Front XT Derailleur not moving unless pushed by hand
01-15-24, 05:39 AM
#1
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Front XT Derailleur not moving unless pushed by hand
Hi folks
I’ve sprayed wd40 on a front XT derailleur that wouldn’t move at all. I can now move it but only by pushing it in by hand. Do you think i just need to wait for wd40 to loosen the mechanism more or is there something else I need to do?
I should add that the shifter will tighten & loosen the cable (perhaps not enough?) and move the derailleur outward but not inward.
I’ve sprayed wd40 on a front XT derailleur that wouldn’t move at all. I can now move it but only by pushing it in by hand. Do you think i just need to wait for wd40 to loosen the mechanism more or is there something else I need to do?
I should add that the shifter will tighten & loosen the cable (perhaps not enough?) and move the derailleur outward but not inward.
Last edited by The Wookie; 01-15-24 at 05:47 AM.
01-15-24, 06:48 AM
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WD40 is not the best penetrant. Try a penetrating oil, and then keep working it. It may also just be too corroded to repair.
Some auto mechanics make their own penetrating oil with a mixture of acetone and ATF, but I've never tried that.
Some auto mechanics make their own penetrating oil with a mixture of acetone and ATF, but I've never tried that.
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01-15-24, 06:50 AM
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If the derailleur moves by hand, but not with the shift lever, it suggests that the problem may be friction in the cable. Disconnect the cable from the derailleur and see if the cable moves freely with the shift lever. If it's stiff or stuck, replace the cable and any housing with new cable and housing.
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01-15-24, 09:57 AM
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Hi folks
I’ve sprayed wd40 on a front XT derailleur that wouldn’t move at all. I can now move it but only by pushing it in by hand. Do you think i just need to wait for wd40 to loosen the mechanism more or is there something else I need to do?
I should add that the shifter will tighten & loosen the cable (perhaps not enough?) and move the derailleur outward but not inward.
I’ve sprayed wd40 on a front XT derailleur that wouldn’t move at all. I can now move it but only by pushing it in by hand. Do you think i just need to wait for wd40 to loosen the mechanism more or is there something else I need to do?
I should add that the shifter will tighten & loosen the cable (perhaps not enough?) and move the derailleur outward but not inward.
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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!
01-15-24, 10:40 AM
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If your shifter is not functional make sure you have enough cable tension and that the cable is in good shape. Honestly if you are having issues replacing that is a good way to go to give better shifting performance. I had a front derailleur in the shop recently that someones bike neighbor couldn't get moving, with a few shots of PB Blast and some adjustment to cable tension it was moving again. WD-40 is a water displacer it has some lubricant in the carrier solution but it isn't really a great lubricant and penetrating oil, it can be used in a pinch if you are desperate and have nothing but is not ideal for that job in the slightest.
Regardless of anything new quality polished stainless steel cables and good stiff housing will improve braking and shifting performance without costing a ton of money and if you get the Jagwire Pro and Elite kits you usually have extra bits and bobs for future repairs and replacements.
Regardless of anything new quality polished stainless steel cables and good stiff housing will improve braking and shifting performance without costing a ton of money and if you get the Jagwire Pro and Elite kits you usually have extra bits and bobs for future repairs and replacements.
01-15-24, 04:20 PM
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I just wanted to add the obvious - the cabling on any bike part (shifter or otherwise) merely moves the control to a more ergonomic location. That's all the cables are for. Any cable actuated bike part will function 100% moving by hand without the cable. Granted, sometimes the controller adds a forceful cable pull or indexing, but the point remains.
