Rear cluster wobbling

[niklasvm]

Hi

 

I noticed today that my cluster had a slight misalignment in it making some of the gears jump. Is this something simple to fix? What could cause it?

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[rad006]

Sounds like you need a new one

[niklasvm]

Could it not be the spacer maybe? How does something like this change from one day to the next?

[rad006]

Are you sure your lockring is tight??

[Eldron]

Could it not be the spacer maybe? How does something like this change from one day to the next?

 

Have you checked the lock ring for tightness - cassette's wobbble is the lock ring is loose.

[niklasvm]

I'm not quite sure what that is. i've never taken it apart before. I had a light fall on the bike today and it caused the gears to go a bit funny but I re-set them, the gears are fine now but chain jumps around when its at the wrong angle. i'm gonna go have it checked out asap as i'm doing DC on Saturday. I haven't really inspected my bike for a while so it could have been like this for some time.

[splat]

I had a light fall on the bike today and it caused the gears to go a bit funny but I re-set them' date=' the gears are fine now but chain jumps around when its at the wrong angle.[/quote']

 

It could be that your rear hanger is a bit skew after the fall.

[jrussell]

If its a MTB it could be that you have put the quick release axcel in unballenced. put pressure on the bike then open and close the QR at the back, maybe thats all the problem is

[niklasvm]

Thats possible, i just checked and the cluster has play in it if you move it around with your hand so its definitely not bent. hopefully it'll just be a minor operation to bend the hangar and tighten the lockring

[niklasvm]

If its a MTB it could be that you have put the quick release axcel in unballenced. put pressure on the bike then open and close the QR at the back' date=' maybe thats all the problem is[/quote']

 

No its a road bike and its definitely in straight.

[Johan Bornman]

You mention misalignment, wobble and movement.

Which is it?  I cannot envisage a misalignment. These things go in one way and that's it. You also mention a fall. I cannot foresee any type of fall that would bend/misalign a freehub. The two are definitely not related.

A wobble? Most freehubs have a slight wobble wich is visible when you pedal the bike on a stand.

Badly designed freehubs, such as those from Mavic, have a nylon bushing that wears out and causes excessivel wobble that messes with the gears.

If your gears don't shift properly, look at the settings before bending things.

 

[Li Mu Bai]

 

cassettes also wobble if you have forgotton to first put on the thin metal 1mm spacer before inserting the cogs. this spacer is usually supplied with a new cluster for use when needed on different freewheel bodies. it certainly does help with the tightening of the lock nut.

 

 

 

Rude2009-11-20 07:50:01

[Li Mu Bai]

 

I'm not quite sure what that is. i've never taken it apart before. I had a light fall on the bike today and it caused the gears to go a bit funny but I re-set them' date=' the gears are fine now but chain jumps around when its at the wrong angle. i'm gonna go have it checked out asap as i'm doing DC on Saturday. I haven't really inspected my bike for a while so it could have been like this for some time.[/quote']

 

your 'slight fall' has  most likely bent your rear deraileur hangar very slightly. even 0.5mm out of true will affect your gear changing.

Unfortunately it is not really possible to straighten the hanger yourself (try on a very bent one and it will shear off)

Go and get yourself a new deraileur hangar (these things are not expensive and specifically designed to bend or shear in a fall as a protection mechanism for the more expensive rear deraileur.)

re-install the new one, and then reset your gear cable tension and you should be fine. till your next fall...