In 2003, Dahon California Inc. announced a partnership with legendary mountain bike champion Joe Murray. As a result, Dahon produced a number of multi-speed bikes, including the 18-speed Murray mountain bike. Murray designed the frame, seat and handlebars. Dahon equipped the bike with drive components manufactured by SRAM and mechanical disc brakes manufactured by Avid. Aside from seat and handlebar height and angle adjustments, the drive system and cables require periodic adjustment. Derailleurs are complex accessories and adjustments should be entrusted to an experienced mechanic. The average mountain bike rider can make typical adjustments in a relative short time.
Chain
Step 1
Elevate the rear wheel using a repair stand or wood blocks under the bike frame. You mist adjust the chain first to ensure proper adjustment of the shift cables.
Step 2
Rotate the pedals by hand and use the shifters to move the chain to the smallest sprocket on the rear cassette and the smallest sprocket on the front chain ring.
Step 3
Loosen the right and left axle nuts at the rear wheel with a metric wrench. If the bike is equipped with skewers, flip the quick-release lever up and loosen the lever several turns.
Step 4
Adjust the chain by moving the rear wheel forward or back in the rear dropouts. Adjust the chain to 1/4-inch deflection and tighten the axle nuts or quick-release lever.
Shift Cables
Step 1
Rotate the pedals by hand and shift the chain to the largest sprocket on the chain ring.
Step 2
Rotate the pedals by hand as you use the shifter to move the chain from the smallest sprocket on the cassette to the largest. You have adjusted the cable properly when the chain moves from each sprocket to the next with minimum effort at the shifter.
Step 3
Locate the barrel adjuster where the shift cable connects to the rear derailleur. Rotate the pedals by hand, and move the chain back to the smallest sprocket on the cassette.
Step 4
Turn the adjuster in quarter-turn increments by hand as you you adjust the cable to the proper tension. Turn the adjuster clockwise in increments if the shifter does not move the chain. Turn the adjuster counterclockwise in increments if the shifter is hard to operate.
Step 5
Repeat the procedure to adjust the shift cable at the front derailleur. Begin with the chain on the smallest chain ring and shift it to the largest to adjust the cable with the barrel adjuster.
Brake Cables
Step 1
Squeeze the front hand brake slowly and note the amount of free play until the lever begins to pull the brake cable. Unlike side-pull rim brakes that require pad alignment, disc brake adjustment is limited to adjusting the cables by using the barrel adjusters at each hand lever.
Step 2
Turn the barrel adjuster at the front brake lever in or out until there is no more than 1/4 inch of free play.
Step 3
Inspect the rear cable between the hand lever and rear disc brake caliper. Certain types of spills and impact can crimp the cable, and it's necessary to straighten a crimp with pliers before adjusting the cable.
Step 4
Turn the barrel adjuster at the rear brake lever in or out until there is no more than 1/4 inch of free play until the lever begins to pull the rear brake cable.
Tips and Warnings
- Lubricate the chain periodically with lithium grease. Lubricate the shift levers periodically with light oil.
Things You'll Need
- Metric wrench
- Pliers
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