Bicycle Mechanics - Shimano Sora FD Won't Shift Up

I have a Jamis Satellite that I bought just under a year ago, and after some down time I've begun riding it again.

The problem is, the FD won't shift up into the higher chainrings. I followed the FD adjustment guide on the parktools website, setting the L stop screw, however when it says to shift up and set the H, I can't. It seems like the FD just isnt moving enough to shift the chain to the bigger chainrings. I've taken all the slack out of the cable from the clamp bolt. Even adding tension from the barrel adjuster won't make a difference. Anyone got an idea of whats wrong?

I searched the forum but couldn't find anything, so I apologize if this question has been asked before.

Anything helps, Thanks!

You probably haven't taken out enough slack.

Detach the cable and operate the dérailleur by hand. Does it travel far enough? If you're careful you can try shifting by hand, but don't get your fingers caught! (Don't even try it without a stand.)

Have you used needlenose pliers to hold the cable taut while you tighten the cable anchor bolt on the derailleur while the derailleur is in the low stop position? That's what I do as a starting point for cable tension, making sure I've got some adjustment room both ways with the barrel adjuster for fine tuning later. It does sound like the likely cause is not enough cable tension, I'd do whatever you gotta do to tighten it some more (loosen the anchor bolt and re-secure the cable after taking up slack, or at least turn the barrel adjuster counter-clockwise some more). If that's not it, maybe the derailleur got knocked out of position during the downtime, or the shifter got damaged in some way. Did it ever work properly, when you rode the bike in the past? What kind of shifter is it, and does it feel like it's moving properly?

Was it ever right?

If it worked right once and it doesn't now, it's probably not the derailleur. That leaves the shift cable and the shifter.

Try disconnecting the cable from your front derailleur. Hold the cable taut with your fingers and try cycling the shifter. If you can feel cable movement, in and out as you shift, the cable and housing are probably OK.

If that's the case, be sure to first cycle your shifter into the smallest gear position, pull the cable taut with a needlenose pliers, and reattach it to your derailleur.

... pull the cable taut with a needlenose pliers, and reattach it to your derailleur.
I use a curved needle-nose for that. Prop the center of the curve against the anchor or nearby and you can get a serious amount of tension on the cable.

Was it ever right?

If it worked right once and it doesn't now, it's probably not the derailleur. That leaves the shift cable and the shifter.

Try disconnecting the cable from your front derailleur. Hold the cable taut with your fingers and try cycling the shifter. If you can feel cable movement, in and out as you shift, the cable and housing are probably OK.

If that's the case, be sure to first cycle your shifter into the smallest gear position, pull the cable taut with a needlenose pliers, and reattach it to your derailleur.

+1 What Retro said.
Be sure to shift into the smallest chainring position before attaching the cable.

You don't need to pull anything taught. Just set the limit screw so that it (the FD) is in a position that is lower than it'd ever be when it's properly adjusted. And yeah make sure you've shifted into the lowest ring before you attempt to set the cable.

Then tighten the limit screw once the cable is anchored and voila.

You're just using the limit screw to tighten the cable. That will only work if you've backed it off just enough. Either way you stand to muck up two adjustments instead of one. I prefer to leave the limit screw alone and deal with the tension directly. Seems faster, too.

You're just using the limit screw to tighten the cable. That will only work if you've backed it off just enough. Either way you stand to muck up two adjustments instead of one. I prefer to leave the limit screw alone and deal with the tension directly. Seems faster, too.

I agree, especially since it seems very possible the OP's limit screws are already adjusted properly. No reason to mess with the limit screw adjustment right off the bat in this case, try cable tension first-