[Qui'lan Fett]

My derailleur was giving me a lot of problems, so I made a new hanger for it. Yes, made. Cut and welded it out of flat steel, 3/8" thick. It works well now, however it skips over the second largest cog completely. All the other gears are alligned correctly, but it goes (it is a 6 speed) 6-5-4-3-1. No second gear. Now, from what I can find, the usual response is your hanger is bent, but I do not understand how it could be bent such that the other gears work perfectly. I am willing to bend it, but I am not sure in which direction to bend. Can anyone shed some light?

 

[slider32]

There is a tool that is used for derailleur hanger alignment, http://www.parktool.com/product/derailleur-hanger-alignment-gauge-1
Visit your LBS and have them check your hanger.

 

[frdfandc]

The tool mentioned above is required to check hanger alignment against the frame/rear wheel.
Even brand new hangers need to be checked.

My advise is to remove your custom steel hanger and reinstall the aluminum one. The hanger is designed to bend/break, saving your frame from damage. With the steel one, there will be no bend. Only frame breaks.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

My derailleur was giving me a lot of problems,

And it still is so........

 

[Qui'lan Fett]

Sadly, my original hanger was also steel, and not at all straight. I got the frame second hand so I'm not sure if there ever was an aluminum hanger.

 

[highdelll]

Sadly, my original hanger was also steel, and not at all straight. I got the frame second hand so I'm not sure if there ever was an aluminum hanger.

what is the frame?

 

[Qui'lan Fett]

Rocky Mountain Flow. It's a hardtail, about 05, and the Fr model, I believe. Great bike otherwise.

 

[highdelll]

will any of these work?
http://www.derailleurhanger.com/rockymountain.htm

 

[Berkeley Mike]

Did any derailleur ever work on this frame when you owned it?

 

[Qui'lan Fett]

Its been singlespeed for a while, but I believe gears worked on it once. I think I'll just ride it a while and see how it does, maybe buy one of the above hangers later on. I was mostly curious as to how this might happen, but it seems like it is simply a mystery.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

How old is the derailleur you put on there?

Also, once I had this problem, skipping a gear. The 9-speed cassette was new, the shifters crisp, new cables and housings, new chain, new rear der. It kept skipping a gear in the middle somewhere. It was a a head scratcher.

Turned out I had grabbed an 8-speed shifter.....

 

[Qui'lan Fett]

New derailleur, newish cassette, 2 year old 9 speed shifter from eBay.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

A lot of variables

1) used frame in unknown condition.
2) no clear knowledge if the frame ever shifted well.
3) used shifter.
4) mildly used cassette.
5) hand made der hanger.

Go back to the foundation: check the frame/hanger for alignment.

 

[Qui'lan Fett]

Will do. Thanks for all the help.