Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the October Giveaway to Win the Qiolor TIGER Retro Electric Bike


Rear gears will not shift
#1
I got a 15 speed Murray bike via garage sale. I cleaned it up got the breaks working well, but it looked like it had been left out in the rain. My problem is with the gear shift. My derailing shifter works fine ( it will shift from 5-10-15 no problem, but the other shifter that shifts the gears on the the back wheel, 1-2-3-4-5, does not shift. When I move the shifter the cable stays in the same position on the handle bar. Its like the mechanism that is supposed to retract the cable down towards the bottom of wheel is not doing that. Unfortunately I do not know how the mechanism at the back wheel works, or what it is called, so I do not know how to resolve the problem. I did trace the cable to the back wheel and made sure that it had movement, but when pull the shifter towards me, I can see the end of the cable sticking out by the shifter on the handle bar, like the cable isn't being pulled from the back wheel assembly. Can you give me some insight to how that assembly works and how to fix it? Thanks

  Reply
#2
As you said, it has been left out in the rain. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some rust within the cable & housing that leads to the rear derailleur.
I'd start by disconnecting the cable from the rear derailleur and then tracing it through to check for movement. More or less, run through the gears on the shifter and see if the cable moves. If it doesn't then you would need to look into freeing the cable by shifting the cable housings around (spray a little WD-40 or Liquid Wrench into the end of the housing, first).
If this works and frees the cable, you can then proceed to <a HREF="http://bikeride.com/lube-brake-shift-cables/">lubricating the shift cables</a> around the cable housings and making sure you can slide each cable housing, easily. Of course, if you see the cable that was within the housing and it looks rusted, you might look into <a HREF="http://bikeride.com/replace-cable-housings/">replacing the cable housing</a> and shift cable. That might be advisable anyway, depending on how much money you are wanting to put into this.
If the cable is fully freed (or you free or replace the cable), then you can move on to <a HREF="http://bikeride.com/adjust-rear-derailleur/">adjusting the rear derailleur</a>.

Why is it that they make adult bikes that'll generally work for 5'9" or above, yet when you pedal these same bikes they only work for someone who is 5'4" or so?
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Great UK Cycle Camping Map, For E-Bikes,...
Today 06:41 PM
Charging at campground
Today 06:37 PM
Do you plan or random ride your MTB ride...
Today 03:24 AM
Failure to stop at stop sign means $500 ...
Today 03:11 AM
Giant Talon 1,2,3 or 4? Recommendations
Today 02:17 AM
Schwinn trike NOISE
Yesterday 05:20 PM
Schwinn meridian rear drive axle
Yesterday 04:36 PM
What was your first bicycle?
11-04-2024 04:11 PM
Bicycle enthusiast located in California
11-04-2024 04:15 AM
Moving in Style: Beyond Regular Transpor...
11-04-2024 01:29 AM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. enkei
20 posts
no avatar 2. GirishH
18 posts
no avatar 3. Jesper
16 posts
no avatar 4. Flowrider
12 posts
no avatar 5. Talha
10 posts