A poorly adjusted derailleur leads to annoying shifting and skipping gears. Fortunately, you can often fix this yourself.
Signs of a poorly adjusted derailleur
- The chain skips
- Difficult shifting
- Clicking sound
- Gears skip
First, check the chain and cassette for wear
Before you adjust the derailleur, it's important to first check the chain and cassette for wear.
These components wear into each other. When a chain or cassette is worn, you often can't properly resolve shifting problems by only adjusting the derailleur.
Therefore, always check:
- If the chain is not stretched
- If the teeth of the cassette are not hook-shaped and worn
- If the chain does not skip under load
Are the components worn? Then we advise you to replace the chain and possibly the cassette first before starting to adjust.
Requirements
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Allen key
- Chain oil
Step 1 — Check cable tension
Shift to the smallest gear and check if the cable is tight enough.
Step 2 — Adjust the limit screws
Use the H and L screws to correctly set the extreme positions.
Step 3 — Fine-tuning
Use the barrel adjuster at the shifter to precisely adjust shifting.
Common mistakes
- Turning adjustment screws too hard
- Forgetting cable tension
- Not cleaning a dirty derailleur
Conclusion
A well-adjusted derailleur ensures smooth shifting and less wear.
