How to fix bike front gears that wont shift

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Are you struggling to shift gears on your bike? Shifting issues are something that most cyclists deal with on occasion.

So what causes gears to stick?

Problems with the shifter, derailleurs, and brake cable are the most common reasons why your bike gears won’t shift. If one of these components is damaged or not properly set, the rear derailleur may not shift the chain to a different cassette.

Let’s take a deeper look at why your bike gears won’t shift and how to solve the problem:

How Bikes Shift Gears

If the gears fail to shift, you should inspect the various bicycle parts responsible for shifting. You should also understand how the parts work together to change gears.

Shifters are typically integrated with the brake levers and connected to the brake cable. When you press the shifter, the derailleur shifts the chain from one gear to a higher or lower gear. The gears are held on a cassette.

Bicycles may include only a rear derailleur (which might be equipped with a bicycle clutch) or both a front and rear derailleur. The front derailleur shifts the chain between chainrings. A bike with a 10-speed rear cassette and 3 chainrings on the front has 30 speeds.

How To Troubleshoot a Bicycle That Won’t Shift

Check the following bicycle components for damage, looseness, tightness, and other issues that may interfere with the movement of the gears:

• Shifters
• Derailleurs
• Limit screws
• Gear cables
• Bike chain

If you want to fix the problem, you may need a couple of tools, such as a Phillips screwdriver and a set of Allen keys. You should also grab some lubricant and cleaning supplies to deal with any debris limiting the function of the gear set.

Check for Damage to the Derailleurs

You should first check the derailleurs. This requires you to freely spin the wheels. If you don’t have a bike stand, you can turn your bike upside down.

Visually inspect the front and rear derailleurs for signs of damage and buildup. Make sure that nothing is blocking the operation of the derailleurs. Use a damp cloth to clear away mud, leaves, and debris.

After looking at the derailleurs, attempt to shift gears. Move through the full range of gears, from the lowest gear to the highest. If you notice inaccurate shifting or stiff shifting, the derailleur may be misaligned or damaged.

The rear derailleur hanger should be perpendicular to the rear axle when you’re looking at it from the rear of the bike. The Park Tool DAG-2.2 Derailleur Hanger Alignment Gauge makes it very easy to realign your derailleur hanger:

This video shows you how to use the tool to realign your derailleur hanger:

The front derailleur includes a curved section that holds the chain. The outer derailleur cage should be parallel with the chainring when viewing it from above.

This video shows you how to adjust a front derailleur:

Align the derailleurs and attempt shifting again.

Inspect the Tightness of the Limit Screws

If your shifting problems continue, check the derailleur limit screws. The limit screws limit the distance that a derailleur can move to reduce the risk of the chain hitting the spokes or the bike frame.

The screws are typically marked with an H and an L. The H screw limits the outer movement of the derailleur while the L screw limits the inner movement. Move the chain to the smallest sprocket when adjusting the H screw and the largest sprocket when adjusting the L screw.

When adjusting the limit screws, the upper pulley should be perfectly aligned with the sprocket. Check the alignment with both screws.

This video shows you how to properly adjust the limit screws on your rear derailleur:

Check for Damage to the Gear Cables

Sometimes a bike may fail to shift due to a problem with the gear cable or brake cable. The cable may eventually break due to wear and tear. The gear shifter or cable can also get stuck due to buildup.

Open the shifter cover to determine if the cable is broken. If it’s broken, replace it with a new one. If the cable is intact, check to see if it’s stuck. You may need to use a lubricant to get it moving again.

Lubricant may also be needed on the shifter if the cable moves freely but fails to move when you press the lever.

Inspect the Condition of the Chain

Accumulation of rust and debris on the chain may keep the derailleur from easily shifting gears. Debris may be an issue if the shifting action appears sluggish.

Use a degreaser to remove buildup from the chain. The best chain cleaners include a chain cleaning brush that wraps around the chain. You backpedal to pull the chain through the cleaner and remove debris.

