How To Install & Adjust A Front Derailleur

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

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[@josskorvus3428]

Managed to change my front derailleur today thanks to this video. Usually everything I do results in an expensive visit to the bike repair shop but a few tools and a little extra research into how barrels actually work and I got the job done. So pleased. Thank you.

[@awaitingthetrumpetcall4529]

I enjoy doing my own repairs too but I will always have my wheels trued by a pro.

[@jaripeltola]

This video was again another money saver from Mr Bike Guy. I have this old cc bike with double rings in the front, and I just set up a new front derailleur based on this video. To me the main take was to adjust the derailleur properly before installing the cable: something I hadn't realized before. My setup also includes a cable roller at the bottom, and first I thought it was broken since it refused to cooperate in any way. Finally I removed and opened the roller, and inside was a decade's worth of sediment and dirt. After cleaning and greasing the roller I finally attached the new cable and didn't set it too tight as in my previous failed attempts. The result was a working front derailleur, now already test driven.

[@588158]

this is the best video on derailer installation adjustment. the close up photography and clear explanations make this the top video on this subject

[@gary6361]

As always your videos are so helpful. As someone who like to do my own work, this channel is the first place I look for “how to” videos on bike maintenance!

[@JamesThompson-pz3kf]

Of all the videos I was looking at for how to set the cable tension just right this one proved the most helpful, thankyou !

[@mikelgomez9286]

I could second that! He really keeps it simple and to the point. Some of these channels over complicate straightforward processes.

[@ddahstan6876]

You're the king of DIY Bike mechanic for those of us who can mostly afford to have bikes. We really appreciate all your videos, helping us taking care of our pocket as well as our health. Thank You!! Happy Feet and Keep up the good vibes!!

[@chase9899]

I've been trying to adjust my derailleur for four hours and consulting other videos to no avail. Thank you so much for posting one step by step!

[@lyndaleetqpv]

For years i have self taught most every bike repair but forgot a lit of it after graduating to motorcycles. Lol I needed a refresher. I miss riding my bike but she needs some fine tuning. Happy riding and thank you

[@Triplex5014]

I got a new triple crankset and instantly converted it to a 1x with a 32t chainring. I had a 1x8 drivetrain. Today, after about a month of riding a 1x8, I got the granny and big ring back, so I needed this video to set up the front derailleur. Did it, shifts like a charm. Triple crankset rocks! :)

[@tenoriokelvin69]

I was going to bring my bike to a bike shop to get it fixed but decided i'd watch and see if i can fix it myself , i followed every step you showed from pausing it and replaying it so i could get it perfect to your video , and i was shocked when my front derailler shifted like new again. So smooth , thank you for the video , if i had failed i would of brought it to the bike shop anyways but your video saved me time and money , thank you for your help , cheers.

[@paty4611]

I was really struggling with the front derailleur. Your video has helped my tremendously. Thank you and thumbs up!

[@mauritzallberg7302]

There are 100 of this video on youtube, even park tools.. but i can only watch you...so much better then them all. I need change mine becouse its damage...so u help me. Thanks allot...keep them up.

[@austingode]

As per tradition I always says thanks 🙏 RJ for your excellent videos and your encyclopedic knowledge of bikes 🚲……. I’m not sure but I’ve been following your didactic material now for at least 13 years …..

[@KermitOfWar]

Old video, but it helped me out. I have spent 6 hours trying to fix this damn thing on two mtb's over the course of two days. I have watched countless other videos, but this one was the chosen one. My nearest bike store is 40 miles away & it's only open on Tuesdays, so I had to wing it, now i'm back to cycling! 🤣

[@geoffpoole483]

At last! A video that covers triple chainrings. Thanks, RJ.

[@brianbaldino3496]

Thanks RJ! I've been having a 2 year problem with my Front Deralleur on a Vintage build. Turned out I had a wrong FD Derelleur type. It's the Short cage one not a long cage FD that worked like magic. Wouldn't have tried a Short cage with the right angle if it weren't for you doing this video. I used a Shimano 400CX Front derailleur to replace the Altus C10. Seriously, Thank You!

[@the_gtc]

Thanks for the video. It helped. They are not as hard as they seem. I kept mine in 1st gear and I kept having too much tension so it was not shifting into second gear... I put the bike in 2nd gear and then made sure the chain was in the 2nd gear and pulled my tension tight (using top pull) and I was finally able to get my bike shifting right again. Great feeling!

