How to Adjust the Front Derailleur on a Fuji

The front derailleur moves the chain from one chain ring in the front to another one. If you have recently installed a new front derailleur on your Fuji or have trouble shifting between chain rings, the front derailleur needs to be tuned. Adjusting the front derailleur yourself is simple and can save both money and a trip to the bike shop. It is largely a process of trial and error, making small changes until the Fuji shifts smoothly.

Things You'll Need

  • Hex wrench
  • Phillips screwdriver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Adjust the height of the front derailleur. To do this, loosen the position clamp that attaches the front derailleur to the bicycle with a hex wrench. Allow it to be tight enough that the clamp is secure, but make sure you can still move it up and down on the bike with your hand. Lower the bottom of the derailleur cage so it is as close as possible to the teeth of the largest sprocket without touching them. The closer the cage is to the chain ring, the better it will shift.

    • 2

      Adjust the angle of the front derailleur. Stand directly over it and look down. Imagine a center line running through the derailleur and line it up with the frame of the bike. Carefully tighten the positioning clamp when you are satisfied with the angle and height of the front derailleur, making sure you don't alter the adjustments you made.

    • 3

      Adjust the low gear limit. Make sure the chain is on the smallest sprocket in the front and the largest sprocket in the rear. Locate the two limit screws on the derailleur. The screw closest to the Fuji's frame is the low gear limit screw. Shift between the smallest chainwheel and the next chainwheel. If the chain slips past the lowest chainwheel and falls off, tighten the low gear limit screw. If it refuses to shift to the smallest chainwheel, loosen the low limit screw.

    • 4

      Adjust the high gear limit, using the high limit screw. Shift the Fuji into highest gear, which is the biggest chainwheel in the front and the smallest one in the rear. Tighten the screw if it throws the chain past the highest gear, and loosen the screw if the derailleur doesn't shift to it.

    • 5

      Shift the Fuji between the gears, making sure the chain does not hesitate or slip. Confirm that the chain does not rub against the derailleur.