How to Adjust a Campagnolo Derailleur

Campagnolo is known for making some of the best bicycle components, garnering a Cyclingnews.com Reader Poll award for its Super Record 11 lineup of parts and helping to power several Tour de France riders to victory. But even the best bicycling parts need adjustment from time to time, especially the rear derailleur, which pushes and pulls the chain sideways using a cable and springs to switch gears. If you notice that your bicycle no longer shifts as smoothly as it once did, take the time to make sure the rear derailleur is properly adjusted.

Things You'll Need

  • Bicycle workstand
  • #2 Phillips screwdriver
  • Metric ruler
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Instructions

    • 1

      Secure the bicycle in a workstand. A stand allows the bicycle to be worked on safely and more easily.

    • 2

      Shift the bicycle into the highest gear with the shifters on either side of handlebars. The left shifter adjusts the front derailleur, while the right shifter works the rear derailleur. The highest gear puts the chain on the smallest rear cog and largest front chain ring.

    • 3

      Look at the position of the upper rear derailleur pulley, also called the guide pulley. This is the pulley that pushes the chain to the next sprocket. This pulley should line up precisely with the smallest sprocket.

    • 4

      Find the two screws on the side of the Campagnolo rear derailleur. The screw toward the front of the bicycle is the H-screw and controls the outermost limit of the derailleur. The screw toward the rear of the bicycle is the L-screw and controls the innermost limit of the derailleur.

    • 5

      Use a Phillips screwdriver to turn the H-screw. Turning the screw clockwise moves the derailleur pulley toward the bike, while turning it counter-clockwise moves the pulley away from the bike. Turn the screw until the pulley and smallest rear sprocket are perfectly aligned.

    • 6

      Shift the bicycle so the chain is on the fifth rear sprocket, counting from the smallest cog.

    • 7

      Turn the cable tension adjuster to align the upper pulley with the fifth rear cog. The adjuster is at the end of the derailleur cable, where the cable enters the rear derailleur. Turn the adjuster clockwise to move the derailleur outward and turn it counter-clockwise to move the derailleur inward.

    • 8

      Shift the bicycle so the chain is on the largest rear sprocket.

    • 9

      Examine the alignment of the upper pulley in relation to the largest rear cog. Turn the L-screw to make any necessary adjustments using the Phillips screwdriver. Turning the screw clockwise moves the derailleur pulley towards the bike, while turning it counter-clockwise moves the pulley away from the bike. Turn the screw until the pulley and largest rear sprocket are perfectly aligned.

    • 10

      Repeat Steps 2 through 9, checking the upper pulley alignment in relation to the smallest, largest and No. 5 sprockets. Make any adjustments to ensure that the alignment is always perfect.

    • 11

      Shift the bicycle so the chain is on the largest rear sprocket.

    • 12

      Examine the distance between the top of the upper pulley and the bottom of the largest rear sprocket. The distance should be 7 millimeters.

    • 13

      Turn the cage tension screw clockwise to bring the upper pulley closer to the cog and turn the screw counter-clockwise to bring the upper pulley away from the largest sprocket. The screw is on the front side of the rear derailleur.