low gear not engaging, do I just tighten gear cable?

sirlylos
sirlylos Posts: 234
edited July 2010 in Road beginners
Hi Guys,

Just a quickie. My front low gear (smallest) hardly ever engages. I've had a wee look on youtube for tutorials on adjusting the gears and it looks like I need to adjust the cable itself. Is it just a case of me looseing the allen key bolt and pullin the cable through and then tightening again?

any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

sirlylos
1993 - Ridgeback 301 G3
1995 - Ridgeback 601 GS
1997 - Specialized Hardrock
2003 - Specialized FSR XC
2008 - Specialized Epic FSR Comp
2009 - Giant Defy 3
2010 - Voodoo Wanga
2012 - Cannondale Supersix 105

Comments

  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    No.

    The derailleur is moved down the gears at the front by the return spring. It's at its lowest tension on the small chainring.

    If the chainring is not moving far enough, you need to adjust the lower limit screw on the derailleur.
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  • Erudin
    Erudin Posts: 136
    My Mum's bike had this problem, even with the L- screw loosened right off it was slow to change, found angling it a bit more tail outward fixed the problem.

    http://www.parktool.com/repair/printhowto.asp?id=75

    ftder823293492346399.jpg

    "Front Derailleur - Adjusting L-screw

    The L-screw controls the inward most travel of the front derailleur. Set adequately, it allows the chain to shift to the smallest ring, but not beyond so it falls off.

    1. Shift chain to innermost rear sprocket and innermost front chainring. Inspect derailleur for marking indicating "L" screw.
    2. Check inner wire tension. It should be fairly loose at this time. If inner wire is taut, turn barrel adjuster clockwise into housing. The barrel adjuster is typically located where the cable housing enters the shift lever. If barrel adjuster is already fully turned into housing, loosen inner wire pinch bolt, slacken inner wire and retighten bolt.
    3. Sight gap between inner chain plate and inner cage plate. Only a small gap should be visible, about 1/16" or 1mm, about the thickness of a dime. "

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