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How to adjust the bicycle gear | front and rear derailleur

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  • OVERALL DIFFICULTY INDEX: 3/10
  • IF YOU HAVE NO TOOLS YOU SPEND $ 10 TO GET THEM FOR THIS JOB
  • IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE YOU SPEND 2 HOURS TO CARRY OUT THIS JOB
  • NO SAFETY ISSUES​

BEFORE YOU START
  • No special tools needed for this intervention, just a Philips screwdriver and long nose pliers, also a size 10 spanner.
  • This is shown on a mountain bike (MTB) but the same applies to any other type of bicycle fitted with a derailleur.
DISCLAIMER:
Our pictorials are of informative nature and do illustrate works carried out by ourselves at our own premises for our own use and satisfaction.
Readers who envisage to carry out similar works inspired by the below method shall do this at their own risks and liability.

Understanding how it works

  1. A cable runs from each bicycle gear shifter (shift lever) to each of the front derailleur and rear derailleur.
  2. The shift lever displaces the cable just enough to move the derailleur in either direction.
  3. The derailleur causes the chain to shift from one sprocket (wheel) to the next.
  4. One or more springs help the derailleur come back to its normal position (highest gear).
  5. Two small screws in each derailleur do set the limit of the derailleur displacement at each end i.e. one for the low gear and one of the high gear.

The adjustment is simple but it will take some time until you master it.

Adjusting the bicycle gear

The method is the same for front and rear derailleurs:
  1. Put the gear shifter to the highest gear i.e. when the cable has less tension or eventually become lose.
  2. Tighten the cable.
  3. Rotate the pedals forward and shift gears.
  4. Set the limits with the adjustment screws.
To tighten the cable, start by putting the highest gear on the concerned gear shift lever:
Loosen the nut that holds the derailleur cable (left)
Pull the cable down until it is tight all along its length up to the gear shifter (middle)
Tighten the nut gently while maintaining traction on the cable with the pliers (right)
Make sure not to tighten too much the nut as this damages the cable.
Rotate the pedals with one hand (bicycle on repair stand) while changing gears with the other and make sure the chain moves both ends.
Check the limits are not set wrongly (see how to adjust the derailleur limits further below) if the chain is not reaching one of the end sprockets.
Repeat the cable tightening procedure if needed.
Use a small slotted or Philips screwdriver to adjust the limits of the derailleur movement.
Adjustment of the rear derailleur limits (left)
Adjustment of the front derailleur limits (middle)
The front derailleur has "H" and "L" markings on the adjustment screws to indicate which screw sets which limit (right)
Do not hesitate to bend a bit by hand the front derailleur if all gears shift well but the derailleur touches the chain on a particular position.

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