How to Replace and Adjust the Front Derailleur/Shifter Cable on a Bicycle

This video covers everything you need to know to successfully adjust your front derailleur, so that it shifts correctly. The video is a detailed tutorial showing step by step how to remove a front derailleur cable and replace it with a new one, including all of the minor adjustments
I hope you found this video helpful. Please leave comments below, and let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks for watching!

[@bobcraghead573]

CJ you are a master teacher/presenter. From now on I am coming to your stuff first rather than watch a bunch of confusing bike shop videos. Well done thoroughly explaining things in ways everyone can understand!

[@tostare]

Great guide, thanks. Great to see one made by a regular bike user rather than a bike shop owner. Best one that I've seen. About to do this for the first time, have made notes :)

[@janem2067]

I snapped my cable shifter cable in the middle of Malaysia, just outside a town with no bike shop. So thankful for your video! I can't believe how easy it was to fix.

[@Vilendank]

I would just like to say that being a guy who has a few >$3000 bikes and keeps a few beaters, klunkers, and commuters around for guests or flatmates, your videos are an awesome resource. Too many are focused on the newest/best when for the majority of people, the majority of the time are working with some

[@jimsimon1140]

What is great is these are really relatable... right down to the grease and dirt on the bikes! Watching those professional videos can be a bit intimidating!! It's also nice to hear that the issues I have are not just my issues... I remember those old paddle shifters and miss them as well. I've used Hot Glue on cable ends as well...

[@kitmanwah]

I like your channel and the like way you narrate making difficulties easy. I am also looking for the way to fix my rear derailleur (very cheap and ordinary one) that the 'high' and 'low' are difficult to be adjusted correctly, the chain could not get on to each gear up and down savely or may skip. I know there is a small screw to fine-tune the tension but still not easy for me. I highly appreciate if you would demonstrate once serving us for solution. Thank you so much for reading this.

[@ripdylan8399]

Thanks!! Figures - Setting isn't a pro shop with the razzle dazzle headings and such, but hosted by a master of the craft. Dude even has snow in the background while he's working on this! Has to be the most informative also most understandable video to date I've seen on bike repair. CJ's heart is into it as well as his skill and knowledge, and that seemed to be the combo needed to get these concepts to a "challenged" "mechanic" like me. Subtle details really helped out. Man I appreciate this - thank you much!

[@cjhoyle]

I appreciate the kind words!

[@wishbone9478]

Am new to bike repairs, This video was great, Thanks from Ireland .💯%

[@cjhoyle]

Thanks! Best of luck with your repairs.

[@briankliewer8275]

Great presentation and thorough and clear explanations. Also the presenter reminds me of actor John C. Reilly(Stepbrothers), especially his voice which was entertaining.

[@cjhoyle]

Thanks, you're not the first to mention that to me.

[@davepeters4955]

Thanks! I think I just got my front derailleur fine tuned from watching your video. It took a hit somewhere and was way out of alignment. Test ride tomorrow to verify. Getting that thing adjusted was a lot more frustrating than I thought it would be - I was about to throw in the towel and take it to a shop.

[@COMB0RICO]

A good thorough tutorial! Thanks from Texas! I've been working on my front derailer for almost two hours and I was able finally to get things back to normal from your video. I would add a person can alternatiely flip the bicycle over instead of going for a ride to test shifting. Also, you could have mentioned the purpose of the plastic grommet things on the cables. I looked it up once, but forgot. I think it's to keep the cables from rattling against the frame. These bits would be easy to add using KZbin caption feature. You have a real talent for these videos!

[@thomasscott0101]

Fantastic video sir. Every bit of information was given in order to successfully replace the shifter cables for the front derailleur. Keep up the good work!

[@tonyfu9431]

Thank you soo much. Was hunting a video to tighten derailer cable. Your video ended my hunt. Its long but easy to scan and many common sense tips

[@tpstrat14]

I love your explanations of the little intricacies of the mechanics. You make it fun and informative!

[@MGN40]

You have the best basic bike repair videos anywhere. Really appreciate your simple detail and explanation. Could you please do a video on replacing a front derailleur. I have found that I can't quite get the low adjustment right after replacing my front derailleur on my Edmonton winter commuter bike. I have it on the lowest setting, smallest crank wheel and largest cassette cog, and it's still rubbing against inside of front derailleur even with no tension on the cable and it can't low set any further in. Frustrating. Thanks again, I don't know what type of engineer you are, but you are brilliant.

[@dalecs47]

Thanks for the tips. I have one to do tomorrow. It is the rapid fire style and I have had a lot of trouble keeping it in adjustment. I think the cable has frayed inside the shifter. I will find out when I take it apart. I appreciate in your tutorials that you do not assume your students know everything. You seem to cover all the details. Some might find that too much information but I like it because I am not an expert and I like lots of details covered. Thanks much.

