How to Tune Shimano Front Derailleurs

Shimano front derailleurs work the same way on both road and mountain bikes. All mountain bikes have three gears or "chainrings" on the front. Road bikes can have either two or three chainrings on the front. There are adjustments for cable tension and chain travel left and right, or "high and low" gear settings. All you need to adjust your front derailleur is your fingers and a small screwdriver.

Things You'll Need

  • Phillips screwdriver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put the bike in a bike stand. Shift the bike from the smallest gear to the biggest gear on the front, and then back again.

    • 2

      Twist the barrel adjuster two clicks counterclockwise if the chain hesitates or is hard to shift to the biggest gear. The barrel adjuster is located on the end of the shifter handle. It is a black or chrome, knurled knob. The cable passes through the center of it.

    • 3

      Shift the bike from the biggest to the smallest gear on the front. If the chain hesitates to shift to the smaller gears, turn the barrel adjuster two clicks clockwise until the bike shifts smoothly.

    • 4

      Shift the bike through the gears. If the chain chatters when it is on the biggest gear, turn the hi-gear adjustment screw two turns counterclockwise. If it continues to chatter or falls off the big gear to the outside of the gear, turn the adjustment screw two turns clockwise or until the chain centers on the biggest gear. The hi-gear adjustment screw is a small Phillips head screw located on the top of the derailleur. There are two screws; the hi-gear adjuster is the one on the outside, nearest the gear.

    • 5

      Shift the bike through the gears. If the chain chatters when its riding on the smaller front gear, turn the low-gear adjustment screw two turns clockwise. If it continues to chatter or the chain falls off the gear to the inside of the bike, turn the screw two turns counterclockwise until the chain is centered on the gear. The low-gear adjustment screw is located to the left of the hi-gear adjusting screw on the top of the derailleur, nearest the bike frame.