Mountain Bike Gear Cable Adjustment
The highest gear smallest sprocket on the rear derailleur is actually the point of lowest cable tension meaning the derailleur is doing the least work and is thus easiest to adjust.
Mountain bike gear cable adjustment. The derailleur is moved by tightening or relaxing the cable tension. While pedaling the bike locate the cable leading to your rear derailleur and pull on it gently. You will need hex keys and possibly a screwdriver. Shift the bike through all gears to check for noise and ease of shifting.
Find the cross head screw towards the back of the derailleur marked h. Putting your bike in a workstand will make your life much easier. Note places where the gears have trouble shifting where the chain slips off the gear or where you need to shift twice to make the bike shift. These shifters pull small or release specific amounts of metal control gear cables to actuate the front and rear gear mechanisms derailleurs to use the more poetic french.
Using one hand to lightly pedal the bike shift through 1 gear per click starting with every gear on the back derailleur. With the bike held off the ground and the chain now on the largest cog at the back test the front derailleur by moving the chain between the smallest and next chainring using the gear lever. Pull the end of the cable at the brake hood until the cable is snug. Tighten the cable barrel adjustment nut then loosen it two complete turns.
Loosen the cable barrel adjustment nut which is located between the brake hood and the rear derailleur. Paul schmidt owner of bikes and more in gainesville fla shows you how to adjust your bike s cables to keep your shifters running smoothly. Now you know what each of the parts are and what they do you can follow the instructions to adjust your gears. Go up every gear once and down every gear once.
With the bike in the highest gear the upper jockey wheel should run just clear of the cassette. Adjust until there is about. The inner cable runs through an outer cable to help keep it tight.