Duo

Been trying to find a 9 speed front derailleur triple for my touring bicycle. Should be simple, but seems to be out of reach.

The derailleur is Shimano with a clamp on 28.8 mm tube. The spring broke on the thing, so I just took it off and ride without...eh, not highly recommended.

Source of parts?

Well I have tried Amazon and searching the net to no avail. Perhaps there is a source of 9 speed parts that are no hassle and order online?

Edit: the spring did not break, the part attached to it did.

thanks

joejack951

You need either a Sora 3403 or 3503, Tiagra 4403 or 4503, 105 5503, or Ultegra 6503 front derailleur. Google will find you one of those pretty quickly. The Sora 3503 is a current part so it be very widely available.

Edit: If you want to order through Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shimano-FD-35.../dp/B007Q4M66E

You want the 28.6mm version, or order a braze-on style and appropriate adapter.

Bill Kapaun

Touring bicycle can have a wide assortment of cranks, rings & FDER's.

What size rings?
What kind of shifters? Mountain or road? They must match the FDER type since they pull different amounts of cable.
What's on it now?

Duo

Wow, thank you.

I found the Sora equivalent 3503 on Amazon and free ship. This should be tons better than doing without and letting the chain fall off, LOL.

My preference would be for Tiagra or 105, so may search all those other numbers you gave me.

This bicycle is fairly interesting, it is a Fuji Touring with 9 speed components. The rear derailleur is weird too and eventually replaced. It is a Shimano with a reverse acting action. With all the slack out of the line it does not go to the smallest cog but to the largest. Eventually I will be looking for a better more normal shifting rear derailleur too.

Duo

thanks. I will have to check and get back, I assume they are normal road front derailleur but the rear is a Deore if mem serves.

The derailleur is Tiagra on the front, so I assume it must be a road front triple derailleur for 9 speed???

Edit: just checked the old front derailleur and it says Tiagra 9 speed and FD-4408.

Bill Kapaun

If the front is Tiagra, then you want a "road" FDER. (assuming the Tiagra did work properly once upon...)

The RDER doesn't have the shift mismatch issues between road & mountain like the FDER's do.
However, if you have a "low normal" RDER, the shifters are also "low normal", else it would shift backwards.

If you have friction shifters, then it's all a moot point, since you wouldn't have indexing mismatches on either front or rear.

Duo

Well maybe this bicycle is a frankenstein.

I assumed that when I bought this from the former owner that it was all stock. The bike uses the modern 'brifters' and not friction shifters. If these shifters ever fail i probably will go to bar ends...a much saner world in my opinion.

Yep, the rear shifters do shift backwards; I didn't know it at the time as this was my first 'modern' road bike. That is another reason to replace the rear derailleur so the thing would shift normal in the rear. Not a big deal i suppose: just slap on a rear wide range rear derailleur.

All this seems kind of strange to me, why would Fuji create such a monster? Or maybe the last owner just couldn't help himself

fietsbob

'Speeds' is a Parts, cogs stacked up, count. 9 is in the back, up front its a double on triple.

shelbyfv

Sounds as if someone put a "rapid rise" mtb rear derailleur on there. Maybe you have a 32T or larger cassette that needs a mtb RD? For the FD, count the teeth on your chainrings. If you have 52-42-30, I may have something you can use.

Duo

Rapid rise, that's it. Now i know they have a name for them, but not too useful for me on a touring bicycle. Just counted the rear gear and it it 32T with a Shimano Deore long cage rear derailleur.

The chainrings are 52-42-30, just counted.

Years ago an LBS told me that this was an experiment that didn't work for Shimano and that was why my shifting seemed backwards. Perhaps Fuji got a good deal on these derailleurs because they didn't sell or the previous owner imagined some advantage with this kind of thing.

dedhed

Also know as "low normal", one advantage is if you break a rear shift cable it defaults to your lowest gear, not the highest.

davidad

Make sure the front der. is made for a road bike with brifters. shimano road front ders. use a different cable pull than mountain bike ders. Don't ask me how I know that.

davidad

If the front crank is older you can put a 24t small ring with 74mm bolt circle diameter on the front for low gearing.

Duo

thanks, I need to pm you regarding this. this will be something fun to do with all this cabin fever hanging around the house.

thanks, patience is a virtue in these matters. the front der is definately Tiagra, and i was looking at a few mtb ders...which will not work.

i really like bar ends and have thought to go with those eventually. My Trek 620 has them and never a problem. Haven't done much research but Riv has a nice pair: https://www.rivbike.com/products/sil...-end-kit-17089

With bar end friction shifting, i assume it really doesn't matter what front der i use. However the rear der needs to accomodate at least 32 teeth.