Front derailleur / shifter problem
10-13-22, 05:09 AM
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Front derailleur / shifter problem
I have installed new shifters on my old cannondale, which has an old ultegra triple front derailleur. When i try to shift to the big ring it will not go. The cable seems under full tension, or as much tension as the shifter can produce. I can move the derailleur up on to the big ring by pulling the gear cable with my hand away from the downtube, so it is as if the front shifter cannot create enough pull. I have tried all limit screw, barrel adj, refitting cable... Ive also change the BB cable guide to see if that was sticky. Any ideas what to try next - is is possible to reduce the 'spring strength' of the front derailleur for example. thanks
10-13-22, 06:26 AM
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previously old (early late '90s' early 00's ultegra triple) replaced with new shimano sora triple, changed both front and rear and rear working just fine.
10-13-22, 07:13 AM
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Be sure you attached the cable to the derailleur correctly. There may be a tab facing the seat tube--the cable needs to be routed around and over that tab, not under it. That will change the pull ratio and give more travel.
10-13-22, 07:28 AM
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The 3 things that I've found affecting this behaviour are 1) improper cable clamping on the FD. It's not always intuitive. Often there are grooves or witness marks that provide the clue. 2) Bad housing. Either because of corrosion/gunk or crimps. 3) Bad cable. There may be a broken strand or crimp somewhere near the shifter that may be causing problems.
I worked on a bike yesterday that was doing the same thing you describe. Replacing the cable did the trick.
I worked on a bike yesterday that was doing the same thing you describe. Replacing the cable did the trick.
10-13-22, 07:52 AM
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I have installed new shifters on my old cannondale, which has an old ultegra triple front derailleur. When i try to shift to the big ring it will not go. The cable seems under full tension, or as much tension as the shifter can produce. I can move the derailleur up on to the big ring by pulling the gear cable with my hand away from the downtube, so it is as if the front shifter cannot create enough pull. I have tried all limit screw, barrel adj, refitting cable... Ive also change the BB cable guide to see if that was sticky. Any ideas what to try next - is is possible to reduce the 'spring strength' of the front derailleur for example. thanks
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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!
10-13-22, 08:01 AM
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Thanks a mil - I cleaned everything , reset the cable and now its workig , not completley sure what individual action did the trick!
The 3 things that I've found affecting this behaviour are 1) improper cable clamping on the FD. It's not always intuitive. Often there are grooves or witness marks that provide the clue. 2) Bad housing. Either because of corrosion/gunk or crimps. 3) Bad cable. There may be a broken strand or crimp somewhere near the shifter that may be causing problems.
I worked on a bike yesterday that was doing the same thing you describe. Replacing the cable did the trick.
I worked on a bike yesterday that was doing the same thing you describe. Replacing the cable did the trick.
