Just spent the better part of an hour trying to retrieve the primary adjuster from the bottom of the case after it slid all the way down the slot. My fingers are a bloody mess and I KNOW there has got to be an easier way to adjust this damn thing! Any ideas? This is an ongoing problem every year that I try to adjust this thing. Loosen the bolt, reach in, and slide up, right?

 

You have to use both hands.

This is how I do it.
With my left hand I take my middle finger and put it in-between the chain and the top bracket. With my right hand I loosen the 9/16 nut then lift as high as I can with my left finger then tighten the nut.

I'm going to try one of these just for the fun of it.

http://www.retrocycle.com/CustomChro...dels_6506.html

 

Or make a bent strip of steel that wil sit under the adjuster pad, then undo the nut and jiggle it up.

 

Or, after it slides all the way down, and before you chew your fingers up, attach two very small earth magnets to the end of a thin screwdriver, attach to top of the adjuster, and pull the whole damn thing up! When its high enough, you can attach the socket and voila'! May be awhile before I can ride, though. My fingers aren't healing pretty!

 

The best way is to buy the $100 self adjusting one and never fool with it again, install and forget.