How To Adjust a Front Bicycle Derailleur

On any bike with gears, the derailleurs need to adjusted periodically to ensure proper shifting. Follow these steps to ensure that your front derailleur is properly adjusted.

Step 1  

Adjust your rear derailleur. Click to the linked article for complete instructions on how to do this.

Step 2  

Put your bike in its lowest gear. Make sure that you are on the smallest chain ring in the front and the largest cog in the back.

Step 3  

Loosen the cable grip on the front derailleur. Use a 5mm hex driver in the machine screw shown in the center of the picture. Once loosened, the derailleur will pull itself toward the frame of the bike.

Step 4  

Align the low end of your derailleur. Use a star driver and the adjusting screw on the top of the derailleur. The aligning screws are near the tire in the picture. Look for the one marked with an L.  

• Start by aligning the rear derailleur to the largest cog in the rear. Be sure that the chain does not rub on the derailleur when the cranks are turned. Then shift to the smallest rear cog and adjust the derailleur so the chain does not rub the derailleur in that position.
• Note: It is bad to ride with your chain on its full degree of stretch. You shouldn't be riding with the bike in the small gear up front and the small gear at the rear; rather change up to your next gear up front. When doing these adjustments, favor the chain being in the larger cogs on the rear.

Step 5  

Align the high end of your derailleur. While pedaling, use your hand to push the front derailleur to its top end position to shift the chain to the largest chain ring. Hold the derailleur in place with your hand while working  

• Using the adjusting screw labeled "H", adjust the derailleur in the opposite fashion as before, ensuring that it does not rub the chain when the chain is on the smallest of the cogs in the back. Then adjust to the largest cog.
• This time you wouldn't ride in the largest up front and the largest at the rear, so keep that in mind and favor the chain being in the smaller gears at the rear when you align the derailleur to its top end position.

Step 6  

Release your hand and let the derailleur pull down towards its bottom end position. Give the peddals a turn to let the chain shift down.

Step 7  

Pull the cable so it's nice and tight. Fix back the derailleur and tighten the cable grip.

Step 8  

Make sure everything shifts properly.

Step 9  

Now go ride!

Tips

• Take note that the front derailleur can be tricky to work on due to its position and geometry. Just be patient and you will soon have it down to an artform.
• It is helpful to have pliers on hand to help you pull the cable taut.

Warnings

• Improperly adjusted derailleurs can lead to poor shifting or can cause the chain to fall off while riding.

Things You'll Need

• Star screw driver
• 5mm Hex driver
• Pliers (optional)