front derailed blues
06-11-17, 02:23 PM
#1
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front derailed blues
I have broken my FD (tiagra 3x9 speed), purely metal fatigue. I don't want this to happen again, so I was wondering if there is a more robust option. Would an XT mountain front derailer work on a triple road bike?
06-11-17, 02:31 PM
#2
No. The MTB derailleurs have a different pull ratio to the road derailleurs.
You will need a road triple to work with road levers if Shimano, and you will need a 9sp one, not the newest offering (10 or 11 speed).
Where did the Tiagra break? You cannot guarantee anything will not break.
As a by-the-by, I have Tiagra triple derailleurs on two bikes, at least, and have had no issues with breaking other than a bolt through one of the linkages way back when. I used a replacement bolt and nut provided by my ride partner for that roadside repair, and the derailleur has gone on to do several tens of thousands of kilometres since.
You will need a road triple to work with road levers if Shimano, and you will need a 9sp one, not the newest offering (10 or 11 speed).
Where did the Tiagra break? You cannot guarantee anything will not break.
As a by-the-by, I have Tiagra triple derailleurs on two bikes, at least, and have had no issues with breaking other than a bolt through one of the linkages way back when. I used a replacement bolt and nut provided by my ride partner for that roadside repair, and the derailleur has gone on to do several tens of thousands of kilometres since.
06-11-17, 11:14 PM
#3
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IMO the Tiagra (4503) is one of the most versatile front derailleurs for touring; it is easy to adjust, handles a wide range of gearing, and is robust. They are also hard to find. I picked up 2 spares a couple of years ago to keep our touring bike fleet going. Like Rowan, we have put thousands of miles on Tiagra FDs and have not had any problems. We use Tiagra FDs on all our touring bikes, including my wife's, mine and our kids' bikes.
The Tiagra 4503 is more robust than the Tiagra 4403. What model do you have?
The Tiagra 4503 is more robust than the Tiagra 4403. What model do you have?
Last edited by Doug64; 06-11-17 at 11:21 PM.
06-12-17, 07:56 AM
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If your shifter is friction, many different derailleurs would work fine. But if you have an indexed shifter, you could easily have the wrong cable pull with other derailleurs.
I have three bikes with road triples that have the "wrong" front derailleurs, but they work fine with my friction shifters.
I have three bikes with road triples that have the "wrong" front derailleurs, but they work fine with my friction shifters.
06-12-17, 09:10 AM
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IMO the Tiagra (4503) is one of the most versatile front derailleurs for touring; it is easy to adjust, handles a wide range of gearing, and is robust. They are also hard to find. I picked up 2 spares a couple of years ago to keep our touring bike fleet going. Like Rowan, we have put thousands of miles on Tiagra FDs and have not had any problems. We use Tiagra FDs on all our touring bikes, including my wife's, mine and our kids' bikes.
The Tiagra 4503 is more robust than the Tiagra 4403. What model do you have?
The Tiagra 4503 is more robust than the Tiagra 4403. What model do you have?
I do have a Microshift version and an IRD Alpina on a couple of bikes. The Microshift are pretty good but I'm not that much of a fan of the Alpina.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
06-14-17, 12:36 PM
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After reading this thread, it diagnosed my problem. I see that the tab that holds the spring tension is broken on my 9 speed Tiagra triple front derailleur. I've been riding my 2008 Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 on just the big chainring in front because it wouldn't shift. Closer inspection found the broken tab. The crank was changed to a 26-36-48 M590 crankset and have the original 11-32t cassette. Would a new Shimano Deore M590 9-Speed Triple "Top-Swing Dual-Pull" front derailleur work to replace the Tiagra? Would really appreciate help!
06-14-17, 01:09 PM
#7
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After reading this thread, it diagnosed my problem. I see that the tab that holds the spring tension is broken on my 9 speed Tiagra triple front derailleur. I've been riding my 2008 Rocky Mountain Sherpa 30 on just the big chainring in front because it wouldn't shift. Closer inspection found the broken tab. The crank was changed to a 26-36-48 M590 crankset and have the original 11-32t cassette. Would a new Shimano Deore M590 9-Speed Triple "Top-Swing Dual-Pull" front derailleur work to replace the Tiagra? Would really appreciate help!
06-14-17, 01:58 PM
#8
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I have a used 9-speed triple 105 derailleur sitting in my closet. It is an FD-5503 with 31.8 mm clamp on.
Do you guys think that would work for the OP?
If so, and only if the OP is in the lower 48 states, I would be willing to send it for free + shipping cost, or a small donation to a charity of my choice.
-Tim-
Do you guys think that would work for the OP?
If so, and only if the OP is in the lower 48 states, I would be willing to send it for free + shipping cost, or a small donation to a charity of my choice.
-Tim-
Last edited by TimothyH; 06-14-17 at 02:14 PM.
06-14-17, 02:35 PM
#9
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I have a used 9-speed triple 105 derailleur sitting in my closet. It is an FD-5503 with 31.8 mm clamp on.
Do you guys think that would work for the OP?
If so, and only if the OP is in the lower 48 states, I would be willing to send it for free + shipping cost, or a small donation to a charity of my choice.
