tugged it out a hair to make it as in line with the cogs
> as I could.
>
> Now, for the life of me, I can't get the bike to shift on to the
> largest cog. The rest of the shifting seems okay but with the
> exception that when I try to get it onto that largest cog, it almost
> hops up there and bounces back and forth between the largest and
> second to largest.
>


Sounds like you need to back our your L screw.
 
On 2008-05-27, rms <[email protected]> wrote:
>> The shifting on my bike (Jamis Xenith Comp with Ultegra derailer)
>> hasn't been all that crisp lately.

>
> Just a noob here, but if this is the rear derailleur, check for play in
> the upper plastic cog the chain goes around. The manual I've read says this
> is the main source of shifting sloppiness.


Maybe, except those upper plastic cogs usually have a lot of play in
them. I heard they are designed like that deliberately since it makes
for smoother running with indexed gears.

So, how much play is too much... I don't know, but they are supposed to
wobble a fair bit.
 
On May 28, 12:51 am, Ben C <[email protected]> wrote:
> On 2008-05-27, rms <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >> The shifting on my bike (Jamis Xenith Comp with Ultegra derailer)
> >> hasn't been all that crisp lately.

>
> > Just a noob here, but if this is the rear derailleur, check for play in
> > the upper plastic cog the chain goes around. The manual I've read says this
> > is the main source of shifting sloppiness.

>
> Maybe, except those upper plastic cogs usually have a lot of play in
> them. I heard they are designed like that deliberately since it makes
> for smoother running with indexed gears.
>
> So, how much play is too much... I don't know, but they are supposed to
> wobble a fair bit.


Get rid of the indexing - use a friction shifter, it gives so much
more flexibility!
 
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:9101c812-5a05-406b-af66-dbc8fdda0926@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
> Get rid of the indexing - use a friction shifter, it gives so much
> more flexibility!


And use wooden wheels so that you never get another flat.
 
Tom Kunich wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:9101c812-5a05-406b-af66-dbc8fdda0926@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> Get rid of the indexing - use a friction shifter, it gives so much
>> more flexibility!

>
> And use wooden wheels so that you never get another flat.
>



Hé, be careful with the 'only steel is real, downtube friction shifters,
6 speed is enough, horizontal top tube' fundamentalists...

Lou
 
On May 28, 12:08 pm, Lou Holtman <[email protected]> wrote:
> Tom Kunich wrote:
> > <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:9101c812-5a05-406b-af66-dbc8fdda0926@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

>
> >> Get rid of the indexing - use a friction shifter, it gives so much
> >> more flexibility!

>
> > And use wooden wheels so that you never get another flat.

>
> Hé, be careful with the 'only steel is real, downtube friction shifters,
> 6 speed is enough, horizontal top tube' fundamentalists...


Which spats do you prefer for springtime outings? Spoon brake tree
species preference?
 
On May 28, 10:58 am, "Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:9101c812-5a05-406b-af66-dbc8fdda0926@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Get rid of the indexing - use a friction shifter, it gives so much
> > more flexibility!

>
> And use wooden wheels so that you never get another flat.


Nonsense, I'm sure you can attach hard rubber or iron flatstock to
modern lightweight kit, making them both curious and miserable.
 
On May 28, 10:08 am, Lou Holtman <[email protected]> wrote:
> Tom Kunich wrote:
> > <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:9101c812-5a05-406b-af66-dbc8fdda0926@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

>
> >> Get rid of the indexing - use a friction shifter, it gives so much
> >> more flexibility!

>
> > And use wooden wheels so that you never get another flat.

>
> Hé, be careful with the 'only steel is real, downtube friction shifters,
> 6 speed is enough, horizontal top tube' fundamentalists...
>
> Lou


Laugh if you like. Meanwhile enjoy your slow shifts and your chains
bouncing on and off the large cogs - that's the price you pay for
progress.
 
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:c25682a3-dbca-47fd-8ef0-aa95512cfa0b@i36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> Laugh if you like. Meanwhile enjoy your slow shifts and your chains
> bouncing on and off the large cogs - that's the price you pay for
> progress.


Slow shifts? Sure, but they're still under one second. So why bother with
friction shifters? Especially for someone like me who is deaf in that range
and can't tell if the bike isn't quite in a gear.

I know how to adjust my set-up and so I don't have a chain bouncing about.

If you prefer friction shifting that's fine, but there's a good reason that
nearly everyone has converted to indexed shifting.
 
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:c25682a3-dbca-47fd-8ef0-aa95512cfa0b@i36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
On May 28, 10:08 am, Lou Holtman <[email protected]> wrote:
> Tom Kunich wrote:
> > <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:9101c812-5a05-406b-af66-dbc8fdda0926@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

>
> >> Get rid of the indexing - use a friction shifter, it gives so much
> >> more flexibility!

>
> > And use wooden wheels so that you never get another flat.

>
> Hé, be careful with the 'only steel is real, downtube friction shifters,
> 6 speed is enough, horizontal top tube' fundamentalists...
>
> Lou


Laugh if you like. Meanwhile enjoy your slow shifts and your chains
bouncing on and off the large cogs - that's the price you pay for
progress.


That's complete nonsense; really.

Lou