andy123

hi all!
recently bought a trek with a shimano triple 10.
since which i've spent more time in the shop having it fixed than riding it !!!
among other problems- whenever i reach a really steep hill, i turn down to lowest front cogwheel, and the chain drops, leaving me just a few seconds to unclick. after these episodes all the gears go out of tuning.
does anyone have similar experience with shimano triple 10? should i tell the shop to just change it for a compact (although i'll really miss the small cog) ?
thanx
andy

sydney

You need to find a shop not populated by nose pickers that know how to adjust derailers,or learn to do it yourself at www.parktool.com repair section.

Grasschopper

Ok first off your LBS should get that bike functioning properly, there is no reason they can't do that. I had my bike setup with Ultegra triple and it never dropped the chain.

On the other hand I just switched this bike to a compact double setup. I like the fact that I am not shifting the front as much as inthe past and with a 12-27 cassette you have nearly the same low gearing as a triple with a 12/25 on the back. You do loose a top end gear but how often are you really riding in 52-12? The answer for me is not often. Be aware that a poorly setup compact double can drop the chain as well. Mine is tuned fairly well and in some gear combos I still drop the chain...I am working with it to correct this issue but it does happen.

TheKillerPenguin

funny, my finger was up my nose when i read that.

SpongeDad

LBS should be able to do it, but you'll be better off if you learn to do it yourself.

Go to Shimano website and download instructions for your front derailleur. Directions are pretty straight forward, although it may take a few stabs for you to really get the touch. At a minimum, you should be able to set the limit screws to prevent dropping the small chainring. (I've had to tune both my and my wife's triple over the last few weeks. It's not quantum physics.)

Good luck.

bsyptak

I've never adjusted my triple once. Once you get it set, it should stay good for a long time--until maybe the cable stretches out. In that case, you have to just open the barrel adjuster a bit until it is quiet again.

Adjustment is your problem. If you have the same buttheads that can't adjust your current setup install your new one, you'll have the exact problems. No drivetrain runs well that isn't adjusted properly.

ggg300

ditto....

but also think about a chain catcher and maybe work on shift-n your front rings a bit earlier than you now do and move up/down the rear cog set as you need after that shift.

gurana

It should be a fairly straight foward adjustment of the low limit adjuster screw . . . Check out the previously mentioned parktools link as that will tell you what I mean by that. If small adjustments do not fix the problem do not keep trying to adjust as this may cause more problems than it's worth.

the flip side to this though is that you should try and do this tuneing your self, as it's really the best way to learn. Be prepared though, if you are new to this, to have to bring it back into a shop to have them un-do what you've done and then tune it up.

If adjusting the limit screws doesn't work, adjust the barrel adjuster. If that doesn't work, you might have too much slack in your cable and it needs to be tightened. This is where I messed up, and it's why my bike is now in the shop

Another thing that might be wrong is the FD is not mounted properly, or the spring is too tight effectively launching the chain into the BB. Again be careful with these types of adjustments. I also messed with this, and took it to the shop for repairs.


Finally, if you've taken this to the lbs multiple times and it's still doing the same thing, find another LBS. Before you do that though, make sure you're not inadvertantly doing something that might undo their work. It may not be something obvious like dropping the bike (although that doesn't help). It could be in the way you transport the bike, or the way you hang it up at night, along with a hundred other possibilities.

andy123

first: thanx for the reply
second: do u have ultegra 10 or 9 at the back ?
do u have to avoid using the top/bottom three rear cogwheels, before shifting (as i was told at my LBS).
i find this very annoying, and still drop the chain, ultimately, causing the system to loose it's tuning, yet again!!! (as happened today).
i think i'm almost ready to go vack to the LBS and tell them to swap it for a compact, or ultegra 9, or something which keeps tuned for more than 5 minutes !

bbattle

There are certain gear combinations on the triple that you should avoid. The highest gear for the low chainring and the lowest gear for the middle chainring, according to my LBS for my mtb Deore LX, are not good ones to be in. But I haven't had to adjust the triple on my mtb in a very long time. I had to tweak the double on my road bike when I first got it but also is steady as a rock now.

Are you pumping too hard on the pedals when shifting?

gurana

Unless this is the only LBS in your area, I'd go to a new LBS. I don't think it's a common problem because other people seem to have your set up and don't have that same problem, so it's probably not your crank or the cassete or the RD or anything like that.

mtnroads

Its mainly adjustment, mine dropped off a couple times when I test rode it, they adjusted it, hasn't happened since. However, they also told me to drop to the small chainring BEFORE I was down to the largest rear cog - best with a couple lower gears still left to go while on the middle chainring. Plus, it's easier on the chain because it stays straighter that way.

sydney

Just proof, fiddling does not work. There is a methodology to it and you have to start at the beginning and know what each part of the process does nd does not do.

RoadToNowhere

Can't believe no one wondered what the heck you're doing on the small ring in the first place!

Seriously, I ride a triple...and I try to stay off the small ring (my way of trying to get stronger, I suppose). When you do go to the small ring, shift softly....on the pedal upsweep...and make sure you're somewhere near the middle of the back cogs when you do. You'll have room to grow a couple more gears in case you need them, and your chain will stay with you.

Beth