How to fix your bike front derailleur #mtb #bike #bikemaintenance #bikefix #bikes #bikelife, by JD MTB on YouTube. 2 min 58 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 58 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Shift the chain onto the smallest front chainring and the largest rear cog. This gives slack cable and shows the derailleur at its low limit.
Check the cage height. The outer plate should sit about 1 to 3 mm above the largest chainring teeth. Loosen the clamp bolt and slide the derailleur to fix it.
Set the cage angle so the outer plate runs parallel to the chainrings. Tighten the clamp bolt firmly once it looks straight.
Turn the low limit screw until the inner cage plate just clears the chain on the smallest chainring. Spin the cranks to check the chain does not drop off.
Shift to the largest chainring and set the high limit screw. The outer plate should stop just outside the chain without pushing it off the ring.
Reattach the cable with the shifter in the lowest gear and pull it snug by hand. Tighten the cable anchor bolt, then check shifting through all gears.
Fine tune with the barrel adjuster on the shifter or cable. Turn it out if upshifts are slow, in if the chain rubs the outer plate.
Clean and lube the chain and derailleur pivots, then ride through the gears to confirm smooth shifts with no rubbing.
Tips and common mistakes
Make one small turn on a limit screw at a time and recheck, since a quarter turn can change the shift a lot.
If the chain rubs only in certain gear combos, that is normal cross-chaining, not a fault.
Replace a frayed or sticky cable before adjusting, or the tuning will not hold.
Questions
Why does my chain rub the front derailleur cage?
Usually the cage height, angle or limit screws are off, or the cable tension is wrong. Check the 1 to 3 mm gap above the big ring first.
Do I need special tools?
A hex key set and a screwdriver cover most front derailleurs. A cable cutter helps if you replace the cable.
How do I know the limit screws are set right?
The chain should not fall off either side when you shift to the smallest or largest chainring. Spin 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.
