Derailleur Spring - how to put it back on?

[thuzmund]

Hi everyone,

I am very new to bicycle mechanics, trying to get an old mountain bike running better. As I was scrubbing off years of gunk from the chain and derailleur, a piece popped off. I have included pics.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=9E519F39D9FB9823!1924&authkey=!ACOzLRPoJQNHcCY&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=9E519F39D9FB9823!1925&authkey=!AG-eux3wziP2kcs&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=9E519F39D9FB9823!1926&authkey=!AKwpuGRA42PvKe0&v=3&ithint=photo%2cjpg

There is a spring, and a hole apparently for the spring on one side. On the other side, I don't know how to assemble things back properly. I didn't think to take a picture of the assembly before that part removed itself!

I have tried to find a parts diagram but my bicycle is rather old. The spring looks like the one here, but mine doesn't have a threaded male post. http://bernd.sluka.de/Fahrrad/Shiman...05-GS_1997.gif

I can see that my derailleur reads "Shimano SIS," no additional numbers or anything.

I have a feeling that a retaining clip may have popped off, based on a groove I see in the male post. But also, the spring looks like it extends so as to lock itself into place somewhere with the female bracket. Try as I might, I cannot seem to exert the force to twist the spring 180 degrees to get it housed.

Any ideas would be great, because this has really challenged me! I wonder if I am approaching it wrong.

Thank you, I hope your experience can help me!

[thuzmund]

I took the mounting post off of the rear and brought it to the local hardware. They sold "E Clips" for 25 cents each; I found one that fit nicely. Once I took the part off the bike, the assembly came together fairly naturally. I was able to use leverage and twist the derailleur into place, so the spring ends were both where they needed to be! So it looks like the bike is in business.

[painkiller]

Glad you fixed it! thanks for the update too.