dsellinger

My brother got a new frame the other day (his current was a bit large) and we swapped all the components over yesterday. (Oh a diamondback 2006 podium 2 was his original, and a 2007 podium 5 was what he got to replace it with.) Everything went over pretty much fine except for the front derailleur was a braze-on on the new frame and the original was a clamp-on.
So he picks up a 5603 braze on front derailleur and we swap everything and tune it up... And I can't get the front to stop rubbing when it's on the largest chainring. When I get down and look at it close, the back side of the derailleur is rubbing on the teeth of the middle chainring. I can't adjust the derailleur any higher (it's at the top of the tab already), and I can't adjust it out with cable tension.

Any idea's besides grinding the tips off the teeth on the middle chainring?

And problem due to high end frame with a low end 9 speed triple crank set?

AEO

I think you got a triple FD designed for 10sp chain with a curve to match 53/39/30 and you put it on a 52/42/30 triple which is using a 9sp chain.

unscrew the screw holding the cage together, get some pliers and bend away.

Chris_W

I'd need to know the sizes of your middle and outer chainrings to be sure, but it certainly sounds like the difference in size between them is now smaller than what the derailleur was designed for. Rather than bending it, you should be able to get away with just moving it up a few mm's. If you then have problems with over-shifting and throwing the chain off the top end and cannot adjust it to avoid this, then I'd recommend a different front derailleur or different size chain ring(s).

dsellinger

Well I hadn't considered that there would be different curved FD's for different triples. What trouble.

And I would just move the FD higher, but it's already as high as the braze-on tab will allow.

shelbyfv

I agree that it sounds like a FD designed for 39T middle ring not clearing a 42T middle. I encountered the same issue. You could probably use a dremel to shape the bottom of the cage. Or buy a 39T middle ring. I assume you were joking about grinding off the teeth on the ring!

andr0id

Did he get a 6603 or a 5603?

The 10spd Ultegra FD-6603 requires a 13 tooth difference as the Ultegra triple crank comes with 30/39/52.

The 105 crank is 30/39/50 and has a FD-5603 that only requires an 11 tooth difference.

dsellinger

FD5603-F says the box

dsellinger

Hah, no... It's just the very tips of the ramped pointy teeth that touch. You would only need to grind off less then a MM to get enough clearance.

andr0id

Then you got some unusual chainring combination going on.

FD5603

Max capacity = 20t (It is intended for 30/39/50)
Min diff top/middle = 11t (50-39=11)

You should not get the inner edge hitting the middle with a 53/42.
You will if it is 50/42 or 52/42.

You would have to adjust it high, or get a different middle ring. I wouldn't grind, but I guess that's an option.

Panthers007

I needed a top-pull or both pull FD on my Shimano 30-39-52 triple crankset. I had a Shimano XTR in my stock-drawer. Said it wouldn't work with this range of gears. Worked, and continues to work, without a whimper.

Moral of the Story? Don't believe what Shimano says. Try it and write a report.