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Setting the High and Low Limit Screws of the Rear Derailleur
Setting the high and low limit screws on a rear derailleur is an important step in adjusting your bike’s shifting performance. The high limit screw prevents the chain from being shifted to a larger cog, while the low limit screw prevents it from being shifted to a smaller cog. This ensures that you have smooth and accurate shifting throughout your entire gear range. It is important to properly adjust these screws in order to ensure that your bike shifts correctly.
To adjust the high and low limit screws, begin by first shifting your bike into its highest gear. This will be the largest cog on the rear cassette. Next, locate the two small screws near the derailleur body. These are your limit screws and they should be labeled as “high” and “low”. The high limit screw should be turned clockwise until it reaches its stopping point, while the low limit screw should be turned counter-clockwise until it reaches its stopping point.
Once both of these screws are at their stopping points, shift your bike back down into its lowest gear. This will be the smallest cog on the rear cassette. Again, locate the two small screws near the derailleur body, and use a small allen key to turn them until they reach their stopping points. The high limit screw should again be turned clockwise until it reaches its stopping point, while the low limit screw should again be turned counter-clockwise until it reaches its stopping point.
At this point, both of these screws will have been set properly and you can begin testing out your bike’s shifting performance in all gears to ensure that everything works correctly. If you find that there are any issues with shifting accuracy or smoothness, you can make slight adjustments to either of these two screws as needed to fine-tune your bike’s shifting performance.
It is important to remember that when adjusting either of these two screws, you must always turn them very slowly in order to avoid over-tightening or over-loosening them beyond their recommended range of adjustment. It is also important not to adjust either of these two screws too much at once or else you may find yourself having difficulty getting back into certain gears after having made too many adjustments in one go.
Aligning the Rear Derailleur for Optimal Performance
Aligning the rear derailleur of your bike is an important step to ensure optimal performance and reduce wear on the components. Properly aligning the derailleur will give you smooth shifting and consistent performance. It’s a fairly straightforward process, but it can be time consuming so it’s best to set aside some time before attempting this task. Here are the steps for properly aligning your rear derailleur:
1. Start by making sure that the derailleur is properly adjusted. This involves adjusting the tension on the cable, as well as setting the limit screws and barrel adjuster. Your owner’s manual should have all of this information.
2. Shift your bike into its highest gear (the smallest cog) and check that the chain is running smoothly without any skipping or jumping.
3. If there are any problems with shifting, use an Allen key to adjust the ‘B-Tension’ screw on your derailleur until you get smooth shifting.
4. Once you’ve adjusted the B-Tension screw, shift your bike into its lowest gear (the largest cog). Check that there is no rubbing or binding in this gear as well.
5. If there is any rubbing or binding, use an Allen key to adjust the limit screws until you have smooth shifting in both gears.
6. Finally, check that all of your adjustments are correct by shifting through all of your gears one more time to make sure they are all working properly.
Aligning your rear derailleur can be a tedious task, but it’s necessary for optimal performance and longevity of your components. With patience and careful adjustment, you can make sure that your bike shifts smoothly and consistently every time!
