04-29-2010, 12:07 PM
OK. So my nephews gave me two identical bikes for my kids. They were in bad shape and I had to do some major clean up/parts replacements.
One of the things that I replaced were the cables and the housing for the shifters. These are 21 speed grip twist shifters. I watched the videos about 20 times and seem to have gotten most of the shifting to work. The bike has no issues shifting - the chain does not touch the cage or anything (except for the normally not used chainring-cog combo) Here is the problem. Once the bike is on the ground, it takes much more strengths than what a kid would have to shift to the biggest chainring. If I turn the grip shifters, I can get it to go into the largest chainring but it seems that it would be very difficult for a kid to do the same. I am having the identical problem on two identical models of bikes leading me to believe that I am doing something wrong.
BTW, I did clean and lube the inside of the shifters and did put white lightening dry lube on the derailleur springs. I am a newbie when it comes to bike servicing and any help would be greatly appreciated.
One of the things that I replaced were the cables and the housing for the shifters. These are 21 speed grip twist shifters. I watched the videos about 20 times and seem to have gotten most of the shifting to work. The bike has no issues shifting - the chain does not touch the cage or anything (except for the normally not used chainring-cog combo) Here is the problem. Once the bike is on the ground, it takes much more strengths than what a kid would have to shift to the biggest chainring. If I turn the grip shifters, I can get it to go into the largest chainring but it seems that it would be very difficult for a kid to do the same. I am having the identical problem on two identical models of bikes leading me to believe that I am doing something wrong.
BTW, I did clean and lube the inside of the shifters and did put white lightening dry lube on the derailleur springs. I am a newbie when it comes to bike servicing and any help would be greatly appreciated.