How to Adjust Front Derailleur on a Bicycle

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Adjust the front derailleur on a bicycle to keep your bicycle shifting properly. The front derailleur is located just behind the front tire and is attached to the frame near the top of the chain guard. Place your bicycle on a bike rack or turn it upside down to adjust the derailleur.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

Position the front derailleur cage parallel to the largest front sprocket. It should be about three millimeters above the sprocket.
Step 2

Put the rear derailleur in high gear or in the smallest sprocket and tighten the front derailleur screw. Be sure you tighten the screw until it won't shift into high gear.
Step 3

Continue backing out the screw out while turning the pedals until the shift is smooth each time.
Step 4

Repeat these steps with the rear derailleur in low gear.
Step 5

Check the different combinations of your front and rear gears and adjust so that it shifts smoothly each time.
Step 6

Adjust the derailleur cable if the chain is still reluctant to **** into the highest and lowest gears. Do this by shifting to the largest sprocket and pushing the shifter all the way out. Loosen the anchor bolt, tighten the cable and re-anchor the bolt.
Step 7

Clean, oil or replace the cable if shifting still isn't smooth.

Tips & Warnings

Bend the front derailleur slightly if you need to get a better fit and keep the chain from slipping off.
Both the front and rear derailleur can be easily replaced on a bicycle. By updating parts, you can extend the life of your bicycle without having to replace it.

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