Giga

Okay, so the chain is rubbing against the FD on the outermost chainring and outermost sprocket. I'm pretty sure it's a tension issue because if I tug on the cable, the FD cage can still move out a little to the point where there would be no rub. I'm trying to tighten the cable via the barrel adjuster, but it's not working.

I even resetted the cable and adjuster but still can't get the cable tight enough. No matter which way I turn, or how much, the adjuster doesn't seem to do anything? I've never used barrel adjusters like this before (CAAD10) where they aren't touching the frame so I don't know if they function differently.

What should I do/check?

bikeman715

If the adjustment barrel not taking up the slack ,then the cable is to lose at the derailleur . to do this move the adjustment barrel all the way back in , then back it out one full turn , loosen the anchor bolt , use a tool ( a forth hand or piers ) to pull the cable tight as you can without moving the derailleur , tighten the anchor bolt at that point . Now shift the derailleur to the next gear , makes any adjustment with adjustment barrel so the shift is smooth and fast . If this is done right then there shouldn't be any rubbing and the adjustment barrel is working as it should .

FBinNY 

I don't know what kind of adjusters you have, but regardless of whether they do enough, an adjuster should move the FD one way or the other. So either the adjuster is broken, you're turning both threaded parts together at the same time, hence no adjustment, or it's not an adjuster at all and simply along ferrule.

It's often hard to pull out ll the slack when attaching a FD cable. Here's a trick that may help.

Set the inner limit properly to where you want it. Shift to high by pulling the wire away from the downtube, adjust the outer limit, and confirm by shifting via pulling the wire rather than using the lever.

Now shift to high, and jam a pencil (or something) into the pantograph so the FD can't shift inward, then shift to low to slacken the cable.

Loosen the pinch bolt, and pull up all the slack and tighten so the cable is held but can still slip. Push the FD lever arm to free the pencil, and led the FD move inward slowly with the cable slipping through. Tighten the pinch bolt, and test. Odds are the cable is a bit tight so loosen the pinch bolt and pull a bit more cable down pulling from the down tube, and reset. This should have you spot on.

Giga

Is there suppose to be a limit on how much the adjusters are able to turn? The inline adjusters (ah, that's the name!) seem to turn both ways infinitely.

fietsbob

with friction shifters I never install barrel adjusters .

it's the index lever click synchronization, with the RD/FD throw, that needs them ..

bikeman715

then you need to replace them .

FBinNY 

I have the feeling that you're turning the entire adjuster, in which case nothing will happen. There are two ends which screw together, you have to hold one, and turn the other to change anything.

HillRider

Sounds like the internal threads are stripped. In line adjusters should lengthen noticeably as they are expanded and the travel is indeed limited.

FBinNY 

Here's an insight into how different people form different opinions about things based on the same evidence.

Some tend to blame mechanical things, and suspect defects. Others, including myself, tend to trust mechanical things, and blame humans for not knowing how to use them.

Giga

Blame well placed, you were right. I guess was turning the whole entire thing because the two pieces were really tight together. Ah well, I never claimed to be a mechanic!

Problem solved, thanks

HillRider

Yeah, I made the unjustified assumption of mechanical competence on the part of the OP so if the thing didn't work, it was probably broken. That said, I've come across more than a few broken mechanical things so it's not unprecedented.

FBinNY 

In all fairness, probably the most common error made by people here offering help is to give too much credit to the skills of the OP, or his ability to describe a problem. I can't count the times I passed over the obvious answer because I assumed it was too obvious and the OP would have known it already.

The flip side (and we've all been there too, is you state the obvious, only to have the OP respond in anger because you've insulted his intelligence.

As they say, "heads you win, tails I lose".

Giga

HOW DARE YOU insult my intelligence!!!

To be fair, I've never seen the inline barrel adjusters before.