Help with sticky shifting

[Seabird55]

with all the riding in the rain/mud shifting to higher gears is becoming a little sticky. i've cleaned the all the drive parts pretty good but i'm thinking crap is getting up into the cable housing opening on the rear derailleur....see photo. is there an easy way to clean out this cable housing or other suggestions on what might be the cause. thanks

 

[Mabman]

Easiest way to clean and lube cables/housing is to run your shifter up into the lowest, largest cogs, and then release the tension on the cable via your shifter. This loosens the cable enough so that you can pull the cable housings out of their stops. After doing so you can wipe it all down and put some lube on the cables and run the cable housings back and forth on the cable. Re-install, shift back up to make sure all cable housing ends are well seated. Done.

Obviously this won't work if you have full length housing but if you do that is probably why it is slow to respond due to friction.

 

[Gyre]

I'd suggest replacing your ferrule with a nosed type like so. It would insulate against the metal on metal friction you have going there.

 

[Pdoz]

If you run that cable the other way around at the securing point do you get a straighter line?

 

[Gyre]

If you run that cable the other way around at the securing point do you get a straighter line?

Good point. It's probably backwards.

 

[Seabird55]

Ye

If you run that cable the other way around at the securing point do you get a straighter line?

yeah I noticed that as well. Can someone confirm or post a pic of theirs.

 

[RustyIron]

Can someone confirm or post a pic of theirs.

Yeah... That cable looks to be routed correctly.
You can't just go and move it to the other side.
There's math, and triangles, and arcs to consider.

 

[Seabird55]

Yeah... That cable looks to be routed correctly.
You can't just go and move it to the other side.
There's math, and triangles, and arcs to consider.

Thanks. Yeah I just checked a you tube video and it looks right.

 

[Mikerb]

Firstly undo the cable. Now check by hand whether the mech moves smoothly across the cassette and smoothly back towards the smallest cogs. If not you can lube the 4 joints on the mech arm and/or check the spring/clutch tension. If all that feels good then it is either the cable or the shifter causing excess friction to allow the mech to return to the low cogs. That cable to ferrule angle is ridiculous if indeed that is the correct design. Friction of the cable against the edge of that ferrule can be reduced with grease. Check the full routing of the cable ( as far as you can see it!) to ensure the outer has not become damaged anywhere. Dont know your bike but the cable usually passes into the chainstay and then exits the chainstay to pass in to the motor area/front triangle. The latter is a potential area for outer cable damage. Finally check the free operation of the shifter by removing the cable. Clean and lube as necessary.
Possible other causes include the top jockey wheel having excess friction or sidewards play on its bearing.