Shimano 105 Front Derailer Stuck In Smallest Gear

plosty

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me; some idiot knocked me off my bike last night and now the front derailer is stuck in the smallest chainring; I can get the derailer cage to move across to move up to the largest gear but it doesn't seem to 'stick', as soon as I let go of the gear shifter the derailer returns to its position on the lowest wheel.

It seems like the problem is inside the front gear mechanism where something needs to click into place to hold the cable once it has been pulled over; has anyone seen this before or know can I fix it myself before I head off to the bike shop?

Thanks!

zanes

The ratchet (bit that clicks into place to hold it in the correct gear) is in the shifter, not the derailleur. Probably new shifter time.

Buckled_Rims

This happens sometimes when the cable is knocked loose or slackens somehow.

Loosen the FD cable on the FD, click the downshift paddle to reset it to the smallest gear and pull the cable and retighten the bolt. Then test.

See what happens, it's a cheap and quick test so you can only try.

cooper.michael1

indeed try the advice that Buckled_Rims gave above or refer to the pack tools website on how to set-up the mech.

However, if you search 105 left hand shifter failure, you'll see that 105 shifters are very prone to the left hand one braking, I had 2 brake on me, resulting in the symptoms you suggest. It is hardly Shimano's fault if you were involved in a crash...but 105 shifters are not exactly robust in the first place.

spezial

This does sound like the same problem that is a recognized fault in the LH 105 shifter, and it happened to me without a crash, it just stopped working on its own.

How old is the bike? Shimano will normally replace it under warranty if you take it back to where you bought it. Prob best not to mention the crash though!