[@garybrown1530]

Hi CJ! I enjoy watching your videos and have learned a lot! I appreciate how you explain processes in detail and capture your description with clear video. I am refurbishing a 40 year old Panasonic Villager. I do not have money to spare. I like how you show repair techniques and offer creative options. For example in this video the use of rolled duct tape, heated up, to replace a crimped cable end. You have a very nice presentation style in contrast to some other bike repair video makers that assume that the viewer can simply afford to buy new parts to make repairs. In my case, I want to keep my bicycle "vintage" with as much of the original parts as possible. Thank you for your help.

[@applesewer2684]

Thank you. Just changed my gear cable after years of taking it to the bike shop to get it done, and nailed it! Thanks for the tips

[@cjhoyle]

Great to hear!

[@myminx]

Great Video , just used it to change my front derailleur and cable !!!

[@kylej0474]

Yep same

[@cainofthejungle]

I appreciate the through explanation in everything. Thanks.

[@felipericketts]

Thanks, that was very helpful. Time to try it my self and see if I can make it work.

[@frozengrayful]

Excellent video, thank you for the detailed instructions. Blessings

[@BarryJohnsonSC]

Great video. I appreciate you taking the time to do it. There are several old bikes in my barn that I'd like to fix up and give to charity. I believe with your guidance I'll be able to give them safe, well adjusted bikes. Thanks again!

[@nornsmain]

great video. enjoyed the thorough explanation. it took me a while to understand how the barrel works but i figured it out.

[@pvonelsner]

Excellent. I am in the process of turning my old mountain bike into a commuter. All the info helped immensely. Thanks

[@jpbonadonna1977]

Great video! This is the one that ultimately provided me with the knowledge to do the job correctly. It is the little things (that only get properly explained in a video of this length) that are crucial to understanding the problem, and not just an attempted shortcut to fixing it.

[@22Tech]

Wondorful video that cleared up all my problems with my shifter cable, my bike is really old and it snapped.

[@stephenchan7526]

Thanks for the skill of replacement of wire and derailler

[@kbcbala]

I had bought a shimano as you have in your bike. Was quite fiddly initially. This is what I exactly wanted. Going to fix them 2morrow. Thanks.

[@cjhoyle]

Thanks, hope you were able to get yours fixed!

[@justinschrump7508]

great video! i learned to always cut cable and rope by taping it first THEN cut. keeping it supported the entire time. thanks for a grea presentation

[@hervecorbe5999]

Excellent video; thanks for your "listenable" accent. i'm french and success change my derailleyr usign your video.

[@dangirasadaunykiene8897]

Thank you for your time spent on explaining everything. Your videos are truly motivating me to spend more time on my bike. Keep up the good work.

[@slimbuttons]

really clear and helpful. thanks!

[@itsgonzo739]

Great video, I had trouble adjusting my cable but I got it! Thanks for the informative video brother!

[@paulbraden5220]

Great video, very detailed instructions !!!

[@nohandle822]

Wow CJ this has been very helpful to me, thanks so much, your education skills are just awesome!!!

[@deanturner5352]

Thanks for the video. Very helpful and thorough

[@paulrush9166]

Great job on the video. Clear and concise. Just what I was looking for👍

[@Tonyklick]

Concise? it's 30 minutes long

[@rumrunrjones8546]

excellent....really helped me out. Thank you

[@JOGOonYouTube]

Nice tutorial, i will be doing that soon. By the way, those `beads` on the cables along the top tube are meant to be separated and spread along each cable. Thanks for your great videos.

[@kissofdeathisraja]

Very informative, thanks! I tightened the cable too much and my front shifter was tight as hell

[@vikingbeard]

Yes, I miss those old fashion friction shifters. Do you know if they're still available? And can replace the modern ones? Your bike fixing videos are really helpful, watch them every time I fix the bikes to make sure I get it right, thank you!

[@morrissey669]

Great video great help cheers.. I have just had to pay someone £30 to do that job and got the bike back and it still didn't work so I will be getting my money back and doing it my self now thanks again ..

[@Oalddesign]

Thanks again for this amazing video, your teaching method is really good and i learned a lot from this video and all your videos. Hell for those kind of videos i would even be willing to pay just to see them. Thanks again and i will be looking forward to your next video

[@maudlinmanify]

Great video. I like how you work through all the problems rather than making it look (deceptively) easy. Also: nice snowy background and Canadian accent. I was surprised that you are reluctant to spend 25¢ on a cable crimp, though! Shessh!

[@steveooooo4423]

thanks for explaining so well, I'll be all over my front shifter tomo like a cheap suit!

[@carlosalbertoruedabustaman1715]

Thank you, very helpful video.

[@fenrislegacy]

Very helpful video

[@kevinloughman3953]

Thank you. This was excellent.