[@topcat3149]

Thanks again RJ, had a bad FD and a quick review of this video helped me reinstall a new cable and housing. I went ahead and installed a new crankset too, wanted shorter crank arms for my Hase kettwiesel recumbent trike. Ready to roll!

[@rafriedman]

Just installed a 3x on an old Marin Bolinas Ridge. Went smooth as butter. Thanks so much!

[@nickc8760]

I finally learned how to do this. Thank you so much. I always learn something when I watch your videos RJ

[@johnjaume4529]

Thanks for the article. After struggling with front Derailleur Adjustment and consulting innumerable articles and KZbin videos I just about gave up until I discovered one additional factor in proper derailleur shifting, Crank Bolt Tension. While inspecting my bike, I noticed a very slight "play" and a new "sound" during a ride. I realized that the crank was a little loose. When I tightened the crank bolt, I realized it was way looser than the manufacturers torque specs. Once I tightened the crank bolt, it brought the outside chain ring a little closer in, enough to make a significant difference in the range of the derailleur. Hope this helps.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

If you were riding with the crank bolt loose, you may have damaged the mating surfaces in the crank arm. The crank arm is held on by friction. It's pressed on. The bolt is used to tighten it on, and help keep it from coming loose. If the surfaces are damaged, you may have a problem with it continually coming loose.

[@garyfarnworth5859]

If not for this video I would have never figured out how to adjust my front derailleur for my triple front sprocket set. Thanks for making it simple.

[@MichaelMoore-iw8iw]

Have seen many of your videos now and must say i love how you explain things, keep them coming your my go to when i can't figure stuff out!

[@trekkie9942]

For awhile, front derailleurs were a mystery to me. I never new why the chain would always fall off the big ring. But after watching a couple of videos, I found out the importance of having the front derailleur perfectly aligned, and as close as possible to the big chainring. Once I did that along with making sure my limit screws were set correctly, I never dropped my chain again! Thanks for another great video RJ!

[@anthonymelidy5554]

I am in the process of installing a Shimano 105 FD5504 on my son's 2001 9 speed. I torque the clamp bolt and the cable bolt to about 55 inch pounds (not ft lbs). Nice video. I should probably invest in new shifter cables too.

[@georgemallory797]

Very clear and methodical. Using this as a worst case scenario if my adjustments are poor so as to know what step to take if I have to start all over.

[@ceejaypineda7682]

Big thanks for this video. FD is a mystery to me but after watching this vid, I was able to adjust mine like a pro!

[@lucasballares2553]

thank you so much with the front derailleur help i was looking for countless videos on youtube swearing and screwing up this is the best video on front derailleurs ever

[@budjoycegodin1616]

Very helpful video. All the necessary information without any unnecessary details.

[@rameshramasamy5438]

Wow it's worked..I was frustrated everytime when I was cycling as my front derailleur not working properly. Thanks for the video bro. Im kinda happy now 😁

[@felixthecatinthehat]

Glad I found this video, front derailoyr started playing up Tonight, hopefully this will sort it tomorrow thanks for posting.

[@martinstalley4534]

Thanks for taking time to do the video & posting. Really useful for rebuild 7 speed shimano triple mtb bike saved from the dumpster

[@georgepapas]

Thanks for this. The best video I found. Was able to re adjust in a matter of three minutes.

[@razvanalecu1851]

Thanks, the other video I watched said to break the chain, which I definitely don’t wanna do, so I’m gonna go and check if I can undo the derailleur cage and slide it out this way.

[@lovemytide45]

Great video! My front derailleur fell victim to me, an allen wrench, pliers, a 6 pack and a lot of cuss words. Your step by step video was simple, concise and save me a trip to my local bike store for repairs from what I screwed up, THANKS,

[@dan12340987]

I saw some other videos about installing the front derailleur but no one talked about the cable, thanks you

[@bebotivo]

"[the cable] goes over this little nub in the back." I assumed it went underneath the nub- wow, what a difference that little extra lever arm makes! Thanks for pointing that out! I had just replaced the cable and was about to go pulling things apart again b/c the shifting was so hard (too much tension). Thanks for that tip!

[@plixplux]

Big, big thanks! This made installation a lot easier - last night I was a bit exasperated by how tricky it was, after watching your video it was easy. You the man RJ! (Why did the bicycle go to the psychiatrist? It had cycle logical problems... damn this one was even worse =)

[@subramanianramanathan1378]

You are my guru for these jobs...☺️

[@PieZello]

I initially tried park tools method but that failed exponentially but after trying yours I've got a nice smooth shifting front derailleur!

