Counter clockwise, clockwise, what??
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Counter clockwise, clockwise, what??
When everyone so casually throws around sentences like "Turn the barrel clockwise..." what do they mean? Should I look at the shifter mech along the barrel, my face is at the center of the bike, looking at the handlegrips, and I need to see the barrel adjuster as a clock, and turn it clockwise?
Or do I have it backwards? Should I be seeing the barrel as a tiny clock as I face the center of the bike from off to one side???? Likewise minor brake adjustments.
Of course, for the barrel down on the rear derailler, there is the same question, but it is 90 degrees turned. What is the system? This is so basic, I feel foolish asking, and I know I can just experiment, but please tell me, thanks.
Or do I have it backwards? Should I be seeing the barrel as a tiny clock as I face the center of the bike from off to one side???? Likewise minor brake adjustments.
Of course, for the barrel down on the rear derailler, there is the same question, but it is 90 degrees turned. What is the system? This is so basic, I feel foolish asking, and I know I can just experiment, but please tell me, thanks.
#2
Mechanic/Tourist
Not every one will be consistent in the way they tell you, but the way it should be described is such that you are looking from the object being turned toward the object into which it is turning. Thus when turning a spoke you look from the nipple (rim) toward the spoke (hub), when turning a cable adjuster you look from the adjuster along the cable toward the derailleur or lever. It's actually much more helpful in the long run to understand why you are doing a procedure (what the effect is) rather than just memorizing or following instructions by rote.
Last edited by cny-bikeman; 04-14-18 at 06:08 PM.
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When everyone so casually throws around sentences like "Turn the barrel clockwise..." what do they mean? Should I look at the shifter mech along the barrel, my face is at the center of the bike, looking at the handlegrips, and I need to see the barrel adjuster as a clock, and turn it clockwise?
Or do I have it backwards? Should I be seeing the barrel as a tiny clock as I face the center of the bike from off to one side???? Likewise minor brake adjustments.
Of course, for the barrel down on the rear derailler, there is the same question, but it is 90 degrees turned. What is the system? This is so basic, I feel foolish asking, and I know I can just experiment, but please tell me, thanks.
Or do I have it backwards? Should I be seeing the barrel as a tiny clock as I face the center of the bike from off to one side???? Likewise minor brake adjustments.
Of course, for the barrel down on the rear derailler, there is the same question, but it is 90 degrees turned. What is the system? This is so basic, I feel foolish asking, and I know I can just experiment, but please tell me, thanks.
So who is the "everyone" you mention? Maybe ask them directly.
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Specific to rear derailleurs (or rear mechs), which I think seems to be your question:
- to add tension to a rear derailleur cable, un-screw the barrel adjuster, like you want to loosen a screw. In this case, you would be turning the barrel adjuster counter clockwise.
(why add tension to the cable? because when you shift from small sprockets to big sprockets, it's not shifting or not shifting completely)
- to remove tension, turn the barrel to TIGHTEN (clockwise).
(why remove tension? you are getting poor shifting going from big sprockets to small sprockets, and you've added to much tension to the cable from step one.
- when you install the cable, the shifter should be in the position of the smallest sprocket, the barrel should be all the way "tightened" to the derailleur, and you should pull the cable as much as possible with some needle nose pliers.
or - just go read Sheldon Brown: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html
- I'm going to go read about B-screw adjustment now. Ciao!
- to add tension to a rear derailleur cable, un-screw the barrel adjuster, like you want to loosen a screw. In this case, you would be turning the barrel adjuster counter clockwise.
(why add tension to the cable? because when you shift from small sprockets to big sprockets, it's not shifting or not shifting completely)
- to remove tension, turn the barrel to TIGHTEN (clockwise).
(why remove tension? you are getting poor shifting going from big sprockets to small sprockets, and you've added to much tension to the cable from step one.
- when you install the cable, the shifter should be in the position of the smallest sprocket, the barrel should be all the way "tightened" to the derailleur, and you should pull the cable as much as possible with some needle nose pliers.
or - just go read Sheldon Brown: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html
- I'm going to go read about B-screw adjustment now. Ciao!
When everyone so casually throws around sentences like "Turn the barrel clockwise..." what do they mean? Should I look at the shifter mech along the barrel, my face is at the center of the bike, looking at the handlegrips, and I need to see the barrel adjuster as a clock, and turn it clockwise?
Or do I have it backwards? Should I be seeing the barrel as a tiny clock as I face the center of the bike from off to one side???? Likewise minor brake adjustments.
Of course, for the barrel down on the rear derailler, there is the same question, but it is 90 degrees turned. What is the system? This is so basic, I feel foolish asking, and I know I can just experiment, but please tell me, thanks.
Or do I have it backwards? Should I be seeing the barrel as a tiny clock as I face the center of the bike from off to one side???? Likewise minor brake adjustments.
Of course, for the barrel down on the rear derailler, there is the same question, but it is 90 degrees turned. What is the system? This is so basic, I feel foolish asking, and I know I can just experiment, but please tell me, thanks.
#5
Mechanic/Tourist
A google search of the entire www.bikeforums.net website seems to find your quoted phrase only once in the past nine years, and that in a quotation from a much older article (sourced).
So who is the "everyone" you mention? Maybe ask them directly.
So who is the "everyone" you mention? Maybe ask them directly.