[@conallmccartney3920]

Ok fair point, it was a good video, helped me alot.

[@HeruSularto]

really helpful. thank you, sir.

[@warrrenegghead]

Great video. Well explained and structured. Cheers

[@gals0408]

Tomorrow I will try to adjust mine.

[@neilmclean2840]

Very helpful thanks

[@phase1sound]

thanks....very helpful

[@garylloyd2174]

Really clear, thanks!

[@Veitski87]

Great detailed and informative video!

[@bonn1771]

thank you for posting this was very helpful

[@magicman2324]

I like your old green bike!

[@cjhoyle]

Thanks, me too!

[@DerMoerder1]

Great video, informative and detailed, thank you :)

[@701Frankie701]

Excellent video you explain things very clearly. I had to log in to subscribe to your channel and like your video. Thank you for the video.

[@Nandesz00]

Thank you for doing this.

[@richardmasters3312]

Great details

[@lromeroyt]

Yes sir, you are the one! Do you have a vid. with bar-end shifters? I need to replace a cable

[@cjhoyle]

I'm afraid not. I've never owned a bike with bar-end shifters.

[@1614creator]

Great video and very helpful for me..... THANKS

[@trevtherev5425]

well done cj excellent video

[@cjhoyle]

No problem!

[@Vein76]

Great vid. You've a nack of emplaining things really clearly. Any chance you could do one for tuning your rear derailleur?

[@briankliewer8275]

One thing that is rarely mentioned in any of these front derailleur tutorials is that some Shimano FD's have a metal tab that projects outward(away from the frame) next to the anchor bolt mounting and if you don't route the cable over it the chain won't shift to the middle and outer chainwheels. I noticed there was a groove inlaid on it; obviously the cable wasn't routed correctly when the bike was assembled in the store(Schwinn Boundary from Walmart). Once I routed the cable over this grooved metal tab it shifted to all three chainwheels with no problems.

[@cjhoyle]

Cable routing is definitely very important!

[@kitmanwah]

fixed ! Thank you so much !!

[@JGregp23]

Great vid!

[@pecck]

nice one CJ

[@stevestanley1905]

the last bit of your video which was great btw ive use heat shrink tubing to stop the ends fraying ?

[@cjhoyle]

I've never tried that before, but it sounds like it would work well.

[@cjhoyle]

Position it so that it is high enough that it doesn't make contact with the largest (or any other) chain ring when you shift. Also, the derailleur should be tilted slight inward at the back. Other than that, there is just a bit of trial and error required to get it in a good spot that it will work well since the frame geometry is different on every model of bike.

[@anvina3]

Thank you. 😘

[@debijones8305]

Thank you!! :)

[@cjhoyle]

The process for adjusting both the front and rear derailleurs are very similar. The high and low limiter screws work the same way, and so does the cable tension. Nevertheless, in the near future I plan on making another video just like this one except demonstrating how to replace the rear derailleur cable on this bike. Stayed tuned to my channel for this video. Thanks for watching!

[@cjhoyle]

The L and H limit adjustment screws are completely unrelated to the cable. For the type of problem that you are describing, your barrel adjuster is likely what needs to be adjusted. Have you tried adjusting that?

[@robhingston]

Nice bike

[@paulpeterson6971]

Thanks for sharing. I just changed the cable on my front derailleur however I cannot get it to shift up into 3rd ring in front. I wonder if my shifter is malfunctioning. Any thoughts?

[@cjhoyle]

Was it malfunctioning prior to replacing the cable? Did you watch the whole video? The two most likely factors which would prevent a front derailleur from shifting into the largest chain ring are that the cable is not tight enough, or the high limit screw is in to far.

[@paulpeterson6971]

cjhoyle wow that was a fast reply! I did watch the whole thing. It was malfunctioning prior to replacing the cable. I thought replacing the cable would fix it. It looks like there is something missing inside the shifter that would allow it to shift 3 times.

[@paulpeterson6971]

Paul Peterson I just tried tightening the cable around the derauiller bolt and it did go up into 3rd gear. Looks like I have to re-do it, but it will work. Thanks again!

[@Weyyne]

Great video, but I am still having problems shifting the high (3rd) in front. Seems the cable is extremely tight, but still will not shift. High limit screw is almost falling out so no more adjustment there. HELP!!!

[@cjhoyle]

+Weyyne Did your bike used to be able to reach the 3rd chainring prior to you working on it, or has this been a problem for a while? One other adjustment you can make on a front derailleur is to adjust the position of your front derailleur on your frame. There is typically one bolt which tightens the derailleur to the frame. If you loosen it, you should be able to slide it up or down and also adjust the side-to-side angle. If the you can tilt the derailleur further outwards it may be able to get you some extra range. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.

