Gear replacement?

[BlugrassBri]

???

Is there a simple way to determine if its time to replace my rear cassette and front chainrings? I ask b/c it feels like there is a slight hesitation from when I change gears to when the gear actually switches...or could it be something else I am overlooking?

Thanks!!!

Try looking @ www.sheldonbrown.com a great resource of info.and good low cost practical way of checking chains and gears and performing drivetrain adj.

[Adam]

A delay like you mentioned could be caused by a number of things, including worn components. I'd suggest checking your shifter cables for the correct tension & freedom of movement (ie., is there any binding), along with the derailleur adjustments. The standard clean everything & lube moving parts like derailleur cage pivots, jockey wheels applies also.

Gears that are very worn will have different shaped teeth than they should, although I've run a big ring with many missing teeth & had little degredation in performance.

-Adam

[SloMoJo]

Simple way to check if rings are gone?
Sure, try putting a new chain on and see what it looks like on those rings. You need an extra chain anyway. ;)
If they're gone, that new chain just will not ride well on worn gears.

It's well known that the measurement of interest is the chain stretch. Stretched chain wears the gears down. There is a simple tool for measureing chain stretch, and when to replace it. There's also the manual measurement technique covered on the Sheldon Brown site.

Before learning this I stretched the chain too far, then just rode the gears until they were junk. Even then it would shift fine, but I would get chain suck up front. Then I replaced chain and all gears, and now I watch the chain with that tool. Much better plan.

Assuming your gears are fine, raise the rear end and shift thru the gears looking for issues or better adjustments. I had similar hestitation and cable tension did it, as Adam suggested.
Good Luck
-SMJ

[gungywump]

I agree with Adam. The problem with sluggish shifting is likely NOT related to worn gears. Worn gears and stretched chains relate more to a skipping or ghost shifting type of problem. Clean all of the pivots on the deraillers and check the alignment of the rear derailler. This would also be a good time to replace your cables and housings ($10-$15).

[BlugrassBri]

Thanks everyone...I think I fixed the problem...
Got new cables and housing and a bassworm for my grip shift....seems to work well, although I have to do some fine tuning to get it 'just right'


Brian