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Derailleur limit screws should just be Left and Right

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Derailleur limit screws should just be Left and Right

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Old 07-06-23, 04:52 PM
  #26  
rsbob 
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The limit screws are NOT used to center your chain over the gear/s. The barrel adjuster attached to the cable running to your derailleur is used for that. As pointed out above, the Limit Screws are only used to keep your chain from being shifted into your spokes (L) or into your frame (H). For the barrel adjuster, turning clockwise adjusts the derailleur outwards and vice versa.

this is an excellent How To video
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Old 07-06-23, 05:02 PM
  #27  
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In fact, for some (most?) Shimano rear derailleurs, the high limit screw IS used to dial in the initial position in relation to the high gear sprocket.

After that is set, the cable is adjusted.
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Old 07-06-23, 05:23 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by rosefarts
I can’t remember the last time I looked at the letters. Just eyeball whether the screw is physically touching the stop or is pretty close. The rest can be sorted out from there.
This. There are way too many different designs, and many derailleurs have no H or L markings. Just look at the darn thing and figure out how it works. Couldn't be more simple.
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Old 07-06-23, 05:32 PM
  #29  
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I don't know what the hell you people are talking about, with screws labeled "H" and "L". I just looked at mine, and they're clearly "+" and "x".


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Old 07-06-23, 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by genejockey
I don't know what the hell you people are talking about, with screws labeled "H" and "L". I just looked at mine, and they're clearly "+" and "x".
Heh. That one took a moment to process, but I got there.
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Old 07-07-23, 07:21 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
That’s possible on some derailers, especially old ones or cheaper new ones but many derailers don’t really let you see the stops.
The three most recent derailleurs I've installed were Campy Ekar, 11sp XT, Sram Rival. No concerns seeing the stops on any of them. My MTB has Eagle GX and glancing at it, yep, I can see the stops there too.

It's not a problem. Ever.

Even if it was, shift into the highest or lowest gear and turn the screw, see what happens.
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Old 07-07-23, 07:30 AM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by genejockey
I don't know what the hell you people are talking about, with screws labeled "H" and "L". I just looked at mine, and they're clearly "+" and "x".


Stares blankly at the end of a tiny Allen wrench, pours another cup of coffee
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Old 07-07-23, 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by rosefarts
The three most recent derailleurs I've installed were Campy Ekar, 11sp XT, Sram Rival. No concerns seeing the stops on any of them. My MTB has Eagle GX and glancing at it, yep, I can see the stops there too.
The last 10 derialers I installed at my local co-op were a varied mix of Shimano from the 90s to early 2000s from Acera to XTR and none of them had visible stops. The only derailers that I could see the stops on were some Tourney’s that I was removing to install the better derailers.

I don’t see a lot of the models of derailers you are talking about because those just aren’t in the pipe line. Most all the derailers I see are 9 speed but that is likely the bulk of derailers that most people are going to see. I’ll agree that if you can see the stops the whole process is easier but there are vast numbers of derailers…front and rear…where the stops simple cannot be seen from any angle.

It's not a problem. Ever.
It can be

​​​​​​​Even if it was, shift into the highest or lowest gear and turn the screw, see what happens.
Well, yes, if you want to be logical about it but then “high” and “low” is fairly self explanatory.
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Old 07-07-23, 08:51 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by rosefarts
Stares blankly at the end of a tiny Allen wrench, pours another cup of coffee
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Old 07-07-23, 01:08 PM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by genejockey
I don't know what the hell you people are talking about, with screws labeled "H" and "L". I just looked at mine, and they're clearly "+" and "x".
What do they say if you clock your head 45 degrees?
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Old 07-07-23, 01:44 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by pdlamb
What do they say if you clock your head 45 degrees?
I still see an x and a +.
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Old 07-07-23, 02:47 PM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by LesterOfPuppets
L is the cog/ring closest to the frame
H is the cog/ring furthest from the frame

Works on both derailleurs.

Sorry I don't have a mnemonic device for it.
"L" LIKES he frame, "H" HATES the frame?
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Old 07-07-23, 03:09 PM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by Pratt
"L" LIKES he frame, "H" HATES the frame?
Except, the H cog is closer to the frame.

(Low/high is good enough for most people. If that doesn't work for some people, not much else will either.)
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