An old toothbrush can also work in place of a specialized chain degreaser brush. Apply degreaser to the toothbrush and scrub each section of the chain.

Rinse the degreaser from the chain using soapy water. After the chain dries, apply a lubricant.

Most lubricants only require a small drop on each roller for optimal lubrication. Use a clean cloth to remove any excess lubricant to avoid attracting more dirt.

While you’re at it, use a chain checker tool to see whether or not your chain needs to be replaced. The Park Tool CC 3.2 Chain Wear Indicator makes it very easy to determine if your chain needs replacing:

Take Your Bicycle to a Bike Shop

Hopefully your bike now shifts properly. But in some cases, you may need to take your bicycle to a professional bike mechanic.

Your local bike shop should offer repairs, which saves you the hassle of attempting to troubleshoot the problem yourself. Along with getting your bike to shift again, an experienced bicycle mechanic can ensure that everything is properly aligned.

Last Thoughts on Why Your Bike Gears Won’t Shift

A bike may fail to shift if any of the parts connected to the gear set are damaged, loose, or too tight. Debris may also obstruct the normal operation of the derailleur, making it more difficult to shift.

Always start by inspecting for debris. You should also check the alignment of the bike parts and look for any signs of damage. If all else fails, visit a bike shop.

Riding a bike is easy if you have perfectly smooth bike gear. You can quickly shift the gears depending on the terrain that you are passing on. All too often, spinning your pedals manically or seamlessly depends on how well-adjusted your gear wheels are.

Once you observe that you are having a hard time shifting gears and laboriously grinding your pedals on the road, you need to focus and give attention to your bike gear. You can improve your ride if you know how to adjust bike gears.

At the same time, it is equally important to understand how to fix bike gears so that they won”t shift. This includes identifying the problem in the gear, tweaking the cable adjusters accordingly, and taking your bike out for a test ride.

What Makes Bike Gears so Important

Bike gears are one of the greatest inventions in the cycling world. It allows riders to speed and level up their ride depending on the road they are taking. You can get up hills quickly and easily by shifting your gear. Bike gears give you a more pleasurable and enjoyable ride no matter the terrain.

Gears are a crucial component of your bike. It transfers the energy you put into the pedals as an output of your wheel. It also lessens your effort to pedal when you shift to the right gear. You have the option to change your gears based on the terrain and conditions of the road that you are on.

However, there are times your gear can malfunction, which leaves you with a stressful and back-breaking ride. Thus, it is necessary to check on your gears from time to time.

Why Won’t Bike Gears Shift

There are several reasons why your bike gear wheels won’t shift. It can be due to derailleur problems, cable issues, mis-adjustments, and malfunctioning chains. To understand these issues better, read through the following so you can fix gears mountain bike:

1. Derailleur problems

There are times that your bike derailleur is damaged, which prevents the bike gears from shifting. You should ensure that the derailleur is not bent or is in the wrong position. The bike derailleur should always be perpendicular to the rear wheel and cassette for better shifting.

2. Cable issues

Brake cables can also be the root cause of why your bike gear stopped shifting. Misadjusting the cable or misaligning it can cause your bike to slow down. It is crucial to check the position of your cable frequently.

You need to clean it regularly for optimum performance as well. If you have an old cable, and your gear won’t shift, you have to replace it. Some cables are worn out and too stretched, so they must be replaced.

3. Limit screw misadjustments

A limit screw can affect the performance of bike gears. If it is set too low, the chain will find a hard time reaching the lowest gear. Hence, you will have a “bike won’t shift to the lowest gear” problem. The limit screw can restrict the chain from doing its job right. On the other hand, if the limit screw is set too high, it will be loose and affect the smallest gear on the cassette.

4. Cable issues

Of course, bike cables can impact how your bike gear performs. It is vital to always check if your bike chain is clean. The rust and dirt that build-ups to the chain will cause it to malfunction. Degreasing and applying lube to it is equally significant.

