Seagull84

I just transported my bike in a hard case on a plane, and the front derailleur isn't working all that well.

When shifted to the smaller cog with the front derailleur, the chain ends up not having enough tension and the rear derailleur moves backward instead of sitting vertically as it should. I hear the chain rubbing against something, and I think it's rubbing against the larger front cog. I can still ride in this state, but it doesn't sound or look right, and as I shift into a lower gear on the rear derailleur, the sound of the chain rubbing against something disappears.

If I shift back to the larger front cog, everything works fine.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks!

hao

Am I the only one having trouble comprehending this?

tagaproject6

Do you know how to make adjustments on derailleurs?

Seagull84

Sorry, someone distracted me in the middle of typing it, so I must have skipped a thought and jumbled two entirely different sentences together. Should be correct now.

Seagull84

I know how to make rear derailleur adjustments, but it's working completely fine when shifted to the larger cog on the front. The issue only arises when I shift to the smaller cog with the front derailleur.

tagaproject6

Check the angle of the Front Derailleur against the chain ring and that there is proper clearance. Check the shifter cables and make sure that they are secured properly and have not gotten loose during transport.

If all else fail, take it to a competent bike shop mechanic. Honestly, it does not seem like you know how to make adjustments.

Seagull84

The major issue is I need to learn how to do these adjustments on my own as the bike is coming with me across Europe and will be on many planes. The shifter cables are secured properly and I've made proper adjustments to the rear derailleur's tension as it wasn't shifting smoothly to higher gears when I put it back together. The chain was also about to run off the edge, so I had to tighten the high gear screw.

I wouldn't post here if I knew how to make front derailleur adjustments, and I need to learn. A shop will not teach me how.

The chain is not clearing the larger front chain ring properly when it's on the smaller front chain ring, so obviously I need to adjust something. If I adjust the cable tension on the rear derailleur, then I'll start having issues with smooth shifting again.

tagaproject6

There are various videos on how to make front and rear derailleur adjustments. Check the Park Tools website, as they have a pretty good instructional set. YouTube is also rife with videos on bike adjustments.

What group are you using?

hao

Why are you adjusting REAR d for front shifting problem?

milkbaby

Don't ride cross-chained in the small chainring and small cog combination.

EdIsMe

It sounds like your front derailleur doesn't have enough clearance. This is pretty simple to fix by adjusting the appropriate limit screw. During transportation, the limit screw may have been rattled enough to loosen a little bit, causing the derailleur to come slightly out of alignment and start rubbing on the chain. Search youtube and you'll find plenty of instructional videos. Find one with a speaker you can understand and follow the directions from there.

If that doesn't help, seek out a professional.

DropDeadFred

sounds like your FD was pushed inward out of adjustment

liquefied

Is the FD preventing the chain from clearing the big chainring or is the chain rubbing it on its own?

himespau 

yeah, definitely sounds like the angle of the FD got changed (something caused the FD to turn, though I'd guess outward not inward based on the fact that it only rubs in the small chainring).

Sundance89

Yes, ^ this. The 'entire' FD was pushed in during transport more than likely, not a limit screw adjustment. Check YouTube for that. You will simply loosen the cable, then loosen the FD and realign it to the large chain ring.

Seagull84

Turns out it was the hangar, it was bent from my most recent fall.

Sundance89

This thread would have required only one response if you had just said from the start, "From my most recent fall, my front derailleur is not shifting correctly." (unbelievable)