How to Adjust a Front Derailleur, by Park Tool on YouTube. 13 min 44 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 44 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Mount the bike in a repair stand so you can turn the cranks and see the derailleur from the side and above.
Check the derailleur height: the outer cage plate should sit 1 to 3 mm above the largest chainring teeth.
Loosen the clamp bolt and set the cage parallel to the chainrings, then tighten the bolt.
Shift to the smallest chainring and smallest rear cog. Turn the L-limit screw until the inner cage plate sits about 0.5 mm from the chain.
Shift to the largest chainring and smallest rear cog. Turn the H-limit screw so the outer cage plate clears the chain by about 0.5 mm.
Shift to the smallest chainring and largest rear cog. Loosen the cable anchor, pull the cable snug by hand and retighten the anchor bolt.
Shift up and down through the chainrings. Turn the barrel adjuster a quarter turn at a time to remove rub or slow shifts.
Recheck both limit screws after indexing, since cable tension changes can affect the cage position.
Tips and common mistakes
Set limits before touching cable tension, or the screws will fight the indexing.
A cage that is not parallel to the chainrings causes rub that no screw adjustment will fix.
Turn screws in small increments and check the chain clearance after each turn.
Keep fingers clear of the chainring teeth when turning the cranks by hand.
Questions
Why does my chain rub the derailleur cage?
Usually the cage is misaligned or a limit screw is set too tight. Check height and angle first, then the L and H screws.
Do I need to replace the cable to fix slow shifting?
Not always. Clean and lubricate the cable and housing first, then re-index. Replace the cable if it is frayed or sticky.
Can I adjust the front derailleur without a repair stand?
Yes. Flip the bike or lean it against a wall, but a stand makes it much easier to turn the cranks and watch the cage.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
