How to Adjust a Rear Derailleur – Limit Screws & Indexing
How to fix the shifting on your bike. The majority of rear shifting problems can be solved with basic adjustments to the limit screws and index setting of the rear derailleur system. In this video, we’ll show you how to properly set up and adjust your rear derailleur to eliminate rub, noise, slow shifting, and inaccessible gears.
Questions or comments? Leave them below!
See all our derailleur videos in our Derailleurs & Shifting playlist ▶︎ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGCTGpvdT04TlNwuGy2pd_y8wt-oLfuij
Video contents:
00:00 Preliminary Info
02:14 H-Limit Screw Adjustment
06:49 Indexing Adjustment
11:33 L-Limit Screw Adjustment
13:56 B-Screw Adjustment
➤ Tools & materials used:
• SD-2 Phillips Screwdriver – http://www.parktool.com/product/2-phillips-screwdriver-sd-2
• PH-1 P-Handle Hex Wrench Set – http://www.parktool.com/product/p-handle-hex-wrench-set-ph-1
• PRS-3.2-2 Deluxe Single Arm Repair Stand – http://www.parktool.com/product/single-arm-professional-work-stand-prs-3-2-2
For a text-based walk-through of this process: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/rear-derailleur-adjustment
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➤ Fix It:
Did you know that Park Tool is the #1 resource for bicycle repair education?
• Visit our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/parktool
• Visit the Repair Help section of Parktool.com: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/
• Check out The Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair: http://www.parktool.com/product/big-blue-book-of-bicycle-repair-3rd-edition-bbb-3
➤ About Park Tool:
Since our founding in 1963, Park Tool has been the leading name in bicycle tools. Our YouTube channel is an extension of our mission to be the ultimate resource for mechanics and riders of all skill levels. Here you will find comprehensive repair help tutorials for a wide range of components and processes, as well as troubleshooting guides, tips and tricks, and information on the latest Park Tool products.
➤ More Derailleur Repair Help:
• How a Front Derailleur Works ▶︎ https://youtu.be/yDjlRu4CnjI
• How a Rear Derailleur Works ▶︎ https://youtu.be/DQmmEvt0rxs
• How to Adjust a Front Derailleur ▶︎ https://youtu.be/ZNG7g83lI-s
• Front Derailleur – Advanced Troubleshooting ▶︎ https://youtu.be/vcc5-ry4fA0
• Rear Derailleur – Advanced Troubleshooting ▶︎ https://youtu.be/kkL1vze6M4A
• How To Align a Derailleur Hanger Using the DAG-2.2 ▶︎ https://youtu.be/tXfvW0L3iLM
awesome instructional video… thank you…
This shit doesn’t help wtf I’ve watched this video 10 times probably and still doesn’t work
I love these videos and the information you people are saints.
This is really helpful, thank you.
Well destroyed 3bike because idk about this
2.5k LBS mechanics disliked this video because they’re now going out of business
Very well explained indeed. Never messed with gears before, but now for sure
I would give 100x thumbs up if it would be possible 👍
how did the guy from that show FRIENDS end up a bike mechanic?
I feel like the I need to be paying to watch this video 🤣
I have watched a number of these and no one is saying it in full spectrum. They’re all simple examples.
1/ Thum shift to top gear. 2/Hi limit screw. 3/shift gear to lowest sprocket. 4/Low limit screw.
5/ If chain resists low gear change DIAL INDEXING screw ANTi-clockwise. 6/ If chain resists high gear change then dial indexing screw CLOCKWISE…. simple pimples….. NOOOOOOOooooooooooo sorry not true…. you can iNDEX ALLLLL dayyyyy Longgggggg clockwise or anti it will not fix the shifting problem and yo may end up with gear shifting that will not shift at all to the highest and lowest ….. so please with a cherry on top go and ride a bike to the point that it really really really does need indexing and make a video on every action you take. Then we can all be happy for once!!!!
All of the animations are crisp
Nothing I hate more is gears, I tighten my cable for rear derailleur then my gears are out of whack. I’m thinking of converting to single speed just get on and go without wasting time with gears.