-Tim-
Do you guys think that would work for the OP?
If so, and only if the OP is in the lower 48 states, I would be willing to send it for free + shipping cost, or a small donation to a charity of my choice.
-Tim-
06-14-17, 06:58 PM
#11
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06-14-17, 08:02 PM
#12
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Are @Meekers and @Wnylogo the same person?
Anyway, send a PM and let me know. I'll be happy to put it in an envelope and send it to a new home where it can get some use.
It is sitting right next to my keyboard as I type this and still has dirt from the last ride it did July 2016 before I upgraded LOL. Now I'm getting nostalgic.
Anyway, send a PM and let me know. I'll be happy to put it in an envelope and send it to a new home where it can get some use.
It is sitting right next to my keyboard as I type this and still has dirt from the last ride it did July 2016 before I upgraded LOL. Now I'm getting nostalgic.
06-16-17, 12:12 PM
#14
David H.
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No. The MTB derailleurs have a different pull ratio to the road derailleurs.
You will need a road triple to work with road levers if Shimano, and you will need a 9sp one, not the newest offering (10 or 11 speed).
Where did the Tiagra break? You cannot guarantee anything will not break.
As a by-the-by, I have Tiagra triple derailleurs on two bikes, at least, and have had no issues with breaking other than a bolt through one of the linkages way back when. I used a replacement bolt and nut provided by my ride partner for that roadside repair, and the derailleur has gone on to do several tens of thousands of kilometres since.
You will need a road triple to work with road levers if Shimano, and you will need a 9sp one, not the newest offering (10 or 11 speed).
Where did the Tiagra break? You cannot guarantee anything will not break.
As a by-the-by, I have Tiagra triple derailleurs on two bikes, at least, and have had no issues with breaking other than a bolt through one of the linkages way back when. I used a replacement bolt and nut provided by my ride partner for that roadside repair, and the derailleur has gone on to do several tens of thousands of kilometres since.
Campagnolo to Shimano is different but not Shimano road to Shimano MTB.
Here are two of my working examples:
1999 Trek 520 tourer with Ultegra brifters and a Deore long cage MTB rear de to accomodate a 34 tooth.
2006 Kona Cinder Cone MTB frame built as a 69'er Gravel bike with an XT long cage rear de, Deore MTB fron De and Shimano Sora road brifters on drop bars.
06-19-17, 08:06 AM
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You are mistaken about the pull ratios. They are exactly the same Shimano road or Shimano MTB.
Campagnolo to Shimano is different but not Shimano road to Shimano MTB.
Here are two of my working examples:
1999 Trek 520 tourer with Ultegra brifters and a Deore long cage MTB rear de to accomodate a 34 tooth.
2006 Kona Cinder Cone MTB frame built as a 69'er Gravel bike with an XT long cage rear de, Deore MTB fron De and Shimano Sora road brifters on drop bars.
Campagnolo to Shimano is different but not Shimano road to Shimano MTB.
Here are two of my working examples:
1999 Trek 520 tourer with Ultegra brifters and a Deore long cage MTB rear de to accomodate a 34 tooth.
2006 Kona Cinder Cone MTB frame built as a 69'er Gravel bike with an XT long cage rear de, Deore MTB fron De and Shimano Sora road brifters on drop bars.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
06-19-17, 09:13 AM
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For 9 speed and older the pull ratios on rear derailers is the same and they work quite well. But the discussion is about front derailers. Those have never been the same in the indexed era. Some people have been able to get mountain fronts and STI to work but it's tricky and the results are usually not worth the effort.
06-19-17, 09:53 AM
#17
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replace.
just get another tiagra for triples. they're quite adequate, nothing is perfect, (Made by the Millions)
06-19-17, 07:21 PM
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Shout out to TimothyH... Was surprised to receive your derailleur in the mail today! Very much appreciated. Will be heading out to find a shim at a bike shop tomorrow. Pictures will be posted after install completed. PM on the way.
06-19-17, 11:52 PM
#19
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I’ve been shifting with an Interloc Alpina FD for maybe 35,000 Km. I’m running a 46,32,22 chainset which is 2 teeth over the stated capacity. It up shifts better than the 105 FD it replaced.
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06-24-17, 01:35 PM
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Took longer than I anticipated. Went to three bike shops to find an appropriate shim. No luck. Ditched the diy tin can route. Found Topeak handlebar bag mount adapters in my bike parts bin. Fits like a glove to the derailleur clamp. Went for a few test rides, had to make a few minor adjustments. It's working!
Thanks so much again Timothy!!
Thanks so much again Timothy!!
06-25-17, 06:40 AM
#22
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To the OP did the derailleur brake or did it seize up on you. I had mine seize up on me, actually started last year to the point where I could only get it to down shift by unclipping and using my foot to push it over. After not riding that bike this winter, keep the good bike good, when I switched back over to the bike this spring I found I couldn't even upshift with it. After finally fighting with tons I managed to break the corrosion free and got the shifter back working again.
Did You shifter flat out break or did it just seize up and you need to clean it, work the sucker over to break the corrosion free?
Did You shifter flat out break or did it just seize up and you need to clean it, work the sucker over to break the corrosion free?
