Front Derailleur replacment?

[Jsnyd]

My front derailleur has an issue. excuse my explanation if it gets hairy, I’m not familiar with biking jargon just yet or correct part names for that matter :p when changing gears on my front sprockets, I can’t go from 1 through 3. I try and adjust the derailleur and cable but only get 2 and 3 or 1 and 2. There seems to be a lack in the amount of travel I need. is it possibly bent or just crappy? I’ve messed with it so much that my gear indicator doesnt even know what gear im in anymore.

Topic

[RESTONTODC]

I’m not an expert but my guess is the limit screw. I need to adjust them.

Good luck

[RESTONTODC]

I’m not an expert but my guess is the limit screw. I need to adjust them.

Good luck

[CCrew]

Based on that picture the derailleur is installed waaaaay too high. Usually only want 1-2mm to clear the tips of the chainring teeth and you’ve got what looks to be 3/8″

After that jump on someplace like Park Tools site or You Tube for a tutorial on FD adjustments. They can be little buggers, I’ll tell you that.
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/front-derailleur-adjustments should get you started

[CCrew]

Based on that picture the derailleur is installed waaaaay too high. Usually only want 1-2mm to clear the tips of the chainring teeth and you’ve got what looks to be 3/8″

After that jump on someplace like Park Tools site or You Tube for a tutorial on FD adjustments. They can be little buggers, I’ll tell you that.
http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/front-derailleur-adjustments should get you started

[Jsnyd]

Awesome! Thanks!

[Jsnyd]

Awesome! Thanks!

[PrintError]

+1 to CCrew, looks like an easy adjustment. Your local bike shop can tweak it if you can’t get it to work.

[PrintError]

+1 to CCrew, looks like an easy adjustment. Your local bike shop can tweak it if you can’t get it to work.

[Jsnyd]

Thanks everyone. First I’ll try and drop the whole thing a bit but im afraid that it may be bent. The front of the derailleur looks high while the back of it is right on top of the lower gear. I might swing over to CityBikes Inc. and have them look at it.

[Jsnyd]

Thanks everyone. First I’ll try and drop the whole thing a bit but im afraid that it may be bent. The front of the derailleur looks high while the back of it is right on top of the lower gear. I might swing over to CityBikes Inc. and have them look at it.

[CCrew]

@Jsnyd 4433 wrote:

Thanks everyone. First I’ll try and drop the whole thing a bit but im afraid that it may be bent. The front of the derailleur looks high while the back of it is right on top of the lower gear. I might swing over to CityBikes Inc. and have them look at it.

Is that the original derailleur for the bike? It’s not unusual that the curvature doesn’t match perfectly, it’s more about clearance and function. I’d at least give it a shot.

[CCrew]

@Jsnyd 4433 wrote:

Thanks everyone. First I’ll try and drop the whole thing a bit but im afraid that it may be bent. The front of the derailleur looks high while the back of it is right on top of the lower gear. I might swing over to CityBikes Inc. and have them look at it.

Is that the original derailleur for the bike? It’s not unusual that the curvature doesn’t match perfectly, it’s more about clearance and function. I’d at least give it a shot.

[Jsnyd]

@CCrew 4434 wrote:

Is that the original derailleur for the bike? It’s not unusual that the curvature doesn’t match perfectly, it’s more about clearance and function. I’d at least give it a shot.

I believe so, I found a site that lists a 95 Arriba to have almost all Shimano STX parts which is the same as I have.

[Jsnyd]

@CCrew 4434 wrote:

Is that the original derailleur for the bike? It’s not unusual that the curvature doesn’t match perfectly, it’s more about clearance and function. I’d at least give it a shot.

I believe so, I found a site that lists a 95 Arriba to have almost all Shimano STX parts which is the same as I have.

[Dirt]

There are many things that make a front derailleur work properly, as people have identified.

1. The height of the derailleur;
2. How it is aligned in relation to the large chainring (the outer cage should be parallel to the large ring when looking down on it)
3. Limit screws (both low and high)
4. Cable tension
5. Shifters functioning correctly.
6. Chain length
7. Age/amount of wear on the chainrings; and
8. age/wear on cable housing.

It helps if the planets are aligned too.

The most honorable Sheldon Brown (may he rest in peace) has a good article about it (and anything else bicycle related… though his list of pick-up lines for dating while cycling is a bit dated) http://www.sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

Hope that helps a little.

Pete

[Author]

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