To fix these issues, here is the step-by-step guide to resolve the issue of bike gears not shifting:

• Position your bike on a bike stand
• Identify the location of bike derailleurs
• Diagnose shifting problem
• Check the cable adjusters
• Focus on the problem gear
• Let the cable adjuster loose if the chain is not shifting down
• Let the cable adjuster tight if the chain is not shifting up
• Cycle through every gear wheel again
• Practice riding your back

How to Fix Bike Gears That Won’t Shift Step by Step

Step 1. Position your bike on a bike stand

Getting the right angle when fixing your bike gear is incredibly important as well as spinning your wheels from time to time without moving the bike. You have to get a bike stand, place your bike on it correctly before doing all the leg work and adjusting bike gears.

Step 2. Identify the location of bike derailleurs

The next step is to locate your bike derailleurs accurately. Bike derailleurs are responsible for shifting the bike gear and keeping the bike chain in place. There are two derailleurs present on the bike: the rear derailleur and the front derailleur.

You have to identify them both and ensure that they are clean without any unnecessary components built up. Check whether there are leaves, mud, and stones in the derailleurs.

These particles can restrain your derailleurs from delivering their job. They can impede performance and slow down your bike. Clean both the derailleurs with a damp cloth and make sure that there are no unnecessary particles.

Step 3. Diagnose bike gear shifting problems

To determine the shifting problem, you have to test each gear. You can use your hand to move and pedal the bike. Start with the back derailleur and pedal test each gear slowly. In this way, you can determine whether your bike won’t shift to the highest gear front.

At this point, you will notice gears that are difficult to shift. It can be caused by the chain slipping off the gear wheel. To resolve this, move the gear wheel twice to put it in the proper position.

Then, you can work on the front derailleur and repeat the same process.

(Pro tip: While working on one derailleur, ensure that the other derailleur is in the middle gear. This way, your chain will not overstretch and endure any form of damage)

Step 4. Check the cable adjusters

Identify the cables that lead to the derailleurs and look for the adjusters. Adjusters appear like mini nuts or barrels around the cables. You can find two adjusters for every cable – for the derailleur end and handlebars. Fix the adjusters properly.

Step 5. Focus on the problem gear

By now, you have already identified the gear that is not working. Pay attention to the gear wheel by pedaling the bike with your hand. Shift your gear wheels up and see the real issue. It can be that the chain is not shifting or the gear is skipping. Keep your bike on that gear and move on to the next step.

Step 6. Let the cable adjuster loose if the chain is not shifting down

Rotate the cable adjuster anticlockwise if you observe that shifting is difficult while lowering the gear. It will loosen the cable adjuster. Do this gradually until you notice that the chain falls into the right gear wheel.

Step 7. Let the cable adjuster tight if the chain is not shifting up

If the shifting is hard when you level up the gear, keep the adjuster tight. To tighten the cable adjuster, turn it clockwise until you observe that the chain naturally switches to the right gear.

Step 8. Cycle through every gear again

Test check if the gears are shifting smoothly. Ensure that the derailleur shifts successfully in every turn of the gear wheel. Once you are satisfied with the result, you can remove the bike from the bike stand.

Step 9. Practice ride

To make sure that your bike gears are running well, you can do a practice ride. Take a short distance ride and cycle through the gears again. This time, you can check the shifting gear with your weight added to the bike.

Conclusion

Bike gears are crucial when you want to enjoy a hassle-free and smooth ride. It is equally important to understand how bike gears work, and how to fix them in case a problem arises.

Fixing bike gears that won’t shift will no longer be challenging now that you have read through these detailed steps provided for you. You just need to identify the problem in the gear, tweak the cable adjusters accordingly, and test out your bike once your grip shift gears won’t turn.

We hope that you find the steps easy to follow, so you can enjoy cycling even more.

“Bike commuting should be the trend for the next few years, and it is a convenient and eco-friendly way for us to travel. And we are here to make it a bit less troublesome for people who want to maintain their vehicle for a long time. So, the content I expect to put out here is offering help for bikers who are facing issues with parts of their bikes once in a while. Let’s have fun and protect the environment together!”