Front Derailleur - Advanced Troubleshooting

If you're trying to perfect your front shifting, but basic adjustments just aren't cutting it, we'll show you some of the possible sources of your problems, as well as the ways you can address them.

Questions or comments? Leave them below!

Video contents:
00:00 Preliminary Info
00:40 Cable System
02:00 Bent Cage
02:24 Chainring Wear & Damage

➤ Tools & materials used:

➤ Fix It:
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➤ About Park Tool:
Since our founding in 1963, Park Tool has been the leading name in bicycle tools. Our YouTube channel is an extension of our mission to be the ultimate resource for mechanics and riders of all skill levels. Here you will find comprehensive repair help tutorials for a wide range of components and processes, as well as troubleshooting guides, tips and tricks, and information on the latest Park Tool products.

➤ More Derailleur Repair Help:

[halicusnguyen]

You know the channel is good when you've watched all of the videos, despite not having a bike.

[legion]

No one else. That's who has videos more clear, concise and packed full of pro advise. Thank you for these.

[silencerdood]

Like ParkTool is like a legend for giving these free

[johnjaume]

Thanks for the article.
After struggling with front Derailleur Adjustment and consulting innumerable articles and Youtube videos I just about gave up until I discovered one additional factor in proper derailleur shifting, Crank Bolt Tension.
While inspecting my bike, I noticed a very slight "play" and a new "sound" during a ride. I realized that the crank was a little loose.
When I tightened the crank bolt, I realized it was way looser than the manufacturers torque specs. Once I tightened the crank bolt, it brought the outside chain ring a little closer in, enough to make a significant difference in the range of the derailleur.

Hope this helps.

[marklouiston]

A born teacher, he saved me from having to make a service appointment and all the attendant hassles that brings. I was able to fix my derailleur problems in less than 20 minutes.

[michaelguerrera]

Once again a detailed look at reasons why the shifting system can be maintained or adjusted or cable replacement. Also derailleur adjustment might be necessary. Not for those who aren't patient as this is an advanced tutorial as mentioned. Usually taking to a competent shop will be necessary.
Nice video again!!!

[Toto-isci]

Perfect. Found my front derailleur was bent. Bent it back with good success!

[CosminBobosea]

So ... my story begins with a new bicycle for which I didn't manage to set it in a way to change correctly to the highest gear from the front derailer.
After some searches on the net, I found your tutorial. Following your presentation I tried for more than 20 times... and nothing fixed my problem.

Anyhow, I found the solution and I want it to share with you because it could be included in your future troubleshooting videos.

For a new bike, anyone thinks that all pieces and parts are set up and right positioned. I put a lot of trust in guys from the store. Maybe I'm a stupid exception :)

In my case, the right pedal arm was not well/full screwed.
When the arm was well/full screwed, I realize that I move it with almost 1.5 mm.
This distance was what was missing for the correct setup and from this cause, my front derailleur with all settings done didn't manage to change to the highest gear.

Personal consideration
You are the perfect combination between mechanical + engineer + teacher!
This tutorial, from my point of view, is in the first place in top 3 "How to do it" in the world.

I'm sorry for my non-academic English language. I'm not a native speaker.

[sunjiulu]

I bought a new bicycle but found out it's rubbing the chain for some gear combinations, after watching your other two basic videos and a few hours of tuning, I found out that the large chain ring is not rotating on the same surface, there is 1-2mm in and out while rotating, not sure if it's wobbled chain ring or other things caused it to off the surface... but the 3'05'' of this video talks about the wobble chain ring which confirmed my difficulty of adjusting cable/H/L limit. thank you very much. learned a lot from your videos. the bike will be returned to store.

[Teknofobe]

Gratitude. Lost front 3 gears, (pinch bolt failure) amongst other things. I can now attend to my rear derailleur. Getting 3 out of 7. Even after adjustment. Ur other post should be most helpful. 👍

[adepew]

Awesome! All your videos are very clear and well explained through visuals. Thank you!

[robinferguson]

I watched the earlier video on how to adjust a front derailleur. That was super helpful and after loosing the clamp I was able to pivot the cage to bring it parallel to the chain ALMOST and reduce the rubbing of the chain against the cage. But I couldn't get it perfect and I'd concluded that I'd bent the cage when the bike fell over in our hallway. Then I watched this video and sure that's one of the problems identified here. Does this mean I'm now ADVANCED at front derailleur troubleshooting??? Well heck yeah!

[FedEx]

Thank you so much !!!! The front derailleur has been annoying me for ages, all sorted now 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[Gledii]

im just missing one thing in these tutorials. how to start from scratch. i mean, it normally starts with "shifting to the lowest gear" or something like that. sometimes you cant do that becuase of the wrong indexing, cable tightness, barrel adjustment, etc. it would be great to have a tutorial like an instalation, everything from 0. just a thought

[NeostinnnIN]

I need a new bike. That's what I found out.

[AriKona]

After watching all the videos on "front derailleur", I was hoping this one was the answer. Believe it or not, it wasn't. It was my mistake not to have recorded what side of the screw the cable was supposed to go. I had threaded the cable on the opposite side of the clamp down point than I should have. Just that little change made it impossible to get the chain on to the largest ring. So, after I moved the cable over and made sure everything was in lubed and adjusted, I tried it. Just a little tweaking of the High/Low screws and now it is back to the way it was before I decided to change from grip shifters to trigger shifters. Bottom line, however, is: These are without question the best bicycle maintenance video presentations out there. (Which could be why I always go to Park Tools for my bicycle needs.) Thanks.

[AlexDoesStufff]

Because of this video, I've finally noticed that my derailer cage is bent. 2:00

[DaMitch]

OMG in My Case there was a little stone trapped within the shifting mechanism blocking it - the shifter lever wasnt moving at all - i first thought my rapid fire mechanism was gone !!! i dont believe it im glad i DID NOT disassembled everything at first place .
Removing this F**** little stone fixed shifting

[leonardjohnquillano]

This video helped me a lot, fixed my front derailleur with the help from this video.

[GSXRMVDUCRD]

Great! Addresses the problems that most video's don't. Also see his other video about front derailleur "Basic" adjustments when basic adjustment doesn't do the job...Which I can't find now. :-( But it deals with the 1) gap between the front derailleur and chainring and 2) when the front derailleur is rotated so the cage is not aligned with the chainring