Hi all, I’ve noticed recently that my MTB is hesitating to change into higher gears, it hesitates for a few seconds after clicking the shifter in before it then changes gear with a clunking sound. Any tips on what to check first?
Have already checked cable tension which seems fine, also I’ve noticed it changes up into the lower gears fine and only does it when changing into higher gears.
by ludokaiB88
3 Comments
If you’re having trouble with gear shifting, how are you determining that your cable tension is fine? I would use my shifting performance as the test for cable tension (provided other adjustments are also fine).
I’d recommend following the steps in this [Park Tool](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkZxPIZ1ngY) video on rear derailleur adjustment.
It sounds like you might just need to tune the rear derailleur, specifically the barrel adjuster. The cable might be too tight to easily shift to higher gears.
To test the hypothesis: pick a gear and try to shift to a higher gear. Now shift back. Give the barrel adjuster a quarter turn clockwise and try again.
You’ll need to tune the indexing for all the sprockets, in both directions (lower and higher). Takes 5 minutes on a repair stand and it’s meditative 🙂
This article should have you covered: https://www.parktool.com/en-us/blog/repair-help/rear-derailleur-adjustment
If you have problem with gear shifting in one direction, and your derailleur ends is setted up properly (and of course, for 7 gears casette goes with 7 gang derailleur and so) you don’t have the correct cable tension.
For better upshift add tension, for better downshifting, loose the tension. The correct ballance is somewhere between.