rear derailleur setup questions

[itsflantastic]

Hi folks.
So I've adjusted a RD many many times, and I'm pretty good at aspects of it. However, I've never set up a new RD (in this case, campy centuar), and I'm finding that I'm having some problems.

I've never really had to play with the High and Low limit screws before.
Also, the derailleur is new, but the chain and cassette are last year's. The chain keeps lining up incorrectly and jumping a few teeth.

help. I want to get through this without going to the bike shop (no car, can't ride my other bike while wheeling this one alongside of me !)

thanks:)

[whammo45]

sounds like it is just cable tension adjustment, leave the Hi - Lo screws alone unless it doesn't shift to the first or last cog

RC

[itsflantastic]

oh, I should be more specific.
when I say lining up incorrectly, I don't mean laterally (side to side) that is dead on.

so i'm confused.

body angle screw?

Do new derailleurs come with these screws set to the correct adjustment for the majority of bikes?

[itsflantastic]

am i just embarrasing myself? exposing my lack of bike mech. knowledge?

[handsomerob]

is it going on a steel bike? Is it possible that your derailleur hanger is a little bent?

[stevep]

you might have the cable on the wrong side of the attachment bolt...

[AgilisMerlin]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z3bVgP_MNwc


annoying music included

[itsflantastic]

hmm
I did crash it once a long time ago in a race, but I rode it for the rest of the season and everything was A OK.
I just set it up anew, so I thought it would be a cinch.

I'd say there is 90% chance it is not bent.

[itsflantastic]

wow that's a terrible sound track

[itsflantastic]

yeah, so anyhow. . . I'm familiar with all of that. I'm probably just missing something stupid

[handsomerob]

Also, 3 good tips for setting up a RD.

1.) Set your high and low limiters BEFORE putting the chain on. I think it is easier to see where it lines up and you can just push through the range of motion.

2.) When you do put the chain on and it is time to set the trim, do it on the middlemost cog. If you set the trim on one end or the other the % of error doubles by the time it gets to the other end.

3.) If your bike shifts up the cassette just fine, but down the cassette is rough, that may be a sign that it is worn, needs cleaning, or your cables are hanging up.

[regularguy412]

you might have the cable on the wrong side of the attachment bolt...


+1 on this -- very easy to do,, don't ask how I know

Another thing (which may be stating the obvious) -- Make sure your rear wheel is securely pressed into the dropouts and that the axle is square. When I find I have shifting problems and I haven't 'touched' anything, I put the bike on the ground, and press on the saddle. Then I open and close the rear QR. Invariably, I have failed to get the rear wheel fully seated in the dropout. NO amount of fiddling with the tension or limit screws will help until you are sure all the parts are in their proper places relative to one another.

Mike in AR :beer:

[AgilisMerlin]

go get your bike to a shop and have em put a alignment tool on the hanger.......takes about 3 minutes........

good luck.

[Too Tall]

I hate to be a wet blanket...RTFM. No kidding, both campy and shimano have dynamite instructions. BYO magnifier.

[itsflantastic]

for the advice.
I got it now.

I don't even want to tell what was wrong. It was a very stupid mistake on my part. Plus, it's a littler harder to figure this stuff out when your workstand is a trainer. :)

but I learned a whole lot more during the process of tinkering. Shifts like a dream.

First ride tomorrow, and I'll take some pictures to post.
cheers,
Dan

[itsflantastic]

TT-
took me a second to figure out what RTFM meant. heheh
I did, it was an x factor causing me to be a stupid factor.
I should think a bit more before I post. I just never had experience setting up an out of the box derailleur so I was a bit on edge.

New Toys.

I also cut the Rear brake cable to the length of the front brake by accident.
I'm just so psyched to ride that I'm doing stupid stuff.

Amateur!

[djg]

I hate to be a wet blanket...RTFM. No kidding, both campy and shimano have dynamite instructions. BYO magnifier.

Yes -- campag has excellent instructions (and you don't need a magnifier, because you can get them off the web site and print them as large as you like). Start from scratch, follow the directions, and if there's no equipment problem, I bet you'll do fine.

[itsflantastic]

The new wheels I got came with a new lock ring.
I didn't know that there were different size lock rings and I used the new one, which was too big, so the chain was hitting it and thus not running smooth.
I set up the rear mech just fine barring that.

took me a night to figure it out. Doh!

I feel like a dummy. It was just so shiny, I had to use it!

[stevep]

sell it now before it breaks again/

[maunahaole]

dibs

[shinomaster]

sell it now before it breaks again/

Do you really want your hat back? :(

[Kevan]

The new wheels I got came with a new lock ring.
I didn't know that there were different size lock rings and I used the new one, which was too big, so the chain was hitting it and thus not running smooth.
I set up the rear mech just fine barring that.

took me a night to figure it out. Doh!

I feel like a dummy. It was just so shiny, I had to use it!

done that.