landru

Hello,

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice on a Shimano SL-R440 front shifter problem.

The shifter in question has worked flawlessly for the last three years with a Tiagra 9 speed FD. However, after replacing the FD cable recently, I have been unable to get the FD working properly.

The problem is that with the cable tensioned nicely, the FD drops from the big ring to the smallest ring in one click of the front shifter. Not good. If I loosen off the cable slightly, I can achieve proper shifting between the small and middle rings, but get massive rubbing on the FD when the chain is on the big ring. No, I'm not cross-chaining here. In this state, there just isn't enough cable tension to pull the FD to its outer limit.

So what gives? Why can't I get the shifter to operate the way it used to?

Thinking that worn pawls inside the shifter mechanism might be the issue, I disassembled the shifter but could find no obvious signs of wear.

Any ideas? Am I battling a worn-out mechanism or is the problem something else?

(Yes, I know that the SLR-440 is a four position shifter and I'm attempting to set it up as such.)

Regards,
Andrew

AnthonyG

I've got those same flat bar shifters and there 6 position not 4 and I've found them to be VERY finicky to setup. Currently the best setup I can get is using 5 positions. Two for the granny, two for the middle and one for the big ring.

Regards, Anthony

maddmaxx 

I have seen front derailleurs in this setup that have a shallow cable groove on the end of the cable pull arm. If this is so, the cable goes over the end of the arm and then under the screw instead of directly to the screw. This will make a significant difference in the ratio of the derailleur.

landru

Hey Antony and maddmaxx,

Thanks for the replies.

It's very curious that your shifter is 6 position, Anthony. After taking mine completely apart (including the guts), I saw that's there's defintely only 4 teeth for the pawls to engage with. Perhaps Shimano produced different types of shifter under the same model number? Or maybe I misunderstand how these things work.

Madd, I'll have a closer look at the derailleur as you suggested. That idea sounds promising.

Just as a footnote, I discovered that it's quite easy to adjust the tesion on the shifter mechanism by loosening or tightening the nut on the spindle of the mechanism. The nut is accessible from the little cover plate which screws to the thumb lever. I snugged up the tension and was rewarded with a smoother shifting action. Still the same original problem, however.

Thanks to you both.

Regards,
Andrew

rmfnla

The interesting thing is that it ever worked at all. Those shifters are designed to work with the R-443 front derailleur, not the Tiagra. Check this out...

https://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp...=130&brand=226

The Tiagra's stock # is FD-4403, which is obviously very similar to the R-443. I have seen several bike shops confuse these two parts but they are not intended to be interchangable.

landru

My mistake, rmfnla: my FD is in fact the R-443, and not the Tiagra as I had initially stated. The derailleur shown in the link you posted is the one on my bike. Thank you for that link and the good info.

But wait, there's more good news: maddmaxx's diagnosis was absolutely correct. After running the cable over top of the derailleur cable pull arm, the derailleur/shifter now stop properly in all four positions. However, I still need to tinker with the cable tension and shifter tension to get the system running as smoothly as I'd like. It is indeed quite finicky.

Thanks, maddmaxx. You had the solution that escaped two local bike shops, including the one that sold me the bike.

Regards,
Andrew

rmfnla

Eddy802

Hello,

First post here and I hope you can help me as you did Andrew.

I am converting my Specialized Tricross to flat bar and have the R440 shifters in place. I'm told they won't pull enough cable for the FD that came with the bike (Tiagra) and that i need an alternate FD. It runs 39-50T should I use an R443 or 453?

Are there other options?

Thanks in advance
Eddy

MrPerkins

Hey Guys,
Can i see\get some pictures or simple sketches please???
I don't understand the trick to this problem completely yet.
Thanks for helping 'me' BikeForums newbie out ;P

With kind regards
Mr. Perkins

janahurt

I've been working on this today and I believe this is what they're talking about
https://www.hostelshoppe.com/tech_frontderail.php

There's a small tab that you intuitively put the cable "within", but apparently it levers outside of it.

Jeff Wills

Look at the posting dates. The thread started in 2006. The most recent posting (before yours) was more than a year ago.

janahurt

I switched the cable to route around that tab and now shifting is accurate. I couldn't find anything to compare to online, but this is what I have: start on 1st chainring. Click to get to second chain ring, now is the option to trim back. Another full click onto third chain ring. I have no option to trim 3rd chainring, but chain does not rub anyway. Trimming is available on 1st and 2nd chainrings. (this is all with r440 shifter and 443 FD.)

edit: sp

5 mph

Thanks.

5 mph

I think this is a solution to a problem I an having. I bought my bike used and it came with the FD shift cable set up the wrong way, in reverse to your advice above.
I suspected this was the issue. I have only been working on bikes since March but I do know that little tab means you route from the other side and then wrap it around the 5mm and secure it under the tab.
But believe it or not the Shimano brochure for the Tiagra FD shows the wrong routing. I trusted it and it was wrong.
Glad I found this.
Thank you very much
Respectfully
5 mph