[@danmurray2590]

Thanks RJ! Most of my bikes are doubles but I still run a triple on my '99 Fisher mtb. I completely forgot how to tune it in. Thanks for the tips!!!

[@RBEmerson]

Great thanks for helping me with a deraileur that refused to come into adjustment. Setting the L screw before even connecting the cable put me over the top. I still had to do a bit(!) of fiddling to wrap up the job, but starting from "no cable" is what I needed.

[@stalszenator]

You sir are so enthusiastic. If the volume of my speakers is a bit too loud I almost jump out of my chair when the video starts with your voiuce: "HEY THERE" ... Anyway great videos, I've learned a lot since I started two years ago restauring 70ies racers! THANK YOU SIR!!

[@meadows408]

Life behind bars, very clever! Thanks for the video, triples are always a challenge for me.

[@augustinee.salazar8742]

Good job sir; I will now attempt not so much an installation; I need to do an adjustment. Appreciate the simple, straight and clear talk; it avoids a lot of questions. Appreciate/AES///

[@mcm248]

Thank you for these tips, Mr. Christian Slater

[@kalijasin]

Very good front derailleur instructional video.

[@justicer14]

Thanks a lot. This video helped me fix my front gears.

[@hmsdefiant]

Hi, this is great. I will be following these instructions. Very helpful. Thank you!

[@rumrunrjones8546]

Good explanation....truly. wish we were neighbors, I just tried to change cables on mountain bike prior to this tutorial, cut and removed without bothering to make any notes so I could reinstall.....UGH!!!

[@RestoreITdontJunkIT]

My bike has never had such great shifting.... thanks so much... 👍👍

[@gyromatical]

This is better than the Park Tool vid, thanks. Also, subliminal message at 9:19

[@fivetengarage2867]

Went step by step. Worked great. Thanks !

[@ghanshyamparashar8672]

Good video and nice installation

[@RandyDarkshade2]

Some cages I have come across do not have the option to split the cage to get them over the chain. With those I do split the chain with a chain splitting tool. although I don;t use a master link to fix it together I push the rivet back in.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I really don't recommend reusing the old pin like that. It will be a weak link and more prone to breaking at that point. Shimano has replacement pins for their chains. I prefer KMC missing links.

[@trekkie9942]

If I'm correct RJ, installing a new pin vs reusing the old pin is only necessary for 9 & 10 speed chains right?

[@RandyDarkshade2]

Been doing it for years and never had a chain break.

[@RandyDarkshade2]

Famous last words now that I have said that lol

[@RandyDarkshade2]

Exactly, and don;t push it to far in either.

[@ricardotijerina886]

my front derailleur on my road bike is also a triple(Ultegra), once you shift the chain you can push the shifter just a little bit more to further stop cage rubbing.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Could be angle, cable adjustment, or your are cross chaining (don't do that).

[@gregsullivan7408]

@@RJTheBikeGuy I think he is referring to the "trim" feature. My Tiagra 4500 front shifter has this feature too - it's a 2X setup, yet the FD has four positions - two main positions to select the chainring, and two other positions that shift the derailleur slightly towards centre, to prevent the chain from rubbing on the derailleur. Nice attention to detail from Shimano. I agree that we shouldn't be crosschaining generally, however sometimes I do crosschain for *short* periods, to avoid shifting to a different chainring. It's nice to be able to trim the FD in this situation.

[@C345OFR]

Thanks for pointing out the problematic difference with 3x, RJ. Setting up my 2x was a cinch, so I thought I was going insane with my 3x (still not right BTW but at least now I know it's not _supposed_ to be easy). I think my next bike may well be a 1x ;-)

[@simonbragg-coulthard9883]

thanks again for another very helpful video , 🚴‍♀️💪

[@gaborvaradi7946]

Thanks, great video! May I suggest to true the rear wheel of the bike 😁 - sorry couldn't help noticing. Derailleur settings are brilliant and very informative on the fine-tuning and testing!

[@jamesfok157]

My front derailleur design looks the same. The cable is secured to the derailleur just like your video but changing to big gear is very hard. My shifter is smooth when the cable is disconnected. Kindly advice. Thanks very much.

