MTB Shifting Barrel Adjustment Video
MTB Shifting Barrel Adjustment Video – Fine Tune Your Derailleur with the Shifter’s Barrel Adjustment.
Video & How-To write-up below.
Barrel adjustments fine tune shifting performance by correcting hesitant shifting or skipping between gears.
Of course that’s assuming that everything is torqued, set screws are adjusted properly and the cable tension at the derailleur is in range.
When installing a new cable reset the barrel adjuster close to the middle of it’s throw. This allows you to add or subtract tension from the shifter as required.
Shifter Barrel Adjustment
Adding Tension
Should you find the shifting sluggish “up” the cassette versus down you may need additional tension.
If the low set screw is correct, which adjusts the pulley position in relation to the largest cog on the cassette, and you cannot access your largest cog you may need additional tension.
To add tension through the barrel adjuster you loosen the assembly. This makes the functional length of the cable housing longer and adds tension to the inner cable. Rotate the barrel adjuster towards the front of the bike, or counterclockwise if you have the cable nearer to you than the shifter.
Lessening Tension
Less tension allows the derailleur to drop into the smaller, faster gears.
Sluggish “down” shifting as well as the inability to get completely into the smallest gears can be fine tuned by lessening tension.
Lessen tension through the barrel adjuster by tightening the assembly. This makes the length of the cable housing shorter, subtracting tension from the inner cable. Rotate the barrel adjuster towards the back of the bike, or clockwise if you have the cable nearer to you than the shifter.
Don’t go crazy with barrel adjustments. Undoubtedly a couple clicks go a long way. If you can’t dial in your shifting with these minute adjustments you should review torques, set screws and alignment of hangers, etc.