walawn
Active Member
@Jeff185 I adjusted my rear derailer for the first time in my life last night after installing the new cassette. It is possible for someone with zero experience to do this. Just search "How to adjust Shimano rear derailer" on YouTube. Here is what I did step by step:
1. Elevate rear wheel from ground and screw barrel (at end of cable) adjuster on derailer all the way in.
2. Shift into 7 gear.
3. Adjust high (H) screw until the derailer moves slightly outboard (to the right sitting on the bike) of gear 7.
4 Start shifting through the gears from 7 to 6 to 5 and so on. You want no grinding or clicking. Adjust the barrel adjuster until shifting is smooth.
5. Shift into gear 1 and adjust the low (L) screw until the derailer is slightly outboard of gear 1. You want to make it impossible for it to shift past gear 1 and end up in between the cassette and spokes.
6. Finally adjust the B screw on the back of the derailer. This will adjust the proximity of the derailer to the cassette. You want it as close as possible to the cassette without interfering. This will insure quick shifts and long life of components.
7. Double or triple check everything to make sure that every gear works correctly and stays engaged. It really is trail and error! It took me maybe 10 minutes to go from grinding, skipping gears to a flawless setup.
Note: Keep in mind that I changed my derailer from a Shimano Acera to a Shimano Claris. Also, I changed my cassette from the stock 7-speed to a 11-32 Nickel-plated cassette. You may have a little more trouble than I did.
1. Elevate rear wheel from ground and screw barrel (at end of cable) adjuster on derailer all the way in.
2. Shift into 7 gear.
3. Adjust high (H) screw until the derailer moves slightly outboard (to the right sitting on the bike) of gear 7.
4 Start shifting through the gears from 7 to 6 to 5 and so on. You want no grinding or clicking. Adjust the barrel adjuster until shifting is smooth.
5. Shift into gear 1 and adjust the low (L) screw until the derailer is slightly outboard of gear 1. You want to make it impossible for it to shift past gear 1 and end up in between the cassette and spokes.
6. Finally adjust the B screw on the back of the derailer. This will adjust the proximity of the derailer to the cassette. You want it as close as possible to the cassette without interfering. This will insure quick shifts and long life of components.
7. Double or triple check everything to make sure that every gear works correctly and stays engaged. It really is trail and error! It took me maybe 10 minutes to go from grinding, skipping gears to a flawless setup.
Note: Keep in mind that I changed my derailer from a Shimano Acera to a Shimano Claris. Also, I changed my cassette from the stock 7-speed to a 11-32 Nickel-plated cassette. You may have a little more trouble than I did.
