no rear gears query' Options

[1gearnoidea]

been out on a peaks mudfest today, in bad conditions..snow/hail/heavy rain, in deep mud....all fine until last 3 miles or so, i couldnt get any rear gear'...clicking the shifter, the window indicator moves normal, but the rear gears dont move at all, so i was stuck in top gear( hard work)....got home and washed bike down,cant see anything wrong..took cover off shifter( deore) and everything looks fine, any ideas' as to what it can be...cant be dirty cables , as its only done 6 rides or so..

[Alpine_Skier_UK]

I would have definatley said muck in the rear cables....

Are there breaks in the outer sleeve as it runs down the frame??

My old Marin was terrible for that, and i got peed off changing cables every couple of month due to the crap in them, i re-ran a new cable with a full outer. Never had a problem again!!! Mind you, it was stolen only a few weeks after making the modification!!!

[bodge]

I was thinking of you as I drove through the hail bouncing off the bonnet, towards Meadowhell.

If your indicator is moving, it sounds like the cable at the rear isn't. Have you checked the bolt holding the cable at the rear is still clamping the cable?

If that's all good your shifter may be stuffed. Did you give it good hard stab to change gear just before it stopped working?

[1gearnoidea]

no hard stabs at shifter'....surely cant be muck after 6 rides, previous 5 weren't dirty rides..and no theres no outer cable breaks...will check rear pinch bolt to rear mech...would an undertensioned cable cause this, cos it is a new bike 6 rides??

[pugster007]

been out on a peaks mudfest today, in bad conditions..snow/hail/heavy rain, in deep mud....all fine until last 3 miles or so, i couldnt get any rear gear'...clicking the shifter, the window indicator moves normal, but the rear gears dont move at all, so i was stuck in top gear( hard work)....got home and washed bike down,cant see anything wrong..took cover off shifter( deore) and everything looks fine, any ideas' as to what it can be...cant be dirty cables , as its only done 6 rides or so..

Lee - I have 2 points, firstly - the best thing I ever did was put a full outer onto my rear derailliuer, XTR coated, now it shifts smooth everytime, secondly, that run from the flagstones to 'the post' will kill any bike, 'Peaks Paste' at it's worst.

If the cable is working fine then the spring in your rear derailliuer might be the next best place to look ...

Craig.

[richy rich]

I would say that the cable has come loose from the rear mec.
If it was mud on cable and stopping movement then you shouldn't be able to push the shifter to a lower gear.
If it was the spring in rear mec you should be able to go to a lower gear but not higher.

Rich

[torihada]

I had this exact problem last month. Cables were relatively new. Took cable out of outer casing cleaned and lubed them up. A lot better. I noticed slight fraying to cable. I replaced cable. Hey presto! buttery shifting once again. I keep eyeing up full cable housing. I think its probably a good idea.

[1gearnoidea]

just been out to have a fiddle, released rear mech clamp...sprayed wd40 down inner, and pushed/pulled...retightened clamp, twiddled mech adjusters, and i got gears to move to little cog (9)...but wont shift back to big rear..so it looks like, dirty cables mmmmmmmm..after 6 rides, new full outer will be bought me thinks

[LonesomeCowboyBe...]

sounds like rear mech cable clamp slipped

[Jarl]

Full outers are defo. worth it. Also, get some middleburn cable oilers (available on CRC, make sure you check which size you need before you order!). Fantastic little things

However, to me it sounds like the nut was loose (assuming a standard, not RR rear mech)- when you change to a lower gear, it pulls cable through the housing. If the cable wouldn't pull through, then you'd feel that on the shifter- it'd be a lot harder to operate than normal. Since you didn't feel this, it means the cable did pull through, and since the rear mech didn't move, it means it must have been slipping through the bolt.

[1gearnoidea]

if theres one thing that stumps me on mtb's..its the gears...never ever got my head round em...probs take it to lbs to let them sort it...

[SantaCruz_Soul]

Gears are not to be scared of bud - I can't believe you'll attack hubs but not gears 'n' cables.
I would deffinately try releasing the cable from the mech - If when you do this the cable has split into seperate strands the whole cable will need replacing (as once out of the outer it won't (normally) slide back in) - however as it's new you should be ok - slide outer off and flush with WD with the straw applicator thingamy - Apply oil to cable and replace outer (only the last section of outer as this is most exposed to mud).
Worth a try in my opinion .

[1gearnoidea]

aye pete, i can do hubs, headsets, forks,bb's etc etc..but gears faze me...will release cable and clean outer etc...if no joy, lbs can fit new inner/outer and adjust gears..

[SantaCruz_Soul]

Is weird because hubs have always terrified me - I think it's something to do with all those ball bearings .

[bodge]

Having thought a bit more, if the inner cable is stuck (could be dirty or frayed), you could have pulled it one way when shifting and when you shift 'tother way the inner cable won't move in the outer. You'll just end up with the slack in the shifter.

To test this, shift to the extreme of where it will move to, then shift back the other way whilst pulling the cable at the rear mech. if it doesn't move then the cable is at fault.

And you don't need LBS to show you gear set up. You are quite capable mate. If you fancy a trot down here one day for a demo, just let me know.

[1gearnoidea]

just spent 10 mins diddling in hallway...managed to get gears moving now, albeit slowly, still cant get big rear cog...knew i should have gone singlespeed lol

[SantaCruz_Soul]

If you have released the cable then re-attatched it try using the plastic grub screw on the mech where it enters the mech. I would guess turn it clockwise to tighten it thus increasing tension.
If it won't tighten it may be as tight as it will go and you'll have to release cable again turn grub screw anti clockwise a bit re attatch then tighten again.
I would always start the process from the smallest cog and your shifter the same i.e. 9th gear.

Sounds complicated but honest m8 it's not

[1gearnoidea]

yeah turned both plastic screw adjusters on rear mech and front shifter,( backed em right off, then turn 2 times) followed park tool website advice...thats how ive got some gears now...not perfect, but its summat to work on

[SantaCruz_Soul]

If you're still not getting top gear try pulling it through where it clamps a few mm's.
This may result in the opposite i.e. no 9th gear but just adjust with the previous method but turn anti-clockwise.
NOTE: I don't mean the limmiter screw's on the mech (the ones marked + and - ) they should be ok as they were ok to start with.

[1gearnoidea]

yeah, i havnt touched the high or low screws..that much i know lol..will try pulling the cable tighter tomoz...as i say i can atleast get some gears now lol