How To Fix Bike Gears Shifter? (7 Steps With Tips)

Are difficulties in shifting gears stopping you from enjoying a smooth bicycle ride?

For riders all across the world, this has become a severe problem. Many of us may believe that it occurs due to the blockage of various materials in the chains, such as mud, leaves, and so on. However, that isn’t the only reason for the difficulty in shifting gears.

Today, I’ll go over all factors that contribute to this situation. And assist you in finding a way to get rid of it.

So stick with us until the finish to learn about the solution as well as some handy tips for keeping your bike in top functioning order.

Related: Are There Bikes Without Gears?

Why My bicycle Isn’t Shifting? (4 Possible Reason explain)

Are you experiencing trouble shifting gears on your bike? Well, there could be a variety of causes for this issue. However, the shifter is the most crucial of them all. Most of the time, the bikes’ gears are not switched at all due to shifter problems.

However, if your shifter is in perfect working order, some other factors could be to blame for the difficulty in shifting gears on your bike. Therefore, before we hunt for a solution, we need to figure out what the issue is with your bike.

There are different solutions for different bike problems that are responsible for your bike’s gear not shifting.

Some of these issues are covered in-depth:

1. Issues with your bike’s shifter:

A bike shifter, often known as a gear lever, is an integral part that regulates the gearing system. Because it handles gear shifting, any problems may cause difficulty shifting gears. But the shifter may become stuck.

So, first and foremost, we must determine whether the shifter is malfunctioning. Next, we must hold on to the gear cable and change the gear to do so.

If we notice that the gear cable moves, we can assume that the shifter is operating fine. However, if the gear wire is not moving, the shifter is most likely malfunctioning.

You can either check for a clog in the gears after determining the problem. You can also get a new shifter to replace the old one.

2. Issues with your bike’s rear derailleur:

You may have trouble shifting gears if your bike’s rear derailleur is malfunctioning. For example, if your bike’s rear derailleur is bent or not in perfect working order, you may be unable to change gears. The gear cable can be adjusted with the help of a few screws.

If your gear cable is too tight, you can loosen it up with the adjustable screws. You can also tighten it if it’s too loose to shift gears. However, if your rear derailleur hanger is bent, you should not attempt to bend it back into its former shape. If your hanger is bent, you’ll need to replace it.

3. Issues with the front derailleur:

If you’re experiencing trouble shifting your bike on the front chainring, it’s most likely because of your front derailleur. We all know that the front derailleur stays parallel to the chainrings in most cases.

However, if it is slightly bent, you may be unable to shift your bike into a lower or higher gear since the gear cable may become slack or tight. However, there is an easy and free solution to this problem.

You can bend the front derailleur back to its natural shape and shift your bike’s gears with ease once more.

4. Old, rusty gear cable:

Gear shifting is frequently hampered by old and rusted gear cables. Rust can occur in the gear cable due to a lack of cleaning or proper maintenance.

In addition, the gear cable is frequently torn due to corrosion. The only way to solve this problem is to replace it. This problem can be solved by replacing the old rusted gear cable with a new one.

So, these are the faults causing your bike not to shift at all. So, if your bike’s gears aren’t shifting, check to see if any of the following problems have affected your bike.

Then, using the strategies I mentioned, you can simply solve your problems. If your gear is still stuck after utilizing the solution, I recommend taking your bike to a mechanic’s shop nearby.

How To Fix Bike Gears Shifter? 7 Steps To Follow

Bikers frequently experience issues with their bike’s chain falling off or changing gears. Perhaps it is extremely difficult to shift gears due to various concerns such as misalignment of bike parts, problems with the derailleurs, and so on.

And when shifting gears becomes more difficult, riding a bike becomes more difficult. However, resolving that issue is not too difficult. All you need is patience and a few techniques. So be ready to learn all of the tips and strategies to avoid the shifting issue without paying a dime!

I’m going to explain the approaches step-by-step, so you don’t get confused.

1. We must first turn the bicycle upside down with the assistance of a bike holder. If you don’t have a bike holder, I recommend renting one from a local bike shop. Because your bike will receive a lot of scratches if you don’t use a bike holder, and you certainly won’t like it.
2. We must now inspect the derailleurs. There are two derailleurs, as we all know. The front derailleur and the rear derailleur are two different types of derailleurs. The rear derailleur is the gear-shifting mechanism for the chain. On the other hand, the front derailleur is attached to the bike’s body. As a result, only one gear is used at a time. As a result, we must determine whether the derailleurs are obstructed by any external things such as leaves, mud, or other debris. If there are any such items, we must carefully clean them.
3. After that, we’ll see if your bike is shifting like it was before. However, if shifting gears continues to be difficult, we must inspect each gear to determine the source of the problem. To accomplish this, we must swap gears with a single click and gently rotate the pedal with our hands. We need to pay attention to where the gear is having trouble changing.
4. To adjust the cables, we must now locate the adjustors. Each cable may have two ends, one at the derailleur and one at the grips. All these appear to be bolts and nuts. These modify the derailleur cables in small increments, letting you make minor shift modifications. To spin the adjustors a little, all we need is a screwdriver. However, keep in mind that you must do it with a light touch, or it may be completely shifted.
5. After you’ve identified the gear that’s having trouble shifting, see if it’s also difficult to shift down. If you’re having difficulties shifting down, loosen the adjuster. To accomplish this, rotate the adjuster counterclockwise. Then, rotate the chain until it lands in the proper gear. However, suppose you rotate it too much. In that case, the adjuster will become very loose and may even come apart from the derailleur.
6. Similarly, if the gear is having trouble shifting up, the adjuster must be tightened. To accomplish this, we must rotate the adjuster clockwise. As a result, the chain will be in the proper position for the right gear.
7. After properly fixing the problem, you must cycle through each gear to ensure that the gears shift smoothly. Try cycling in different locations to see how it performs. If you have any issues, adjust the gear cables as needed.

Tips:

I hope the procedure I described may be of use to you. Here are some additional suggestions for keeping your bike in top functioning order.

1. When shifting gears, you should never use a lot of force on the pedals. But, at the same time, shifting gears,  pedal lightly.
2. Clean the derailleurs as soon as you discover any foreign things cluttering them up. For example, your bike’s chain may rust due to that unwanted substance.
3. Machine oil should be used on mechanical parts and chains as they are prone to rust. 3 in 1 oil must be very helpful in this matter.

Conclusion:

Hopefully, this method will be helpful to you if you follow all the steps devotedly. In addition, the suggestions I provided will assist you in avoiding the problem of gear changing and rusting chains. Don’t forget to share it with your friends if you find it useful.