How to adjust your mountain bike front derailleur?

How to adjust your mountain bike front derailleur?

You've just installed your MTB front derailleuror your chainring changes aren't going smoothly? No doubt, it's time to adjust your derailleur. Here's what you need to do it successfully on your MOUNTAIN BIKE.

 

  • Time : 15 min
  • Level : Medium
  • Tools : Allen key set

Steps

Most of the time, your front derailleur comes with a plastic shim placed in the mechanism to hold it in position for adjustment, so make sure you don't remove it just yet. Adjustment is carried out with the derailleur cable released.

  1. For a collared derailleur, first align the fork of your derailleur. a so that it's parallel to your chainrings.

  2. Then adjust the height of the derailleur; the outside of the fork should be between 1 and 3 mm. b above the highest tooth on the large chainring.

  3. Now correctly positioned, tighten the derailleur retaining bolt to the torque specified by the manufacturer, then remove the mounting shim if fitted.


  4. Place the chain on the largest sprocket at the rear and the smallest chainring at the front, then adjust the front derailleur low stop (screw "L", for Low) so that the inner part of the fork is 2 mm from the chain. c
  5. Completely screw in the tensioning knob on the gearshift, then unscrew it by 2 turns. d
  6. Secure the control cable to the derailleur by stretching it slightly by hand.

  7. Place the chain on the smallest sprocket at the rear and the largest chainring at the front, then adjust the front derailleur's upper stop (screw "H", for High) so that the outer part of the fork is 2 mm from the chain. e Probikeshop tip: Perfect adjustment of the chain stops prevents the chain from rubbing against the fork, but also prevents it from derailing.

  8. Adjust the cable tension using the knob on the speed control. If the speed doesn't go up, there's no tension. If it doesn't go down, there's too much tension.
    Probikeshop tip: To facilitate final adjustment, lubricate your transmission.

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