How To Set Up & Adjust Any Shimano Rear Mech | MTB Derailleur Adjustment

Derailleurs, rear mechs, whatever you want to call them. Is setting them up a dark art? Or a simple process? It's easy once you know what each adjustment does! Doddy shows you how 🔧

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[paulalld]

You have demystified how to adjust a derailleur. I am 74 and for the first time in my life I have seen the light on this subject. Well done!

[Filipmalek]

Just a note for everyone using the barrel adjustor - rotating it clockwise will release tension and rotating it anti-clockwise will add tension. It's counter intuitive actually. That's why he rotated the barrel adjustor all the way in (clockwise) at the beginning of indexing - to be able to add tension afterwards as you most likely will. Another tip I got from their other indexing video, before adjusting the cable tension, rotate the barrel adjustor all the way in (clockwise) and then give it 3-4 turns anti-clockwise to have a bit more wiggle room in case your cable is too tight to begin with.

[gregallenphoto]

at the 7:43 mark you said it was lined up. I couldn't tell what you were looking at. If you would have pointed to the alinement that would have helped. That said, after many years of trying to adjust my derailleur I finally got it. Thanks for the vid. It really helped.

[Bahonz]

Please, do not delete this video - EVER! I have just relaced all the gears, chain, sprockets and bearings (for the second time) on my bike, but had forgotten how to set up the gears. I learned how to do it the first time by watching your excellent video and am glad it's still here. Thank you so much.

[AramMaravillas]

I’ve been working on my bikes for decades! (Not a pro by any means) everything from triathlon race bikes, cyclocross, and now my new obsession mtb’s, even my kids bikes. But this by far has been one of the best tutorials on rear mech adjustments!!! The camera angles, the explanation, and technique…Brilliant! Cheers boys very helpful 👏🏽🙌🏽

[jdbv]

Doddy is starting to look like the guy from park tool

[stephanvanrooyen-xwyn]

Doddy really saved my bud where, I bought a new Deore Derailleur and didn't even know what there was a mark behind the derailleur, thanks GMBN tech.

[LaurieSavage]

One of the clearest tutorials on derailleurs that I've seen. Thanks, now I'll try to put it into practice!

[MattiasE]

Thank you so much! Bought a new bike in box that gears where wrong and bike mechanics in town couldnt help me right now so after 10 min with help from you here they work spotless now 😍

[johnhanek]

Dude, you explained that better than anyone I have ever seen do it. Three points, Simple idea and it stuck with me. I did the 3 things exactly as you said, then sat down and figured I'd need to fine tune. I checked the indexing. Big surprise> I was hitting every gear on my cassette perfectly- what a thrill- so easy to do and remember!

[ninemilliondollars]

Thank you. Had to replace a rear shifter cable on 2001 Trek 6500 Mtn Bike. Helped a lot. I've got over 34, 000 miles on the bike. My second "bed!"

[shivaanmaharajh]

Thanks to you, and this informative video which is easy to understand even for someone like me whom is a beginner MTB'er. After sending it to 2 professional cycling workshops here in South Africa, and throwing a ton of money on them, they could not get my gearing right, and eventually set my bike up but compromised my largest cog, they informed me that my bike needs a new cassette and derailleur. After watching your video and following it step by step, my bike now works smoothly on every single gear, including the largest cog :D Happy days! Well done Doddy!

[christophercrane]

I love your tech videos especially when it comes to derailleur adjustments. I will say i feel like there is one thing that you should elaborate on...the hanger itself. As a bike tech 90% of the shifting issues i see are because of a bent hanger. Even the smallest crash can bend one and i understand that not everyone has a hanger alignment tool. But starting with a straight hanger is the base for building your shifting pyramid. Keep the content coming and keep the stashe 🤘

[leesarah]

Best out of all video so far, much more simple to understand and follow than the rest. Some of higher viewed video drive me mad with listen to the noise and adjust both cable gear and limits screw at the same time which is so complicated and headache. You make adjust so easy to learn for beginners like me. Much appreciated 🙏

[darranstonehouse]

I'm a total mechanical noob but this vid just helped me adjust the shifting on my bike. Cheers Doddy and GMBN.

[kinikuu]

Holy shit this was helpful! I was going to war for 4, 5 hours the day before with my gears, but today after watching this video it took me 20 minutes to adjust them right. God bless you man!

[jasonlautar]

Bravo mate. One of the best instructional vids I've seen. Crystal clear on the steps and the tools and how you know when the adjustments are correct. CHEERS!

[michaelbraden]

So simple when you explain the process! I've always been a bit baffled on what to do, largely because nobody has ever taken the time to explain the process in detail - Thanks Doddy!

[geemail]

Comprehensive yet short vid! 👌🏻

2 tips that made doing this way easier for me:
- *pre-stretch* new cables - insert new cable, clamp it on the very end _(excess you gonna cut anyways)_ and pull the housing away from the frame, won't need to re-adjust anytime soon
- after resetting the barrel adjuster wind it out 1 turn, to allow some room for error

[christianbagley]

Thank you Doddy, you so easily demystified set up. I’ve been paying for this service for years… never again. Cheers