How To Set Up And Adjust Your Rear Mech | Gear Indexing Basics

Regularly checking your bike is indexed correctly will result in smoother shifts and a safer bike. Owen shows you how to correctly set the limit screw, cable tension, and B tension on your MTB's rear mech (derailleur).

⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Release Cable Tension
1:22 - Set Limit Screws
4:15 - Cable Tension Adjustment
6:01 - B Position
7:13 - Trouble Shooting

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[JDExperience]

Owen has been an epic addition! I truly do feel like he is fully capable of filling the big shoes left behind by Doddy in regards to knowledge and genuinely insightful tech. Well done!!

[Jaredcouture]

It’s worth mentioning. If shifting was good and I haven’t touched anything before it deteriorated, I go in a different order. Adjusting limit and b tension are my last step because those are set and forget with a new derailleur. First I try adjusting tension with the barrel adjuster. If that gets it close but not perfect, I check cable and hanger alignment. The order you went in would be for setting up a new derailleur, setting it up for a new hub or moving the derailleur to a different bike.

[Seppster]

@OwenCoutts "Owen, you have become my go-to guy when I do maintenance on my bike. Even though this was an older video, I used it to tune up my bike for an epic charity ride coming up. First time I attempted the rear derailleur - was very nervous about it. Worked out SUPER! You have been a well deserved addition to the GMBN team and I am becoming a huge fan!! Thanks for this."

[guyd]

The best RD tuning vid I have seen. Thanks Owen.

[KevinT]

Love that cable lubing tip, thanks Owen!

[josefbartak]

That video helped a lot. Thanks buddy! Hitting the subscribe. 🎉

[Jorge-Fernandez-Lopez]

Excellent content and presentation. Thanks.

[MrMatthias]

I like this new guy. Doddy's new endeavors left a big hole in GMBN Tech; however, Owen seems like he's gonna work out. Hey Owen, thanks for information and presentation. You did good. I think you're gonna work out well. Be yourself and professional, you're gonna be fine, don't let the haters get you down. Peace.

[SubversionGarage]

When setting the limit screws, aligning the guide pulls slightly towards the frame on the shortest cog can greatly improve the indexing. Shimano specifically mentions this for certain models of derailleurs.

[fjallmann]

Couldn't be happier with the timing Owen! I have a stupid situation where the chain keeps jumping off the front sprocket with around two rotations of the crank. Not sure what I have done wrong.

[youngstadan]

Can not get it right on my new scott ransom, so hard to peddle in the big cogs, driving me nuts

[Slowduro]

What if halfway through the gears it starts catching on the next cog? But is fine on the smaller cogs?

[Pretender_Gamer]

Hi, I have this problem for two months... I got hybrid bike Riverside 500E, 1x 8speed for a long not used. When I went for a short ride on 8 lowest gear chain dropped from crank set and brake chain cover, so I decided to change all drive line. I went to official shop Decathlon workshop and changed to original all new, torque sensor, chainring, chain, derailleur, cables and etc. I took my bike and I was exited till I changed gear in lowest 8 gear and it happen again.. my chain dropped from chainring in the chain cover and almost braked, I brought bike back in the shop and after long wait I was told that nothing they can do and I need to be gentle with bike and pedal not so hard.... It`s so annoying! I can use only 6 gears from 8 with no chain drop.. I lost even my hope, so now I`m asking you: Do you fink I need to try to change again to a new chainring like Shimano or smthng? Thank you!

[John-Clothing]

If you do not have a bike stand how do you adjust your gears like Owen did in your recent vid. Especially the limit screws with the way he did. #askGMBNTech

[Justkeepshredding]

Do you really have to use a sram/shimano specific cable though, …really… I’ve used Clarks cables in jag wire housing in any mech I want.

[_Zane__]

Probably worth checking hanger before attempting to adjusting your shifting

[CoasterJames]

Is it there another video about indexing for non idiots 😂

[KevinT]

Top tip: Use a quiet freehub when making 'how to adjust your gears' videos.

[therealsavagepete]

Dody was great, but Owen is definitely an upgrade on the tech side....

[walterstevens]

Hes quite clear, but im pretty ignorant so I found his explanations a bit fast. Also the camera work could be better - its often focus on Owen rather than being closer-focused on the mechanism