Bicycle Mechanics - Front derailleur adjustment (Shimano 105)

My front derailleur is losing its tuning. It take a longer to shift and when it come to climbing up the larger chain rings it is hit and miss...
it is a Shimano 105, triple, 9 gears, and STI shifters.

It this something I fix my self? (I'm good with mechanics and tools, but with cars :) ) and is there a reference or instructions I could buy or download?

Thanks!

Check in the thread right above yours, Bartlets Manuals, it has repair manuals listed.

COOL! thank!

I have a new 105 FD5504 in my hand------just waiting for me to install. Gotta tell you----Shimano is putting out some beautiful pieces - it's a work of art - worth every $$. AND it's made in Japan--not China. Hope some other stuff poops out soon so I can upgrade to Ultegra. Nothing to help with your install but I just hadda rant

After fiddling with the front derailleur for a couple of days, I could not get the shifter to work as smooth as it should without removing it from the frame. I didn't fee comfortable enough to do it my self... I called my LBS (Stan's in Cupertino) where I bought the bike, and they would do it for free...
it was a good exercise tho.. and an opportunity to give the drive system a good cleaning.. :)

My front derailleur is losing its tuning. It take a longer to shift and when it come to climbing up the larger chain rings it is hit and miss...
it is a Shimano 105, triple, 9 gears, and STI shifters.

It this something I fix my self? (I'm good with mechanics and tools, but with cars :) ) and is there a reference or instructions I could buy or download?

Thanks!

Be careful not to do too much. STI triple front derailleur adjustments can be a pain. The mistake most guys make when they start to monkey with them is to pile one misadjustment onto another until the shifting deteriorates so much that they give up.

Since yours was working fine previously, you probably just need to make a minor cable tension adjustment. I'm thinking that 1/2 turn counterclockwise with the barrel adjuster will do it.

If yours gets totally fubared (Fouled Up Beyond All Repair) try this:

1. Disconnect the shifter cable (important).
2. Adjust the location of the derailleur on the seat tube. The outer cage should be parallel to the big chainring and should just miss the chainring by about 1 or 2mm.
3. Adjust the low gear limit screw. With the chain in the small chainring and the biggest rear cog, the inner cage should miss the chain by about 1mm.
4. Attach the shift cable. Be sure that you go the correct way around the anchor screw. I use a needlenose plier to pull it snug. Adjust the cable tension so that you can access all gear combinations. If you are having trouble making that happen, check the previous steps starting over at 1.
5. Adjust the high gear limit screw. With the chain on the big ring in front and the small cog in back, the outer cage should miss the chain by about 1mm.

Also, on the Shimano front der., the pivots are screws, 3mm allen, and they do loosen, making it very hard to get a quality adjustment. Look at the der. from the back and you will see them, just tighten them or make sure they are snug before doing any adjustment.

I think that you are overlooking the most obvious fix. Replace the cables and housing. Front and rear. Use the Dura-Ace shifter cable set. Splurge and spend the extra 5 bucks. The cheapest and most cost effective upgrade that you can make.

And do it at least every year. You will get way better shifting from your drivetrain.

9 times out of 10 all you have to do to a front derailleur is tighten the cable as it stretches. Good advice by the good Rev. though check the pivots first.

-s

Also, on the Shimano front der., the pivots are screws, 3mm allen, and they do loosen, making it very hard to get a quality adjustment. Look at the der. from the back and you will see them, just tighten them or make sure they are snug before doing any adjustment.

Good call, Rev! I've seen this many times before - a little loctite (carefully) lengthens the maintenance cycle.