Setup / Adjust (index) bicycle front derailleur for better performance

[@K8MCL]

Thanks Tony. For the first time in my life I have been able to fit a new cable and adjust the FD myself instead of asking my father to do it for me. Now all the mystery of how it all works has been revealed! Robb.

[@tony10speed]

You're also a quick learner. Be sure to also check out our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@demirbyke.d9678]

This is especially helpful when replacing the front derailleur cable.

[@tony10speed]

For me, it's the best way. Regards, Tony

[@eLpELoNdeJaPoN]

This is beautiful!! Thank you for the time spent preparing this didactic video sir!

[@tony10speed]

You're very welcome! Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@pervincevik9211]

Nice well explained video

[@tony10speed]

We try our best. Regards, Tony

[@geoffpoole483]

Thanks, Tony. Very clear and easy to follow. Changing the subject, have you any plans to look at the pros and cons of pedal types, and/or how to get accustomed to riding clipless?

[@tony10speed]

Good subjects. Nothing in the works but I'll have to consider them for future video. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@joelcjabonete]

Well explained, thanks!! 👍👍👍

[@tony10speed]

You're Welcome. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@leftyseel8658]

Little help Sir Tony. I got a triple Tiagra. When i shift from mid to big ring, chain sometimes would get stuck in between, sometimes it would get stuck a bit but still shift to big ring. Ever had this issue and would you know the fix? Is this a cavle tension or limit screw issue? Fd angle and height is set correctly with the distance between cage and big ring around 3mm clearance as suggested.

[@tony10speed]

Not sure what you mean by "get stuck." Does it get stuck between the chainrings or just not shift all the way over to the large chainring? With many triple shifters when on the small chainring: 1. The first shift moves the chain onto the middle chainring. 2. The next shift move the derailleur over just abit so that as you move to smaller cogs, the derailleur will not rub on the chain. 3. Shift again and the chain moves to the large chainring. Is this what's happening?

[@dr2944]

Tried exchanging front derailleur. But ''seat post angle'' and or ''cage size'' caused a problem? Do the cages differ in angle and or size in length? On crank I changed from 2 to 3 chain rings. Hoping to see a solution on KZbin. Thank you

[@tony10speed]

You need a front derailleur made specifically for a triple (3 chainrings) which will the range needed to shift from the smallest to largest chainring. Also, the chain will have to be longer to accommodate the larger needed from small / middle / large chainring. The rear derailleur will usually have to be longer then what is used for a double to accommodate the longer chain and up front shifting. Finally, you would probably need a different bottom bracket to fit the triple crank. This is not an easy fix nor something I can help you with over the internet. I have done many triples to doubles as well as 1x (single chainring) as well as vise versa. But it required a lot of different parts or a "groupo" (matching front & rear derailleur, bottom bracket and crank). Best left to your local bike store but be prepared to pay out a few dollars.

[@dpatrn2910]

Thanks.

[@tony10speed]

Your welcome. Also visit our KZbin home site at: kzbin.info Regards and safe cycling, Tony

[@yasindmrbs]

If the barrel adjuster doesn't solve my problem in shifting, should I release the pinch bolt and start from scratch?

[@tony10speed]

Yes. Don't forget to re-set the barrel adjusters as in the video.

[@CristianoRonaldo_166]

Which way do you turn the barrel adjuster to increase or decrease tension?

[@tony10speed]

Usually out (counter clockwise) to increase tension or in (clockwise) to decrease tension. However, I will point out that I have serviced several bikes where the opposite is true, i.e. clockwise to move it out (and lengthen the cable distance) and vise versa.

[@emreunald7198]

If you adjust the rear derailleur cable will that effect the front derailleur?

[@tony10speed]

It should not, at least in my experience.

[@oyunlarnkral9060]

I had a problem shifting between chainrings and it turned out to be a broken shifter.

[@tony10speed]

Yes, I've seen that also. It was on the rear derailleur and it wouldn't stay in the largest rear cog. Shifting was erratic.

[@ndnl-sahrut2397]

What does "indexing" mean?

[@tony10speed]

It's the technology behind that "click" you hear and feel every time you shift through your gears. That "click" captures the light, precise, and consistent shifting bikes. See: findanyanswer.com/what-is-an-index-shifter-on-a-bike Regards, Tony

[@chuckb4375]

Do you bother verifying / tuning for when the shifter is in its crossover trim position? Yeah, I know you're probably thinking that riding in crossover is a sin anyway ;-)

[@tony10speed]

I don't use the trim function present on most Shimano and some SRAM shifters (nor do the pros) for the same reason I avoid cross-chaining. It is hard on the hardware but most of all, it makes for awkward shifting for sudden uphills or descents. See: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZWmkmCGj9qBbcU

[@chuckb4375]

@@tony10speed Agree, especially small-small! I was curious if you totally ignored manufacturer instructions for trim adjustment. I was thinking that verifying trim adjustment is at least good as a cross-check (pun intended) - an inability to use shifter trim position might indicate that high limit is set too tight, or verifying that big-big in trim position barely clears the cage is a way to confirm proper index adjust. I'll sometimes remain in big ring when climbing over short rollers to avoid dumping down into small ring and then back again, even if it means briefly crossing into 2nd or 1st cog, but I don't bother clicking into the trim position in that case either. I just read that over cobbles, pros sometimes deliberately stay crossed in big ring to keep chain really taught so that it doesn't slap all over the place or completely off. Interesting...