Dear All,
 on a couple of bikes I have riden recently I have had problems shifting 
down(up) to he lowest (most cogs)gear on the rear cassette. It is not 
adjustment screws. What might be the problem?
Thanks all.
Neil

"Neil Smith"  writes:

>  on a couple of bikes I have riden recently I have had problems shifting 
> down(up) to he lowest (most cogs)gear on the rear cassette. It is not 
> adjustment screws. What might be the problem?

Most likely the cable's slipped (or the cable outer has compressed or
settled ,which effectively makes it shorter) and so when the shifter
is in "bottom" position it's still not pulling the mechanism far enough
over to reach the smallest sprocket.  Is the cable loose enough to
"flap" in top (smallest sprocket) gear?  If so, that's definitely the problem.

There may be an adjuster barrel, or if not then you can loosen the
bolt that grips the cable end, pull a bit more through and retighten it.
May require three hands if you have to fight the spring in the
mechanism, but usually ok with two if you put the bike in top (smalles
sprocket) gear first.


-dan

On Mon, 22 Sep 2008, Neil Smith wrote:

> on a couple of bikes I have riden recently I have had problems shifting 
> down(up) to he lowest (most cogs)gear on the rear cassette. It is not 
> adjustment screws. What might be the problem?

Whatever the problem is, it might be fixable with some more cable tension 
- have you tried twisting the tensioning barrel on the shifter (assuming 
you have one, i think some shifters don't)?

It's worth checking that the spring in the mech's cage is still good - 
does the cage - the swinging arm bit with the two jockey wheels - give a 
good pull holding the chain tight? I say this because the spring in mine 
went, and i had all sorts of trouble. Mostly with skipping rather than 
shifting, though.

tom

-- 
Also, a 'dark future where there is only war!' ... have you seen the
news lately? -- applez

On 22 Sep, 11:44, "Neil Smith"  wrote:
> Dear All,
>  on a couple of bikes I have riden recently I have had problems shifting
> down(up) to he lowest (most cogs)gear on the rear cassette. It is not
> adjustment screws. What might be the problem?
> Thanks all.
> Neil

On a couple of different bikes?  That's odd.  Who's been setting these
bikes up?

Neil Smith wrote:
> Dear All,
>  on a couple of bikes I have riden recently I have had problems shifting 
> down(up) to he lowest (most cogs)gear on the rear cassette. It is not 
> adjustment screws. What might be the problem?

Which cog (chainwheel) are you on at the front? If you're on the 
biggest, the chain  may simply not stretch that far.

Colin McKenzie

-- 
No-one has ever proved that cycle helmets make cycling any safer at the 
population level, and anyway cycling is about as safe per mile as walking.
Make an informed choice - visit www.cyclehelmets.org.

I don't know if anyone is watching this thread still so I may cross-post 
aplogies. I have fiddle with the gear cable which did allow me to get to the 
lowest gear BUT not the highest. The derailleur is a new Shimano LX and the 
gear range is well within it's spec. Effectively I am limited to 7 speed 
although I am using a 9 speed shifter on an 8-speed cassette.
"Neil Smith"  wrote in message 
news:48d7771b$0$26083$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
> Dear All,
> on a couple of bikes I have riden recently I have had problems shifting 
> down(up) to he lowest (most cogs)gear on the rear cassette. It is not 
> adjustment screws. What might be the problem?
> Thanks all.
> Neil
>

"Neil Smith"  wrote in message 
news:48dcd5a9$0$2502$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
>I don't know if anyone is watching this thread still so I may cross-post 
>aplogies. I have fiddle with the gear cable which did allow me to get to 
>the lowest gear BUT not the highest. The derailleur is a new Shimano LX and 
>the gear range is well within it's spec. Effectively I am limited to 7 
>speed although I am using a 9 speed shifter on an 8-speed cassette.

Shimano 9 speed is the same width as shimano 8 speed, so using a 9 speed 
shifter on an 8 speed block isn't the best idea - I'd just go 9 speed in 
that situation.

With the gear cable completely slack (eg unpling the rear housing section so 
it goes loose), can you push the rear mech into the appropriate place?

Is everything straight? Specifically the rear mech hanger - if that's bent 
or loose you'll have problems getting gears.

cheers,
clive

Hurray fiddling with the cable I finally got it working. It ssems the 
tolerance are very fine.
"Clive George"  wrote in message 
news:SICdnQqNG8BZSkHVnZ2dneKdnZydnZ2d@posted.plusnet...
> "Neil Smith"  wrote in message 
> news:48dcd5a9$0$2502$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
>>I don't know if anyone is watching this thread still so I may cross-post 
>>aplogies. I have fiddle with the gear cable which did allow me to get to 
>>the lowest gear BUT not the highest. The derailleur is a new Shimano LX 
>>and the gear range is well within it's spec. Effectively I am limited to 7 
>>speed although I am using a 9 speed shifter on an 8-speed cassette.
>
> Shimano 9 speed is the same width as shimano 8 speed, so using a 9 speed 
> shifter on an 8 speed block isn't the best idea - I'd just go 9 speed in 
> that situation.
>
> With the gear cable completely slack (eg unpling the rear housing section 
> so it goes loose), can you push the rear mech into the appropriate place?
>
> Is everything straight? Specifically the rear mech hanger - if that's bent 
> or loose you'll have problems getting gears.
>
> cheers,
> clive
>