logo Bikeride
  • Events
  • Repairs
  • Reviews
  • Giveaways
  • Forum
Join / Sign in
  • Search Forum
  • Members
  • New Posts
  • My Profile
  • Private Messages

New: Take part in the December 2019 BikeRide Giveaway for a Lobster Lock

Welcome guest! Register or sign in to participate in the cycling discussions.

Bike Forums   ›   Main Sections   ›   Bicycle Repairs and Mechanics   ›   Sora rear derailleur shifting irregularities

New Reply
Sora rear derailleur shifting irregularities
ghostsafe
New Member
**

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4

#1
10-19-2009, 07:22 PM
Hi,
I just finished adjusting my Sora rear derailleur using the procedure on the Park Tool website and as usual I've made my shifting worse. I find that the amount of pressure I have to apply to the STI shifters varies depending on the gear I want to get into. The most extreme gears require more effort. I also find that when I want to change direction in my shifting (eg. downshift a few times then try to upshift ) I have to click 2 or 3 times on the shift lever then maybe apply a little pressure to make it run smoothly. The next few upshifts usually only take one click.
Any suggestions?<br />
Thanks!

  Find
  Reply
cyclerUK
Veteran Member
*****

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 753

#2
10-20-2009, 07:57 AM
I would start with the cable. Remove it, pull out the inner and clean it. Check for any broken or kinked strands. Check the outer for sharp bends etc. If in doubt fit a new one.
Refit the inner cable, but before connecting it to the derailleur, operate the STI and pull on the cable with your hand. You should be able to feel if the STI is operating correctly. (In fact you could do this before removing and cleaning the inner cable).
Check the derailleur by moving it with your hand and clean it as best you can. I usually squirt mine with WD40 to clean the pivot points. Remove and clean the jockey wheels - one at a time! Don't mix them up as they are different between top and bottom. Make sure that you tighten the jockey wheel screws properly when refitting.
Now reconnect the cable and set up the derailleur. (Also check for a worn chain as this can effect changing gear smoothly.)

Ride hard or ride home alone!
  Find
  Reply
ghostsafe
New Member
**

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4

#3
10-20-2009, 05:07 PM
Thanks for the help cyclerUK much appreciated. I think the thing that baffles me the most is what I could have done in the adjustment process that would cause such a change in the shifting? I made it way worse! It seems some of us are better served riding ss/fixie. If only my knees could handle it!
Cheers!

  Find
  Reply
Bill
Veteran Member
*****

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,738

#4
10-20-2009, 07:37 PM
Just a small input, ghostsafe trust me I have had my own learning experiences with something that seemed so simple turn out to be a nightmare. Don't lose confidence in yourself. Just a learning process. Smile

Good maintenance to your Bike, can make it like the wheels are, true and smooth!
  Website   Find
  Reply
ghostsafe
New Member
**

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4

#5
10-21-2009, 10:29 PM
Thanks for the encouragement Bill.
It's frustrating that servicing seems so easy in a book or on a website. I think I'll try to take a night course in bike mechanics if I can find one. I'm trying to make my bike commute as easy and inexpensive as possible. Running to my lbs every time something goes wrong is<br />
not an option.

  Find
  Reply
ghostsafe
New Member
**

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4

#6
11-09-2009, 05:09 PM
No wonder I couldn't tune it properly!
It turns out that both my derailleur hanger was bent and my derailleur is worn and will need to be replaced soon. My LBS did the best they could to get it to shift properly but it still not great. I am going to squeeze a couple more months out of it and maybe upgrade to a Tiagra or 105 when I have to replace it.

  Find
  Reply
Bill
Veteran Member
*****

Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,738

#7
11-09-2009, 05:55 PM
Glad to hear that you found out the cause. Bent parts sometimes gets expensive to replace, but that's how it goes. Are you going to replace the derailleur yourself? They are tedious little fellows but really not all that complicated. By the way you are welcome for the encouragement.
Bill

Good maintenance to your Bike, can make it like the wheels are, true and smooth!
  Website   Find
  Reply
Alex Ramon
Admin
*****

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 594


Location: Canada
#8
03-13-2010, 02:53 AM
Here's a new video for aligning bent derailleur hangers: http://bikeride.com/derailleur-hanger-alignment/
  Website   Find
  Reply
New Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Help with rear derailleur? BSciacca 2 644 08-28-2019, 02:52 PM
Last Post: CharleyFarley
  Help.. Rear derailleur wrong position? Quixoticish 0 4,628 06-06-2018, 06:56 PM
Last Post: Quixoticish
  SRAM rear derailleur arm length jacke 0 4,835 06-28-2017, 04:52 AM
Last Post: jacke
  Road Bike Rear Derailleur Problem Lighttower 5 7,302 05-19-2017, 01:01 AM
Last Post: Painkiller
  Front derailleur shifting problem dventura 1 9,237 02-28-2017, 06:07 PM
Last Post: nfmisso
  Rear derailleur rolling chain off It's your boy 0 5,829 06-05-2016, 04:36 PM
Last Post: It's your boy
  Rear wheel keeps shifting NotRequired 1 4,698 04-01-2016, 11:13 PM
Last Post: jtj
  Replacing old rear derailleur eab 3 12,348 05-14-2015, 09:55 PM
Last Post: DaveM
  What if your new rear Dérailleur nordog 3 5,648 05-08-2015, 12:30 AM
Last Post: nfmisso
  Rear Derailleur Suicide Into Spokes. fribbles 5 9,017 04-25-2015, 05:22 AM
Last Post: nfmisso

Forum Jump:

Login

Lost Password?
Subscribe to our newsletter
logo Bikeride
About
  • About us
  • Forum
  • Giveaways
  • Advertising
  • Contact
Events
  • Find Event
  • Add Event
Reviews
  • All Bikes
Repair Guides
  • Video Tutorials
  • Torque Specifications
Let’s be friends

You can send us a note too.


Privacy Policy   Terms of Use

© 1996 - 2019 bikeride.com

Linear Mode
Threaded Mode