Front derailer sticking

galaxyboy
galaxyboy Posts: 168
edited February 2010 in Workshop
My front derailer won't drop from the big chainring unless knocked. The cable is loose right up to it but it has taken to sticking where it is until released a few times. When it does start moving it is still not moving all the way without a shove. I have had it soaked with lube for a couple of days but it still wont shift.

Can anyone help?

It's a campag centaur by the way.

Comments

  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    I've just returned a Campag Veloce front mech for the same reason. LBS tell me Campag will blame salt ingress from the bad roads we've been having.

    Check the spindle for signs of corrosion.
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    I've just had this. The roads are not being good to our kit at the mo.

    To fix it, I released the cable tension, doused the pivot points in WD40 and then repeatedly moved it across its full range of travel until it loosened up (took 10 to 20 goes though). Then applied chain lube to the pivot points. It's fine now.
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  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    You were fortunate, DesWeller and hopefully so is galaxyboy.

    Mine was so seized, I needed all my force to move it once it was off the frame; the ergolever and cable weren't strong enough.

    These roads are indeed not very good for our kit, but a well maintained unit should last longer than the 6 months mine did (it was in the box for 1 month and wasn't used through all half of November and the whole of December when I was in Australia)...

    Sorry I'm ranting!
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • Dave Cornwall
    Dave Cornwall Posts: 56
    Hope this might help?

    Take it off and soak it petrol. That's what I did to mine when it seized recently and it's worked fine since.
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Ben6899 wrote:
    You were fortunate, DesWeller and hopefully so is galaxyboy.

    Mine was so seized, I needed all my force to move it once it was off the frame; the ergolever and cable weren't strong enough.!

    Don't get me wrong - I needed both hands to shift it, and I would have needed to mount it in a vice if I hadn't a workstand to stabilise the bike. I too couldn't upshift due to the friction being too great for the cable to overcome.

    If it's really bad, you might get some results by soaking it for 30 minutes in warm clean engine oil or diesel. That usually cleans most things.
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