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Gear tightening issue
Hey,
Perhaps foolishly tried to sort out an issue with the front derailuer.
During this I tightened/loosened the gears to get the settings right.
I think during the process I have done something to the left hand side one. From what I can tell everything is ok but it doesnt look right visually.
What have I done and how do I fix it ? Do I need to fix it 
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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18 comments
Sorry Stucks, had a hectic weekend.
How did you get on?
From your photos, it does look like a bit too much slack in your cables.
Firstly (and please don't take this the wrong way) - are you sure the cable you were adjusting is for the front derailleur and not the brakes?
Once you've reached the limit of what you can adjust with the thumb adjusters, you will need to pull the slack through at the other end of the cable, so you'll need to follow it. There will be some form of clamp at the other end, that pinches the cable in place. You can loosen that, pull the slack through, then tighten it again.
If it is the gear cables, make sure you have dropped the gear down as far as it will go = smallest cog, then pull the slack through.
You can then use the thumb adjusters to get the gear changes running smoothly.
There are lots of good instructional videos - this one covers quite alot
Don't forget to screw the adjuster about 3/4 of the way in before slackening the pinch bolt, that way you can pull a bit more cable through but you still have a bit of slackening available if you have pulled too much.
Would be handy to know what the make/model is.
There looks to be too much slack on that cable. What position was the gear lever in when you tightened the cable ?
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Disclaimer - I am definitely not an expert!
Looks like it is possibly unscrewed too much?
Does it wobble when you move it?
Might need screwing back in slightly if it does wobble. I would screw it all the way back in, put the front derailleur to the smallest cog and then pull any slack in the cable through the derailleur. Then use the thumb adjustment to fine tune it.
I can't seem to screw it all the way back it wont screw in/catch any traction
Yes it is wobbling. Quite a lot !
It will likely take a bit of fiddling - possibly a little force as help it catch as you screw it back it.
I very much doubt you damaged the threads when you unscrewed it, so it should go back in.
Yep.
Not sure if "Yep" is "Yep you're not an expert" or "Yep its unscrewed too much"
Screwed back in successfully once I got rid of all slack and applied quite a bit of force as suggested!!
Thanks for all the help
Yep to your prognosis, and you seem expert enough.
Is the slack meant to be this much in the cable.
My chain is on the smallest rear wheel ring and the smallest front wheel ring
Bikeradar has a detailed page:
https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/workshop/how-to-adjust-the-gears-on-you...
Lots more videos out there:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=adjusting+derailleur+gears+cable+tension&t=ffa...
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