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Only get 2 out of 3 gears in front chainring

  • 05-07-2011 10:23pm
    #1
    **Timbuk2**
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 7,396 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I'm noticing a problem that is occuring recently (not sure what caused it).

    If I shift the front gears, it will only go on the highest chainring, and the middle chainring. Shifting further down (to get to the lowest chainring ["1st gear"]) doesn't do anything. The front derailleur doesn't move and the cable from the gear shifter to the front derailleur goes slack.

    Does this sound like an adjustment issue? Tomorrow I was going to try put the chain on the middle ring (as low as I can get it), then loosen the cable nut and try and make the cable taut. But I don't know much about adjusting front derailleur limits so I don't want to throw the whole thing out of alignment by doing this. Would adjusting the barrel adjustor beside the gear shifter make any difference?


Comments

  • #2
    Beasty
    Administrators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 78,393 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Beasty


    You should just need to adjust the limit screw on the front derailleur until it allows shifting to the small chainring

    Sheldon Brown article on derailleur adjustment here


  • #3
    Vizzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,542 ✭✭✭Vizzy


    If this has only started to happen recently it could be that the cable on the front derailleur is sticking.
    Before I would start adjusting anything I would try some oil/WD 40 on the cable and leave it to sit for a while.
    If this doesn't work try Beasty's solution.
    What you are proposing to do ( i.e effectively shortening the cable) will probably mean that you probably won't be able to shift on to the large ring.


  • #4
    cdaly_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,440 ✭✭✭cdaly_


    Vizzy wrote: »
    What you are proposing to do ( i.e effectively shortening the cable) will probably mean that you probably won't be able to shift on to the large ring.

    No, that would prevent shifting onto the small ring...


  • #5
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,219 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    In principle once the limits screws are set appropriately they shouldn't need to be touched, and it's just an issue of tweaking cable tension now and again.

    The problem with FD adjustment is that it's possible to get away with dodgy limit screw settings by adjusting the cable tension appropriately. Then the cables stretch, you get chain rub or shifting problems and you're wondering why the limit screws are off.


  • #6
    Vizzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,542 ✭✭✭Vizzy


    cdaly_ wrote: »
    No, that would prevent shifting onto the small ring...

    Sorry,you are right of course.My bad:o


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  • #7
    doozerie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,830 ✭✭✭doozerie


    If you shift the lever all the way "down" and the cable goes slack but the front derailleur doesn't move enough inwards to change then it sounds to me like the derailleur itself is sticking (could still be the cable catching near the derailleur itself but that seems less likely to me). That exact thing happens with the front triple mech on my wife's bike. With the cable slack try pushing the derailleur inwards by hand to see if it is just sticking. You may have to push it out and back a few times to get it to move inwards. If it does move then all you'll likely have to do is clean and lube it but repeat this on a regular basis as the same problem is likely to arise again. One of the potential pains of triple front mechs and their greater range of movement unfortunately.


  • #8
    **Timbuk2**
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 7,396 Mod ✭✭✭✭**Timbuk2**


    Thanks for the answers! I haven't done anything with it yet, but I noticed today (first time I've been properly cycling since I noticed the issue last weekend) that if I shift into one of the larger rings on the back gears (rear derailleur), then I don't have this problem with the front derailleur. It's only when I pick one of the smallest rings in the back gears that this issue happens.

    That's curious. I'm not sure why this would be! It's not a huge problem the way it is at the moment though because the only gears I can't get at the minute is a high gear on the rear (small ring) together with the lowest gear on the front (smallest ring), which is a strange combination as it is!


  • #9
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,219 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    **Timbuk2** wrote: »
    the only gears I can't get at the minute is a high gear on the rear (small ring) together with the lowest gear on the front (smallest ring), which is a strange combination as it is!

    That's cross-chaining, don't do it. Avoid big-big and small-small.


  • #10
    **Timbuk2**
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 7,396 Mod ✭✭✭✭**Timbuk2**


    Lumen wrote: »
    That's cross-chaining, don't do it. Avoid big-big and small-small.

    Yea I know that, that's why I think it's not a problem as I don't really use that combination. But normally cross-chaining just causes the chain to rub, at least it used to, now it just doesn't work so something went wrong, somewhere! But it isn't a big deal really, I probably wouldn't have noticed it if I wasn't testing the front gears a week ago!


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