If your bike is having problems shifting or the chain is loose, it's a good idea to adjust the gears. The bike's gears are regulated by a derailleur which shifts the chain into different gears. While it may seem confusing, tuning a bicycle gear is not difficult if you are patient and know the technique.
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Method 1 of 2: Adjusting bicycle gear
Step 1. Lift the bicycle with the bicycle stand
You need to turn the wheel without having to move the bike. The best way is to use a bicycle stand. If you don't have one, ask a bike shop if you can rent their equipment.
Turn the bike upside down with the saddle and handlebars down. If you do, reverse the direction of rotation in the following instructions
Step 2. Locate your bike's derailleur
The derailleur is your bike's gear drive and chain holder. One derailleur is located on the rear wheel, next to the cassette (a collection of bicycle teeth), while the other is located near the pedal. Clean the derailleur of objects such as leaves or mud, then wipe with a damp cloth.
- The rear derailleur looks more complicated, consisting of a derailleur, arm, and 1-2 small teeth that the chain passes through. There is a cable that pulls on the derailleur arm for the chain to shift gears.
- The front derailleur is clamped to the bicycle frame and consists of a spring and two derailleur plates (small metal plates that hold the chain from moving).
Step 3. Diagnose the problem by moving the chain to each gear
Turn the pedals by hand and slowly shift each gear, starting with the rear derailleur. Raise and lower gears one by one. Keep in mind positions where it's hard to shift gears, the chain comes loose, or where you have to shift gears twice to get the chain moving.
When testing one derailleur, move the other derailleur to the center gear position. For example, if you are testing the rear derailleur, move the front derailleur to a center gear position to prevent the chain from stretching
Step 4. Locate the cable manager
Follow the cable toward the derailleur until you find a cable manager that looks like a small nut that goes around the cable. There are usually two adjusting nuts located at each end of the cable (on the derailleur and near the handlebars). You can slightly adjust the derailleur cable with this nut.
Step 5. Shift the gear to the problematic position
Shift gears while turning the pedal by hand until you find the problematic gear, such as the chain not shifting gears, the chain shifting gears on its own, or the chain skipping a certain gear. Stop shifting gears when you find the problem and leave it in the problematic position.
Step 6. Loosen the cable adjuster if the chain does not go down
If you cannot shift the gear to a lower position (closer to the wheel), loosen the cable adjuster by turning it counterclockwise. Turn slowly until the chain shifts into its proper gear.
- Always turn the dial slowly, turning at most a full quarter turn at a time.
- Turn the adjuster in the direction the chain is moving. If you want to move the chain toward the bike, turn the adjuster toward the bike.
Step 7. Tighten the cable adjusters if the chain does not go up the teeth
If you have trouble shifting to a higher position (towards the outside of the bike), tighten the cable adjuster by turning it clockwise until the chain shifts into the proper gear.
Turn the adjuster in the direction the chain is moving. If you want to move the chain away from the bike, turn the adjuster toward the outside of the bike
Step 8. Return to a low gear position and try to raise and lower the gear
When you're done adjusting gears, shift between gears to ensure the derailleur can shift to each gear.
Make sure the chain shifts to each gear smoothly
Step 9. Get on your bike to find the rest of the problem
Sometimes the performance of the bike is different when it is given a load (ridden). Get on your bike and try to shift into each gear. If you find a problem, re-adjust the cable.
Method 2 of 2: Fixing a Loose Chain
Step 1. Lift the bicycle with the bicycle stand
You need to turn the wheel without having to move the bike. The best way is to use a bicycle stand. If you don't have one, ask a bike shop if you can rent their equipment.
Turn the bike upside down with the saddle and handlebars down. If you do, reverse the direction of rotation in the following instructions
Step 2. Shift to the lowest gear
On the rear derailleur, the lowest gear is farthest from the bike, while the lowest gear on the front derailleur is closest to the bike.
Shift gears on the medium derailleur no You set it to the middle position.
Step 3. Loosen the bolts securing the cable
This bolt is at the end of the cable near the derailleur. This bolt serves to hold the cable from moving. Loosen with an L wrench.
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Follow-up Notes:
As you turn the pedals, you'll notice that the chain drops to its lowest gear on its own. That's because the derailleur works by tightening the cable so the chain doesn't move. You can also shift gears manually by pulling on the cable.
Step 4. Locate the derailleur "limiting screw"
To prevent the chain from falling off, the derailleur is placed in a small space between the teeth. There are two small screws holding the derailleur in place which are located next to each other on the top of the front derailleur or the back of the rear derailleur.
- The left bolt is usually labeled "H" which controls how high or how close (to the bike) the chain can move.
- The right bolt is usually labeled "L" which regulates how low or how far the chain can move.
Step 5. Tighten the screws to prevent the chain from coming off
Adjusting the limiting screw is quite easy. If the bicycle chain comes off to the right of the front derailleur, tighten the right front screw to limit chain movement. Each screw sets a different side, and tightening the screw (turning clockwise) will prevent the derailleur from moving too far.
Step 6. Press the rear derailleur with your hand as close to the bike as possible
If the derailleur moves too far, the chain will fall off near the wheel. As for if the derailleur can't move far enough, the chain won't be able to shift to every gear. You can adjust the limiting screw to move the derailleur.
- Tighten the left screw to limit the movement of the derailleur if the chain moves too far.
- Loosen the left screw if you can't shift into each gear to get the derailleur to move further.
Step 7. Adjust the front derailleur so that the chain is between the derailleur plates
Shift the chain to the smallest gear, then tighten or loosen the limiting screw (H) until the chain does not touch the derailleur plate.
Adjust so that the chain is 2-3 millimeters apart from each side of the plate
Step 8. Reattach the cable to the derailleur
Shift to the lowest gear and pull the derailleur cable tight, then put the cable back in and tighten it on the derailleur bolt.
Usually you can see a notch in the cable that marks where it was tightened
Step 9. Use the cable adjusters to align the gears properly
Make sure you can shift the front and rear gears properly, turning the cable adjusters if necessary.
Tips
- If necessary, take notes or take a photo of your bike before starting if in doubt when reassembling it.
- Make changes slowly, as it will be easier for you to reset if something goes wrong.
- Clean the bicycle chain and lubricate it regularly for a comfortable ride and prevent shifting problems.
