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| *Vultures Knob>>>Schwinn Bike |
How do I get the geers to engage and turn the back wheel of my Schwinn 10 speed bicycle? |
How do I get the geers to engage and turn the back wheel of my Schwinn 10 speed bicycle? You could apply Singer Sewing Machine oil to parts that have rusted. You can find a convenient little plastic tube of this at Kroger grocery stores and many other places. It is also possible to pull out the inside of the shift cable, oil it with that and put it back together. For a cable that runs "bare" steel down part of the bicycle: It is possible to lubricate this by simply sliding the outer part of the cable off of what you want to oil. Pull it free from where it attaches to the frame and slide it over the bare part of the cable. Oil all of the steel cable. For a completely solid shift cable: The shift cable is 1) unscrewed from the rear derailleur, 2) housing (outer jacket) is removed (may have to remove a small aluminum cap from the derailleur end of the cable), 3) steel inner cable is oiled, 4) any kinks removed from the cable, 5) outer jacket is reinstalled, 6) clamp the end back onto the derailleur where it came from. If this doesn't work at all, remove the rear wheel and check to make sure that the freewheel (5 gear cluster) doesn't turn both ways. One way should go clickity clickity, and the other way should attempt to turn the wheel. With the bike upside down, check to be sure that your rear derailleur moves back and forth whenever you move the shifter lever. If it does not, check the cable again, spray the rear derailleur with WD40 (don't get that stuff near a tire!) and you may need to purchase an inexpensive shifter cable from your bike shop. If your freewheel (5 gear cluster on the rear hub) does turn both ways by hand, then it is in need of replacement. One particularly nice option is to purchase a replacement rear wheel (5 or 6 speed rated for screw/thread on freewheel) in the right size from bikepartsusa.com or amazon.com's Niagra Cycle. You'll also need a screw-on 5 or 6 speed freewheel. While freewheels are extraordinarily difficult to remove, they can be installed as easily as putting the lid back on the peanut butter jar, and you can request by phone that the two parts be pre-installed. This option ($25 to $30 wheel, $15 to $19 freewheel/gears) is about the cost of getting the old one repaired at a bike shop. What do you do if the rear derailleur doesn't move when you move the shift lever, replace the shift cable, and already tried WD40? Don't worry, quite a selection of Shimano's entry level derailleurs still come with the old fashioned "claw" mount, and they work great! A Tourney TX30 with hanger mount or TX50 with hanger mount is about $8 to $10 and is compatible with older bikes. You'll need a chain tool ($3) and a Shimano 7 speed chain $(12) to complete this installation yourself. Remove the old chain and old rear derailleur. Size the new chain (add an inch if your new derailler has a longer "cage" like the TX70 Mega Range that works with 6-speed 13-34 Mega-Range freewheel for mountain gears--for both, add two inches), install the new derailleur, put the new chain on, insert the too-long looking Shimano connector pin (using the chain tool, pin goes--pointy end first), and snap off the excess end of the connector pin. This is all in the directions that come with Shimano's 7 speed chains #'s HG50 and HG70. Suitable oils for rusted bike components include Singer Sewing Machine Oil, 3-n-1 oil, and motorcycle chain oil. Do not use car oil! WD40 works in an emergency, but it can dissolve rubber tires and shift cable jackets. After an initial break-in period, even these oils will attract dirt. Remove this with dark green formula Simple Green household cleaner, rinse with water and dry with a hair-dryer or towel. Reapply lightweight oil or use Mountain Bike wax-based chain lube if you want it to stay clean more easily or live on gravel roads. Have fun, and remember that by removing the rear wheel, you can more easily find out what part isn't working right. for more information, see www.harriscyclery.com for many useful articles. Try using the shift lever(s). If nothing happens, take it to your local bike shop for an evaluation. I have the same type of bike, UM.. the little silver gear shifters push them up or down, if they are stuck, oil them. If you can't get it to work take it to your local bike shop. |
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