[@simeonbanner6204]

Thanks.. CJH.. I'll have a look. Are you a bike professional?

[@theeldermillennial561]

i seem to have my front shimano derailleur adjusted properly but my (new) cable seems way to tight esecially when on the largest gear, and i cant seem to get it right, ive adjusted L and H with guides ect but it just seems way to tight i dont dare ride it in fear of it snapping, any ideas?

[@virkelie2]

Would it make sense to also install cable housing for the cables running along the top tube; or would that maybe cause too much friction?

[@cjhoyle]

Some bikes come from the factory with their cables fully enclosed like that. There are advantages and disadvantages.

[@simeonbanner6204]

Yeah.. really great guy..! Like the basket on the back feels too like a guy who isn't full of pretension and uses what he can find such as an old basket or bike and recycles. My local bike shop in London some guys ride a bike once a month and pay thousands of pounds for bikes and equipment. Just a question how do you get the crates to stay on? Is it some cable you tie?

[@kma5699]

Why aren't the derailleur cable and brake cables over the top tube not covered with the housing like the other areas are? Seems the top section would keep moisture and debris from getting on the cable and it seems this would be the most important area you'd want covered, no?

[@cjhoyle]

It's really common to have them exposed. I agree that it seems like it would be better to have them protected. Here are a few guess why they might prefer to expose them. Less weight: extra cable housing weights extra and some cyclists really care about minimizing weight even by a few grams. Less cost: cable housing is pretty cheap in relation to the cost of a bike, but by exposing those 3 cables you're saving up to maybe 6 feet of cable housing. Lower cable friction: cables seems to glide pretty easily through a cable housing, but I'm sure they still create more friction than having them exposed, so perhaps a fully enclosed cable would be less responsive. Those are just a few guesses to a question I've wondered myself.

[@spacebar360]

i took the hole front derailleur off.At what height do i screw it back now?

[@joseph-1972]

When replacing the cable to the front dersiler, do you want both the front and back in the lowest/highest gears OR the front-lowest and back-highest?

[@cjhoyle]

When replacing the front shift cable it doesn't matter what sprocket you are on in the back.

[@joseph-1972]

@@cjhoyle excellent! Thanks for the heads up - takling replacing my bike cables for the first time this sunday - wish me luck!

[@timlist4173]

you don't use the nubs on the open part of the cables?

[@dalecs47]

Say, I notice you ride in snow, must cause some grit and wet issues. I have you beat there. I currently live in Manila and in the rainy seasons there is lots of flooding. One foot of water on the streets is not uncommon. Last week I had to ride ¼ mile in 2 to 3 feet of water. This means keeping everything oiled and greased. Even so chain, rings, bearings and cables suffer and complain. Frequent maintenance is a necessity. I have had the same bike for almost 8 years. Works almost like new.

[@cjhoyle]

I actually have two videos on my KZbin channel showing how to attach those! One of them shows how to do it using string, the other shows how to do it using zip-ties.

[@vernonhills1864]

Please explain at 20:30. what did you do to adjust the barrel??? It seems like you screw on something, but I didn't see where you did. Please explain clearly. Appreciated for your time.

[@cjhoyle]

Great question. The adjustment I made to the barrel at that point in the video was threading it in. Like I explained at 16:42 the barrel is used for making minor adjustments to the position of the derailleur without having to unfasten the cable.

[@hemtet5500]

very useful and watched it thoroughly but man duct tape for cable end rather than spending 25cts whoo

[@cjhoyle]

It has nothing to do with spending 25 cents. The average person doing a bike repair at home doesn't have cable ends on hand, and they aren't usually included in the package when you buy a new cable. Duct tape works just fine and it something that most people already have on hand.

[@Walter5850]

Isn't it better to put the gear in the highest one and then tighten the cable nice and snug. And then it will naturally get loose enough for the lower gears.

[@mojoriley4712]

Oh the dark arts that is the front derailleur its worst than trying to escape from a labyrinth

[@cjhoyle]

haha it's more tricky because there are too many variables.

[@wtfyman]

16:30, o crap, I use to do exactly that! thank god for this video

[@johnnyg2983]

Looks like a pain in the ass

[@henmich]

Duct tape to avoid a 25 cent ferrule? SMH

[@cjhoyle]

It's not so much the 25 cents that being avoided, it's the trip to the store to get one. Why bother when duct tape works just as well?

[@steveooooo4423]

thanks for explaining so well, I'll be all over my front shifter tomo like a cheap suit!

[@cjhoyle]

The process for adjusting both the front and rear derailleurs are very similar. The high and low limiter screws work the same way, and so does the cable tension. Nevertheless, in the near future I plan on making another video just like this one except demonstrating how to replace the rear derailleur cable on this bike. Stayed tuned to my channel for this video. Thanks for watching!