5 Shifting Problems You'll Have And How To Solve Them

Are you having problems with your shifting? Your rear mech isn't playing ball and nothing but noise happens when you press your shifter? This is the video for you!

From limit screws to cable tension...there are so many ways that your derailleur can mess up and result in imperfect shifting. Here are some of the things that frequently go wrong with that vital bit of kit at the back of your bike...and how to fix them!

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Leave us a comment below!

[holymoly]

This video has provided me with enough confidence to go home this evening and fu*k up my rear derailleur. I'm pretty pumped! Thanks guys!!

[locke_ytb]

3:34 I have always wanted to see this and it's satisfying to see it now.

[maxgusatz]

Amazing how you come round to someone. Doddy at first made me think I might have to skip GMBN but now he has quickly found his niche and has all the authority and tech know how you could want.

[ayeeski]

I recently bought a new Cannondale CX1 with an SRAM Eagle 12 speed derailleur. After a 100 miles the chain stretched and shifting became sluggish, especially in the lower gears. Your tip on the B screw adjustment saved the day. I made the adjustment per your video, and now my shifts are crisp, snappy, and definitive. Thanks!

[scottcoyle]

Seen many videos of this gear set up type. Doddy is by far the best at explaining it. Detail and the manner you teach is unsurpassed.

[Laturbo]

as if you knew i have this problem right now. and even the derailleur is the exact same i have. thanks GMBN :D

[robertstocks]

Doddy has a way of explaining, so everybody can understand, he knows everything about Mtbs way to go mate 👊😃

[paulcritchley]

I keep getting the gears changing up one gear, especially went going up hill
Thanks for the video

[liannethy]

Thank you for this, I just got my first ever bike yesterday and the derailleur wasn't working as intended, you helped me go from knowing a bike consists of two wheels and pedals to being able to fix the problem without panicking :)

[privera]

This tutorial was FN spot on 👏I went to my local shop for a quick tune but due to covid, the owner was backed up for 5 days and shredding couldn’t wait. Huge props for the training. Not only did I save time but money 💰 Send me some stickers for the garage 💪

[Skooteh]

I know it's not great for chain retention or gear range but you can get away with a LOT less maintenance on 8/9speed derailleurs. I've seen peoples run the stock XT 8 speed derailleurs that came on their bikes for more than 15 years. Because of the larger distance between gears on the cassette, you have that much room for error/misalignment before it starts to negatively effect shifting.

[Jrod]

Thumbnail looks like Doddy is wearing a sleeveless shirt with tiny little arms

[markskapyak]

Very good video ! Well structured. Great review of the "sequence" of adjustments.
They must be done in order.
Well done and helpful !

[griff]

Legend, best video on YouTube for setting gears. Searched through Google before I got fed up and realised should of just checked you guys out.
Simple, easy to understand and follow. Thank you very much.

[NicolaiSyvertsen]

I feel like you should have addressed shifting problems that only manifest themselves under high torque/high load. Like when really hammering it uphill. This is hard to notice when just hand cranking it in your garage.

[Victor-yhek]

Well forget it I'm just taking my bike to the bike shop let them deal with it.

[manup]

you guys have taught me more than i ever learnt in school!

[Jaydenxt]

Most informative video I’ve found on the subject yet. Thank you very much

[gratefultube]

Many, many thanks, mate. I am in awe of you expertise.

[Ali-Rida]

After a lot of research on YT to fix my bike's rear derailleur shifting issue I finally found the issue and solution! Couldn't find a YT video on this matter! I explain it below:

1) The most common type of housing has an inner thin wires tube and an outer plastic covering tube. Apparently after a while because of pressure the outer plastic tube jams and the inner tube wires are exposed that can get crushed by pressure on ferrels! This causes a serious metal-metal fraction between the cable and thin wires of housing, worse than any dirt or rust can do!

2) Loosen the shifter cable and release the cable at the derailleur (watch YT guides) and through all housings to free all housing parts.

3) You have to cleanly cut the exposed thin wires of housing to align it with plastic cover tube. Be careful not to block inner empty hole (where the cable passes) by crushing the wires. You need a sharp wire cutter (or a specialized tool from bike shop!) Then clean up both ends of housing and lube a bit.

4) Insert the cable in all housing parts and through the derailleur cable clamp. Since you lost some housing length, to have the same tension on the cable at a particular gear you need to pull the cable out of derailleur cable clamp a bit compared to what it was before. This needs to be fine tuned to have perfect correspondence between shifter and derailleur for all gear range (watch YT guides).

Hope it helps someone.