Was able to adjust my 10y old MTB. Before this video I just randomly loosened/tightened the screws to see what works 😀
The first minute of this video was more informational than the last 10 that I’ve watched trying to figure out how my damn derailleur works
Idk whats the problem of my rd i cant go to the biggest cog if i adjust barrel adjuster i can get the biggest but i cant get the smallest
My L screw is not too tight i losen up so hard until it came out but still my rd cant go to the highest cog
I HAVE GOATLINK AND I CAN SHIFT TO THE HIGHEST GEAR LAST MONTH AFTER I WAS MY BIKE ICANT SHIFT TO THE BIGGEST COG IDK WHY
My limit screws some how broke how can i replace them if i can
Great video, the best on this I’ve seen
Our local bike shops are swamped right now! I thank you so much for posting these, which enables me to not only save money and time, but it also frees up some valuable time at the shops! Win-win-win!
Very helpful video. Calvin does a great job offering a good explanation to a novice in bike gear adjustment. Thanks!
After watching several derailleur adjustment videos this was the easiest to understand. I had my shifter adjusted in 2 minutes.
Why is the editing so good
Great tutorial, very clear pictures and explanations Thx Park Tool Folks!
This made so much sense! I aligned the derailleur myself! Thank you!
I haven’t ridden a bike in 25 years but I think I got it lol
What should I do I have adjusted my rear derailleur perfectly and then it won’t shift down to gear 9 then when I loosen my cable slightly with the barrel it shifts down but then can’t reach the rest of the gears any help would be appreciated it is a Shimano alivio shadow derailleur with the matching shifter with a Shimano chain with and 11-40 cassette but I have an extender to make it be able to have a 40t
I have a gripshifter bike and the rear dera- is…loose? No matter what level I shift from 1 to 7 it doesn’t move a bit. Is there solution?
I can only change the front gears and the back ones are stuck at the highest
I trust a guy in an apron every time
Great point to actually test it under load in real world riding conditions. Sometimes the performance/noise changes.
Scrolling donwn the comments to see if there’s somebody who DIDN’T find this video helpful.
The information, the presentation, the graphics, even his speach-cadence…
This is, without a doubt, the best how-to video I’ve seen on YouTube.
Well deserved props to everybody involved.
Indians:I don’t have a repair stand.Let me turn over the bicycle.
If most gears shifting up and down work fine, but i have trouble shifting into the smallest cog, that means my H limit screw is too tight?
What if it is slow to shift both up and down? I have an Ultegra groupset btw.
Thanks
Even the way he says derailleur gives me joy!
This is a FANTASTIC instructional video. And whoever your editor is deserves a raise for their amazing animations. The animations do such a good job at depicting clearly what is being described.
This fix my very old RD and is now working and shifting silky smooth. Thanks to this guide ❤😍👍
Here it is. The greatest video on the entire Internet.
Great content. I started maintaining my 10-speed with Huret Alvit lever shifters in 1966, when Lyndon Johnson was spooling up the war in Viet Nam. A few years back I bought a new bike with index shifters that have gradually migrated from ideal adjustment, and I was not sure how to fix the problem. Now I have the methodology I need to get the adjustments back to perfection.
Excellent video and explanation. As a novice this was easy and informative to follow.
Hello can u help me what to choose z20 or d4s ? I found them at the same price.
The amount of detail into this tutorial is amazing! Calvin Jones is a blessing to all of us riders!
This is a superb instructional video. Beautifully explained and illustrated, and the orienting previews really provide clarity.
On the campy veloce 9 speed ( circa 1990) which one is limit H and L ( side by side with no marking) ?
I keep coming back to these front and rear derailleur videos for a refresher before giving our bikes a service. They’re concise and clear, perfect tutorials for those that want to look after essential bike maint themselves
This is an amazing explanation
This guide video is so well made, wow!
Such a nice teacher!! Im a completly noob about bike maintenance but now mi bike shift like a f1!!! Ty so0o0o0 much!! With that money save will definitly buy to0l too do more on mi bike and mi girlfriend bike too!!
Exellent video and content
Great video and great presenter.