Hi all, I am wondering if someone could help me find what kind of front derailleur I need to complete my bike. From what I've found online, most double front derailleurs should work, but no matter what I try on my current Shimano derailleur (adjusting the limits and the angle of the mount) I can't get it to shift into high gear. I have a Campy double crankset (52 and 42 teeth) on a bottom bracket with a 111mm spindle, which is the recommended spindle length for my crankset, according to velobase.com. I would prefer to not do trial and error over ebay... is there a specification that I should be looking for that I'm missing?

'91-ish Bianchi SLX

[MENTION=378004]fimy[/MENTION] - Welcome! I don't know the answer to your question, however you might be better off posting in the Bicycle Mechanics sub forum. You will likely be asked to provide more information along with some pictures of the front derailleur from the drive side of your bike.

why can't you upshift in the front? does the fd's outer plate hit the crank arm?

Is the cable tension correct? What's the farthest position the derailleur cage will move to? Can you position it over the big ring manually by pulling the cage with your fingers?

Is your bottom bracket symmetrical? If not, flip flop it.

Meant to get a picture last night and forgot, but to answer your questions, it's a symmetrical spindle so flipping it shouldn't help. The cable tension is correct, and it won't shift because the derailleur doesn't physically extend out far enough to move the chain. The cage barely hits the chain but doesn't move it.

I forgot to mention, it's a braze on mount and I've got an 8 speed cassette on the rear.

We all assume: you have the limit screws turned all the way out, right?

You have an 91ish Bianchi with SLX tubing? So does this have Chorus or Athena group?

It doesn't say so in your initial post but I presume your trying to install shimano brifters and derailleurs?

I suspect the issue is simply the mismatch of the CampI crank with the Shimano indexing front derailleur. You may need a newer shimano crankset.

Yes, the limit screws are all the way out. It's an Athena crankset, but I purchased that separate from the frame. I bought the frame by itself and have been outfitting it piecemeal. The derailleurs are Shimano that I picked up from a non-profit bike collective in town. Would rather keep the Campy crankset and replace the derailleur...

I have friction shifters. Are there derailleurs made for indexed shifters that I should be avoiding?

PS sorry Velocivixen, I was going to move this thread but people started responding. Thanks for the tip.

OK still in friction......... (why don't we have a smiley scratching her head? )

So you can't even push the FD up on the big ring with your thumb?

What model derailleur? I wonder if it just won't throw far enough from the centerline of the bike because it is made for an even closer fitting crankset?

It's a Shimano 105. I can't push it up to the big ring with my thumb, as you can see in the photo:





This is the braze mount. I don't have the cable running to it because I took it off last week so I could ride it in the high gear. The crankset is already pretty close to the frame. I'm fine getting a new derailleur, just don't want to run into the same issue so I'm trying to figure out how unusual this is.

This isn't always how the derailleur looks is it? It is way too high. The outer cage needs to just a few scant millimeters from the teeth of the big ring.

This is so frustrating..... I am sure this something some of could solve in mere seconds if we had the bike in out hands. Where do you live maybe some one nearby is willing to help you out.

^Yes, the derailleur cage should be parallel to the chainrings as well, assuming the above photo shows the "as-installed" condition. The misalignment is eating up much of the throw.

I tried installing it lower and more parallel, but it wasn't even close to moving the chain. I installed it higher and angled it and got better results but still not enough. Could it be that the mount is bent?

I'm in Salt Lake City, anyone make house calls?

What model 105 is that? Is that for a compact crank? I bet of you go to a LBS and find some cruddy old late '80s suntour like a Sprint or LePree you Troubles will be over.

Haven't been to Salt lake in years! I spent a week out there with my reserve unit and got some nice riding in.

I think I'll just have to do that :/

Glad you enjoyed Salt Lake. Don't tell anyone, but it's an awesome city. I live a few blocks from downtown and I can ride up five different canyons from my front door.

Ok I picked up a new derailleur, a Shimano 600, and it works like a charm. Still puzzled as to why the old one wasn't working, but all's well that ends well. This is my old one: VeloBase.com - Component: Shimano FD-1055, 105SC

No indication that it's for a compact crank. I dunno.

I think you installed it upside-down. Glad you got it sorted out.

I don't know what ,made me thing of this thread while I was riding this morning, maybe my loose crank. Glad to hear it worked out.

Thanks everyone for letting me bug you! Time to show off the finished product.

Steel is real!