VIDEO: Adjusting Your Front and Rear Derailleurs

author : FitWerx

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Having trouble shifting? Is your chain not going to the next gear properly? Is it making too much noise? This video will go through some adjustments to your front and rear derailleurs.

By Fit Werx, Peabody MA 

In this video, we cover the basics of front and rear bike dérailleur adjustments.  You will need to do some dérailleur adjustments if your chain does not go up or down on the cogs as it's supposed to.  This can also help alleviate excess noise that can occur if your dérailleur is not lined-up with the cogs correctly.

Note, this video assumes that you have barrel adjusters for the dérailleurs.

Secure the wheel
First, make sure that you have the rear wheel firmly in the bike frame.  Do this by releasing the quick release skewer.  Then give a quick smack to the top of the tire and you should hear a definable click indicating that is is in place in the dropouts.  Then tighten the quick release lever.

Find the source of the problem
Second, pedal the bicycle and shift through the gears to notice any undesirable noise and noting where.

Adjust the barrel adjusters
Third, locate the barrel adjusters.  Turn clockwise 1/4 to 1/2 turn to move the dérailleur down to the smaller cogs if it is having trouble fully shifting down to the next gear.  Turn counterclockwise to move the dérailleur up to the larger cogs.

Repeat step 2 and 3 until the shifting works quietly and smoothly.  If you can't fully cure the problem and you are turning and turning the barrel adjusters and nothing improves, you may want to take your bike to a shop.

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date: May 5, 2009