front derailleur
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
front derailleur
Hi everyone,
I just bought a bike a couple days ago (first bike since i was 8yrs old), and was riding it yesterday. I'm just getting to learn how the shifters work. I've notice though, when I shift-up using my left shifter, it clicks, but the chain doesn't change most of the time, instead it just brushes the derailluer and makes a lot of noise.
it doesn't shift unless I shift upwards --> the shift clicks --> then I push the shifter upwards a little bit more and hold that position until the chain changes to the next gear.
is my shifter/front derailleur not tune properly or am I not shifting properly?
i apologize for any confusion and im still a noob when it comes to bikes
thanks.
I just bought a bike a couple days ago (first bike since i was 8yrs old), and was riding it yesterday. I'm just getting to learn how the shifters work. I've notice though, when I shift-up using my left shifter, it clicks, but the chain doesn't change most of the time, instead it just brushes the derailluer and makes a lot of noise.
it doesn't shift unless I shift upwards --> the shift clicks --> then I push the shifter upwards a little bit more and hold that position until the chain changes to the next gear.
is my shifter/front derailleur not tune properly or am I not shifting properly?
i apologize for any confusion and im still a noob when it comes to bikes
thanks.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 662
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Everything is normal, fret not. That first click is designed to move the derailer just a small amount in order to minimize the chain rubbing on the derailer as the chain is shifted to the smaller cogs in the rear. This is referred to as "trim" or "trimming the derailer." The reason it's making noise for you is that you're doing while in the larger rear cogs. When you're in the larger rear cogs, the front derailer should be all the way inward. Then, as you shift to successively smaller cogs, eventually the chain will rub on the outer side of the front derailer. That is when you should click the shifter once to the trim position, which will move the derailer outward just a bit and should eliminate the rub. If you click it to the trim position while in the larger rear cogs, the derailer will move outward and as a result, the chain will rub on the inner side of the front derailer. That is what's happening to you.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 9,438
Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Acope is right but if you continue to have problems you may need to return the bike to the dealer for a tune-up. Most shops will do the first tune-up on a new bike at no charge. The shift cables will probably need adjusting. If you like you can learn to do your own adjustments using the instructions at the Park Tool web site. https://www.parktool.com
Al
Al
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 662
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
But to clarify further, what you're experiencing, at least as you describe it, is not "problems" in any way. The problems Al describes would be when the shifting becomes sloppy and noisy. You'll probably notice it in the rear mostly. When you shift to another cog it won't shift immediatly, but will make a clicking sound for a bit and then maybe shift. When this starts to happen, take it into the shop and have them tune your brakes and derailers.
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
ahh i see...thanks acape for the clarification...guess I just need to work on how to shift properly.
so basically, the reason why when i shift the front derailleur the chain doesn't move to the next cog is because the chain is not in the correct cog at the rear? causing the chain to be 'slanted'....
so if I make sure the chain is in the correct rear cog before I shift the front, there should be no problem?
i've googled some guides on bike gears, and it says that I should shift down when going uphill, which I refer to the pedal being very loose, and shift up will make the pedal more stiff... what's bothering me is my left shifter and right shifter seems to be opposite. when I shift down on my left, it becomes loose, but when I shift down on my right, it becomes stiff...lol.
sorry guys, my first bike was fixed speed, I never really got the chance to play with bike gears until now.
so basically, the reason why when i shift the front derailleur the chain doesn't move to the next cog is because the chain is not in the correct cog at the rear? causing the chain to be 'slanted'....
so if I make sure the chain is in the correct rear cog before I shift the front, there should be no problem?
i've googled some guides on bike gears, and it says that I should shift down when going uphill, which I refer to the pedal being very loose, and shift up will make the pedal more stiff... what's bothering me is my left shifter and right shifter seems to be opposite. when I shift down on my left, it becomes loose, but when I shift down on my right, it becomes stiff...lol.
sorry guys, my first bike was fixed speed, I never really got the chance to play with bike gears until now.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 9,438
Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
Can you tell us exactly what kind of shifters you have? Are they Shimano road? Sora? Tiagra? 105, what?
With STI road shifters in the front the brake lever is used for an upshift. In the back the small lever is used for an upshift.
With STI road shifters in the front the brake lever is used for an upshift. In the back the small lever is used for an upshift.
#7
Elitist Troglodyte
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Dallas
Posts: 6,925
Bikes: 03 Raleigh Professional (steel)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by Barry Au
so basically, the reason why when i shift the front derailleur the chain doesn't move to the next cog is because the chain is not in the correct cog at the rear? causing the chain to be 'slanted'....
so if I make sure the chain is in the correct rear cog before I shift the front, there should be no problem?
so if I make sure the chain is in the correct rear cog before I shift the front, there should be no problem?
You want to avoid severe chain angles, though, like little ring in the front and little cog in the back. Not only will it (probably) make noise, it will wear things out in short order. In practice avoiding certain gear combinations isn't a problem since there are several ways to make (nearly) every final gear. For instance, big ring (front) and cog 5 (rear) is almost the same as middle ring and cog 3.
what's bothering me is my left shifter and right shifter seems to be opposite. when I shift down on my left, it becomes loose, but when I shift down on my right, it becomes stiff...lol.
__________________
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
- Will Rogers
Stupidity got us into this mess - why can't it get us out?
- Will Rogers