[@nickmartensss]

Almost Got it Single And got rid of the Front derailer But after this vid. I got it to work just fine 😂 and i saw i accidently put the Clamp Way to hight on my Frame so Made sence that it didnt work at all

[@graysenwinters3027]

I love these kinds of videos

[@goedelite]

My limited experience with chain derailers is they are a pain in the axxx! Wonderful for bike repair shops! A clear problem is the frame to frame variation among bikes. The angle between seat-tube and plumb or vertical differs from bike to bike. The drailers do not have an adjustment for that angular variation. When mounted by a clamp on the biike's seat-tube the angle made by the cage with the plomb varies. The result for many bikes is that the arc of the cage is not concentric with the arc of the gear's circumference. The distance between the cage and the gear is not the same along that arc. I find the recommendation of about 1mm distance between the two arcs impossible unless one means the minimal distance. It varies. Further, I find that on my bike, the distance between the two arcs when in the highest gear combination (fastest bike speed) is about 16mm not 1mm ! What the distance is when the chain is at the lowest bike speed combination with the cable released I could not say, because in that state the derailer is closest to the frame and away from the largest gear. In my setup, the cable tension is not taut in the lowest speed combination. My conclusion is that each bike's front derailer setup for allowing the greatest choice of combinations is different. Each bike's front derailer setup is unique because bike frames are not standardized.

[@awaitingthetrumpetcall4529]

I love bikes. I've got to subscribe.

[@darinbland6526]

Thanks for the information! Very helpful *

[@sonsofmatriarchy5552]

Enjoyable and educational as always thankyou 👍😉

[@vallenlen4301]

0:48 the old derailleur are much more batter because it have screw on it that allowed you to removed the derailleur without cutting or removing the chain. Now days derailleur just like disposable even tho it was an expansive barand still it was all stamped it feels cheap

[@nickclayton2517]

Love your videos. I found your channel on how to clean treadmills. I have the same one

[@trek520rider2]

Thanks. Any opinion on lubing cables (which you didn't)?

[@robertsmithjr.5839]

Ready to rip my hair out trying to get this front derailleur to work!

[@danieloshea3326]

Sometimes you just need to replace them

[@myvicariouslife4012]

where ya been RJ? Fiending for more content!

[@johngarcia6451]

Awesome. Saved the day

[@krupanj87]

Cool video. Great job 👍🏻

[@woof3598]

@6:21 did you have the shifter in 1 or 3 ?,Thanks

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

1 .

[@maximiliangutmann]

@ Rj the bike guy What Kind of Vessel JIS screw driver do you use for the high and low screws?

[@erikbute1739]

RJ -- Would a 7-speed front derailleur(on the existing 3x7(21) bike) work with a 5-speed freewheel rear wheel?

[@3DLux]

Saved my bacon. Haven’t done bike maintenance in a decade and forgot all this info…

[@LaserrSharp]

Any videos on how to polish scratches off derailleurs, brake levers, handle bars, and other metal parts?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4e6Z6GubZV3bZY

[@LaserrSharp]

@@RJTheBikeGuy Thank you!

[@georgecatalinnicuta8559]

Hello I had to change the pedal assembly (with 3 plates) on a mountain bike. I found one that I thought was suitable, with 3 sheets, but after I mounted it, I noticed that it comes further outside, so the changer only reaches the small and the middle sheet, it no longer goes on the large sheet. Is it possible to make an adjustment of the derailleur to go out more in order to switch to the big sheet or should the entire pedal assembly be changed? The shifter is Shimano Tournei and the shift lever is Shimano RevoShift. I want to mention that the manual shifter reaches the level of the third sheet, but I don't know if it can be set to go out that much, from the construction. Or could I find a smaller monobloc hub that would allow the pedal assembly to come further inside? Thank you very much for a possible answer! Last but not least, I want to say that the way you explain is understandable even for a beginner in bicycles.

[@bullwhipjohnson8247]

105. Upgrade. I bought a new Tiagra front derailer when I upgraded my Touring bike to 10 speed. I found that the new derailer with a new spring would slap the chain so hard that the chain would be knocked off to the inside when downshifting the front mech. I tried to adjust limiting screws. I'm sure they were in the correct position but, I kept having the same problem. The fix I finally came up with is to replace the front mech. with an old Shimano that I had salvaged from a Raleigh Team USA that had an older spongier spring. Problem solved.😏

[@ketjuariittaa]

bullwhip johnson Was that use be 3/9 and now 2/10 gears

[@bullwhipjohnson8247]

Bicycle sunday It was actually. 2/5 to 2/10.

[@leftyseel8658]

I just recently bought a caad8 too, tiagra. When i tried adjusting the H limit screw, derailleur doesn’t move out. I can move the screw but not the derailleur. U guys experienced this too? Think it just needs to be lubed?

[@SaltCreep45]

That one looks like a keeper RJ

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

A little too big for me. 63cm. I ride about a 58cm normally.

