ilovecycling

I can finally sleep at night! I just installed a 6700 FD on my SRAM Red equipped bike, and get this: I can actually shift up front! It works perfectly.

I'm sure many of you have been reading in other threads about the issues I've been having with SRAM front shifting on my LOOK 595. I thought it was the Red FD, so I went and bought a Force FD. That didn't help much at all. I set both up exactly as I was supposed to, but it just didn't want to work. I tweaked this and tweaked that, but in the end there is a very limited range of adjustment that a FD can have. It needs to be perfectly parallel with the big ring, it has to have 1-3mm clearance, and the upper and lower limit screws need to be set to just barely eliminate chain rub. It's not rocket science, but for some reason I couldn't get reliable shifting with either the Red or Force FDs. I wasn't dropping my chain, but there was simply too much hesitation and grinding before the chain actually caught. I was forced to soft-pedal my way up to the big ring.

Then I installed the Ultegra FD today...in one try. That's all it took for superb shifting. I couldn't be happier with the performance. It's not quite as solid shifting as the full 6700 group was when I had it on my bike, but it's more than good enough. I'm sure I could go with an Ultegra chain for even better front shifting, but I like SRAM chains for their ease of maintenance with the power link connector.

If you are having issues with your SRAM front shifting, I highly encourage you to give the 6700 FD a try. It works.

adriano 

sounds awesome. get a wipperman connex and a kmc chain.

ilovecycling

What would one of these aftermarket chains offer that my current SRAM chain doesn't? Just curious.

On that note, has anyone reused the SRAM power link connector? I did today when I installed the Ultegra FD. I know I'm not supposed to, but part of me thinks SRAM recommends changing them every time because they cost $6 a piece. I just took off and thoroughly cleaned my chain last week when I installed the Force FD, and I replaced the power link connector at that time. I didn't want to go buy another $6 link today for no good reason other than "I'm supposed to." What's the big deal anyways? It still took resistance to pop it in place this 2nd time, and I see no reason why anything would weaken from reusing it one time.

lylepwns

Pics? I'm going to be attempting the same in a few days when my FD arrives.

ilovecycling

Here you go:

adriano 

a wipperman connex link is going to blow your mind, and ive just found kmc to work the best.

ilovecycling

Ok, but can you tell me why it would blow my mind so I don't have to go spend money to find out and potentially be disappointed? The SRAM power link connects without tools as well. Why is this any different? Does Wipperman recommend against reusing it like SRAM does? If not, I might just buy one and throw it on my SRAM chain.

adriano 

its just extremely easy to use and is certified for reuse. it wouldnt be a bad idea to stick with the chain thats working for you.

ColinL

Thanks for the update & pics, ILC!

I was very interested in the previous discussions about this. I found a DA 7900 clamp-on FD (that's what my Rival is) for $84 shipped... very tempting.

Then again, I think I need a riding jacket more.

tcwayne

Definitely going to try this.

ahson

Definitely going to try this. I have so much trouble on my SRAM Apex FD (not RED though). At first I thought it was just my LBS didn't set it up properly so I adjusted it myself. It shifts much better after my own adjustments but I won't say it's smooth and perfect. It's like I must slow down or go easy when shifting on these SRAM FD. I was about to pull the trigger on a Force FD but now I need to reconsider my decision.

Things like...I must go easy on pedaling when I want to shift down to the small ring on a climb otherwise the chain will stuck on the big ring. Then about 10% of the time, the chain will have trouble to shift up to the big ring no matter how I tweak, tune the FD and the front barrel adjuster.

I talked to couple guys who rides in my group with SRAM groupset and all of them are also suffering from the SRAM FD problem. I do have the fear to shift the front. Frankly I look down below on the chain ring every time when I shift.

zigmeister

Why wouldn't it? The real question is...why would you use a Ultegra FD with SRAM Red shifters when the SRAM Red FD brand new is only $85? Can you really not afford the $20 difference?

Creatre

The SRAM Red FD flexes when it engages, and leads to poor shifting.

I love my Force FD though.

ahson

Did you read the OP at all? It's because the OP had some tough lucks with SRAM RED and Force FD and decided to try something else.

himespau 

glad to hear you found a fix that works after all that trouble.

RT

This should not be news. The FD is merely a slave to the levers and is not indexed like a RD. Any improvement you may be experiencing is due to the shape of the cage, not the shifting action. There is no reason why it would not work.

Can you post pics from the top of both FD cages, maybe measure them at front, back and center? This issue needs to be put to bed.

tcwayne

The force FD is NO better. In my experience. Very unreliable and who wants to baby it while in a group ride? That can lead to concentration problems and perhaps an accident. I've been dropped more than once because I was screwing with that damn FD! Pisses me off. Until I read this I was considering getting a dura ace left shifter and a DA FD. Knowing all I need is the FD is quite a bit of savings.

calamarichris

You won't believe how much better it'll shift when you put an Ultegra or Dura Ace crankset on it.

RT

I have a freaking 8 speed which used to be a 1x8. I bought a new Shimano Acera FD ($12.95) for it during a crank-swap, a MTB FD on a cross bike, and it works flawlessly. One of two conclusions can be drawn from this.

Either you guys are paying far too much for s**t that doesn't work, plus the expense of 'fixing it' by buying another FD, or...

...you and/or your mechanics need some remedial wrenching lessons.

Jesus H., you extrapolate quite a potential for harm out of a FD misaligned. People ride $70 mountain bikes around town because of DUIs or economic hardship and don't have as much trouble shifting as you all seem to have. And don't even get me started on Di2, because I suspect someone will bring it up as a 'solution'.

In the words of Clark W. Griswold, "Hallelujah! Holy s**t! Where's the Tylenol?!"

/rant

EDIT: Apologies for the rant. I have no dog in this hunt, I'm just tired of reading about it.

Creatre

I think having a Quarq outweighs the benefits of shifting with a Ultegra or Dura Ace crank for the OP.

Creatre

People that ride a $70 mountain bike around town don't shift. They also ride on flat tires, and usually less than 2 miles in distance with bowing knees because of a poor fit.

For people that ride 200+ miles a week or more, or competitively, a poorly shifting front derailleur can be a huge annoyance. I know when I'm in a race and I hit the FD shifter, I want it to shift, not mess around, or drop the chain, because either I'll be wasting energy or my race will be over.

There is a big difference.

calamarichris

True, but having an SRM-Dura Ace crank outweighs the benefits of having a Quarq.

tcwayne

^^+1

Also the DUI dudes aren't 6 inches away from someone's wheel at 25 mph.

Creatre

Debatable!

calamarichris

I said "SRM" not "SRAM".