How to Keep Shifting Smooth

When the rear derailleur does not cooperate, one can find themselves going up a steep grade in the most-difficult gear. Listed below are the essentials to keeping things shifting smoothly.

Remove Rear Derailleur

Shift derailleur to the smallest cog. Remove the chain, loosen the pinch bolt holding the cable in place and remove the cable from the derailleur. Using a 5mm hex wrench, unbolt the derailleur and remove it from the bike.

Remove Pulleys

Once the derailleur is off the bike, remove the pulleys using, in most cases, a 3mm hex wrench.

Clean Derailleur

Spray solvent (e.g. WD40) onto a nylon brush and loosen any dirt that is embedded in the derailleur's pivot points and on the return spring. Do not spray solvent directly onto the derailleur as it could penetrate the pivot cavities and break down the grease that's inside.

Clean Pulleys

Push the metal or ceramic bushings out and clean them using the same method as above. Then coat them with grease or oil (such as Boeshield T-9 Drip Lube ) and reinstall the bushings and the pulleys. Treat the threads with light thread locker (Vibra-Tite or blue Loctite) so they will stay secure without excessive torque (which could round out the heads).

Re-attach Derailleur

With pulleys reinstalled, bolt the derailleur back onto the bike; be sure to lubricate the bolt threads first. Reattach the cable by running it through the barrel adjuster and under the pinch bolt. Then replace the chain.

Lubricate Moving Parts

Using a clean rag, wipe the derailleur free of solvents. Drip one drop of light oil such as Boeshield T-9 Drip Lube on every point that pivots (a rear derailleur has eight). Using the barrel adjuster, add tension to the cable so the chain jumps to each larger cog without hesitation

Bottom line for long-lasting shifting smoothness and reliability: keep components clean and properly adjusted.

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