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Thank you so much for catching this. It's now very obvious to me that the poster was intentionally claiming those exact words were used multiple times when he knew that was not the case. I'm sure he he did so purely to cause trouble, and in fact was not truly confused. I myself did not catch the feigned nature of his question, and foolishly treated his query as genuine.
Learning Here, "clockwise" is used from whatever point of view allows you to look most directly at the barrel, pedal spindle, BB cup, etc from the center of the axis around which the part turns. As if you were looking at the head of a screw so it looks like a circle.
People that use tools all the time take it for granted how seemingly arbitrary orientation can be to questions of direction.
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As much fun as this rouse might be it has a real life basis. So many people don't have the spatial understanding to follow "clockwise" or the opposite "counter clockwise". I hear this frequently at work as I talk with/try to explain which way to turn stuff. It's really sad that as we (as a society) race towards the digital future such basic concepts as clock hands direction is forgotten as an important nugget. I find myself referencing a light bulb... Soon even this description will be lost.
What really gets my dander is when people refer to rotational direction as "turn the wrench to the right" (righty tighty). I want to ask which way is the wrench sitting? So many people are not use to critical thinking on so basic a level. Andy
What really gets my dander is when people refer to rotational direction as "turn the wrench to the right" (righty tighty). I want to ask which way is the wrench sitting? So many people are not use to critical thinking on so basic a level. Andy
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When everyone so casually throws around sentences like "Turn the barrel clockwise..." what do they mean? Should I look at the shifter mech along the barrel, my face is at the center of the bike, looking at the handlegrips, and I need to see the barrel adjuster as a clock, and turn it clockwise?
Last edited by Crankycrank; 04-14-18 at 10:58 PM.
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As much fun as this rouse might be it has a real life basis. So many people don't have the spatial understanding to follow "clockwise" or the opposite "counter clockwise". I hear this frequently at work as I talk with/try to explain which way to turn stuff. It's really sad that as we (as a society) race towards the digital future such basic concepts as clock hands direction is forgotten as an important nugget. I find myself referencing a light bulb... Soon even this description will be lost.
What really gets my dander is when people refer to rotational direction as "turn the wrench to the right" (righty tighty). I want to ask which way is the wrench sitting? So many people are not use to critical thinking on so basic a level. Andy
What really gets my dander is when people refer to rotational direction as "turn the wrench to the right" (righty tighty). I want to ask which way is the wrench sitting? So many people are not use to critical thinking on so basic a level. Andy
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Kontact- I guess you are more right then not. But in the world of bike service I don't see many (any?) try to thread in a pedal from the crank's inboard side. As to cable adjusters I'll sometimes suggest that the person look at the amount of adjuster sticking out from it's housing and just increase or decrease that amount. Andy
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Kontact- I guess you are more right then not. But in the world of bike service I don't see many (any?) try to thread in a pedal from the crank's inboard side. As to cable adjusters I'll sometimes suggest that the person look at the amount of adjuster sticking out from it's housing and just increase or decrease that amount. Andy
My usual adjuster advice is "turn the top of the barrel in the direction that you need the derailleur to go more".
Not a big deal, I'm just saying that I'm sympathetic. I took mechanical drafting in high school and most people did not have an easy time picturing spatial relationships at all. Mechanical people often have an advantage they don't even realize.
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It's righty tighty, lefty loosey - except when it's not.
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#1, can you tell time without a digital watch? /s
Threads can be cut right hand , or left hand.. & Once the bolt head faces away from you , you are in Opposite land.
....
Threads can be cut right hand , or left hand.. & Once the bolt head faces away from you , you are in Opposite land.
....
Last edited by fietsbob; 04-15-18 at 10:55 AM.
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Just another false premise inviting the usual suspects to post at length all about themselves. Thanks for the entertainment.
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Nuggets of wisdom can come from poorly motivated discussions. Andy
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Here's another way to think of it. Ever heard of the term 'right hand threads'? Now stick out your right hand and make a thumbs up. If you turn the fastener in the direction of your fingers, the fastener will travel the direction of your thumb. For example, if you're looking 'over' your hand, your fingers are curling in a counter-clockwise direction. Turn the nut or bolt the direction of your fingers and the fastener will go up, which is how your thumb is pointed. You can hold your hand up over your head with the thumb pointed down or to the left or right, and the rule still holds true.
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When everyone so casually throws around sentences like "Turn the barrel clockwise..." what do they mean? Should I look at the shifter mech along the barrel, my face is at the center of the bike, looking at the handlegrips, and I need to see the barrel adjuster as a clock, and turn it clockwise?
Or do I have it backwards? Should I be seeing the barrel as a tiny clock as I face the center of the bike from off to one side???? Likewise minor brake adjustments.
Of course, for the barrel down on the rear derailler, there is the same question, but it is 90 degrees turned. What is the system? This is so basic, I feel foolish asking, and I know I can just experiment, but please tell me, thanks.
Or do I have it backwards? Should I be seeing the barrel as a tiny clock as I face the center of the bike from off to one side???? Likewise minor brake adjustments.
Of course, for the barrel down on the rear derailler, there is the same question, but it is 90 degrees turned. What is the system? This is so basic, I feel foolish asking, and I know I can just experiment, but please tell me, thanks.
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But it totally matters when you are told to turn it clockwise.
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