[@DANNYGATESTHEAGEDSINGER]

The video was good but not all the derailers have little screws if my derailer doesn't have a little screw how do I put it on my chain I have not got a Front derailleur at the moment I am waiting for it to come from china if I keep my chain on my second chain ring would that course any problems

[@edwardnavarro5126]

what do you call the thing that guides the cable underneath the bottom bracket? i really need to know hope i can get an answer. thankyou.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Cable guide.

[@brianchun1908]

Hi i am trying to install my front derailleur on my bike. But my front derailleur has both L anf H limit screws all the way in. How many turns with my screwdriver i should turn to set the limit screws to a "factory setting" before installing? Any ideas?

[@gaetanolampugnani8250]

Does the derailleur is the same for a double and triple wheel or must be specific?

[@JLT407]

Thanks, that's very helpful !

[@JP-qz9uz]

easy to follow great video! Thanks..

[@joeKisonue]

Tri-flo , my man😍

[@jen3800]

Excellent ! I have a question. Can I use a 3 by 10 front shifter, on a 3 by 7 speed?

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn7ZdWSKadZ5Z6c

[@jen3800]

sorry, i am referring to the front derailleur, not the rear. that i knew ! ha ha

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

@@jen3800Shimano front derailleur come in two flavors, road, and mountain. Other than that, it is the width of the cage. A 10 speed cage is narrower than a 7 speed cage. But they have the same pull ratio.

[@jen3800]

Thank You ! other weird thing is that on the bike i am fixing.. a hybrid city bike 43 tooth large ring is that the front shifter indexes 12 times! is that a thing? it is on the left side. the rear derailleur and shifters match , indexed 7 notches. weird. i am a roadie and these dept store bikes i fix are all over the map. once a wheel came in and nipples were all different sizes ! new !

[@ericpatterson8596]

Great video👍👍

[@jimfulmer3526]

what is the text that flashes for an instant somewhere between 9:20 and 9:21???

[@RandyDarkshade2]

I had to replace the front mech on my dual suspension bike (silverfox) because I was a numpty and managed to mangle it while trying to get a frozen pedal off of the crank. Few colourful words were spoken.

[@bigbuggabear7179]

Love your content, it's very helpful. One question, what is your opinion on Microshift derailleurs? I recently got a 11-42 ten speed cassette and the Microshift derailleurs seem to be the only ones that come ready to fit a 42t cog. Just wanted an opinion

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

I have not used them.

[@Svnipni]

I got an old Shimano 105, looking slightly similar to yours but I cannot for the life of me get my front derailleur back to work. At first I thought it was just a weakened fatigued cable. It was, but trying to reinstall it, the derailleur will just hit the teeth even when the whole cage is mounted AN INCH above the highest gear teeth. Something is just pulling it out of shape. But only when Im using the cable. If I push it to the outer gear manually, it seems to fit fine. When everything seems to be dialed in and im tightening every screw, it's fudged again.

[@benjcatipon]

I bought a wrong fd for my mtb (side swing) and found yours similar to mine. Did you installed a top swing or a down swing fd? Thanks in advance for your help.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Down swing/up swing refers to the geometry of the derailleurs swing. An easy way to tell the difference, a bottom (down) swing derailleur has the clamp above the derailleur. This is often referred to as a traditional derailleur as all derailleurs were this way at one time. A top (up) swing has the clamp below the derailleur.

[@Psyk078]

Hey RJ...what if both screws only move the cage when they are almost screwed in completely? Shimano 105 10 speed 5700...it's like there's no fine tuning at all. Derailleur's got mileage on it but it seems weird that nothing would move since the screws are supposed to act as a "stop", i can't even see where the screws are hitting because they are covered up.

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

Can't tell you without working on it. You need to figure it out, or take it to a shop.

[@deeann2597]

Thank you for the very informative video! I do have a question, how did you know that your old front derailleur was broken?

[@TheBullets91]

Was that barrel adjuster just the one for the shifter? How does it move the derailleur? I spent half an hour earlier trying to index a front derailleur on a bike with 3 chain rings but the limit screws didn't seem to be helping it was still rubbing on the inside plate and making plenty of noise. So I just gave up. Big thumbs up from me :)

[@TheBullets91]

It was rubbing in the middle chain ring and a little in the largest as well

[@ranasohi3953]

check cage alignment

[@Hyttelus]

My chain is constantly wanting to jump of while in the small ring at the front, and the biggest cog in the back. Any pointers as to what could be going wrong? It never actually comes of, but I can hear it clicking, and somtimes I can see it starting to come of, but then catch back on.