How do I adjust my road bike front derailleur?

How do I adjust my road bike front derailleur?

You've just installed your front derailleurOr are your gears unstable? It's time to adjust your derailleur. Here's how to get started.

  • 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. Full adjustment begins with the derailleur cable released.

  1. First, align your derailleur fork so that it is parallel to your chainrings.

  2. Then adjust the height of the derailleur: the outer part of the fork should be between 1 and 3 mm above the teeth of the large chainring.

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

  4. Place the transmission on the largest rear sprocket and the smallest front chainring, then adjust the front derailleur low stop (screw "L") so that the inner part of the fork is 1 mm from the chain.

  5. Completely screw in the cable tension knob if you have one on your sheath kit, then unscrew it by 2 turns.

  6. Now place the control cable on the derailleur, stretching it slightly by hand.

  7. Place the drivetrain on the smallest sprocket at the rear and the largest chainring at the front, then adjust the front derailleur's high stop (screw "H") so as to position the outer part of the fork 1 mm from the chain. Probikeshop tip: Perfect adjustment of the stops not only prevents the chain from rubbing against the fork, but also prevents it from derailing.

  8. Adjust the cable tension using the knob if you have one, to fine-tune shifting efficiency. If the gear doesn't go up, there's not enough tension; if it doesn't go down, there's too much. Probikeshop tip To facilitate final adjustment, lubricate your transmission.

The derailleur is now set. After a first ride, you may need to adjust the final setting with the knob.

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