Advice needed from pro fettlers
paolo73
Posts: 27
I've been stripping the commute bike back and replacing brakes, shifters etc. this week, for aesthetic reasons as well as to make the cockpit a bit more comfortable and correct a series of braking/shifting issues over the winter, and I've reached a point where I need to make a call on whether to bother keeping the front mech at all.
I'd been unable to engage the small ring for a few weeks, and in replacing cables etc. I've noticed that the front derailleur is either broken or just insanely stiff, so rather than replace it or fix it I'm wondering what would happen if i just took it off and left the front double 'naked', with the inner ring essentially redundant?
You might ask why not just leave it in place but locked over the big ring? But if I'm in a 53-21 or lower at the back then the crossover would need the derailleur to be trimmed to avoid rubbing, which i can't do if it's broken.
If i just take it off is there some sort of chain catcher that I can fit direct to the frame to keep it from falling off?
Thanks for the help.
I'd been unable to engage the small ring for a few weeks, and in replacing cables etc. I've noticed that the front derailleur is either broken or just insanely stiff, so rather than replace it or fix it I'm wondering what would happen if i just took it off and left the front double 'naked', with the inner ring essentially redundant?
You might ask why not just leave it in place but locked over the big ring? But if I'm in a 53-21 or lower at the back then the crossover would need the derailleur to be trimmed to avoid rubbing, which i can't do if it's broken.
If i just take it off is there some sort of chain catcher that I can fit direct to the frame to keep it from falling off?
Thanks for the help.
0
Comments
-
It's stiff because they get all the crud in the world flung at them from both sides. It needs a really good clean, degrease and lube to get it moving again.
Some mountain bikes use some sort of chain guide/catcher to run 1x10, no experience of them though. Sorry.0 -
Have you played around with the limit screws in your attempt to fix it? You may have just reduced the movement available.
If you leave the front mech off the chain will likely come off over bumpy surfaces. Get a new mech if its knackered, they are relatively inexpensive.0 -
pitchshifter wrote:If you leave the front mech off the chain will likely come off over bumpy surfaces. Get a new mech if its knackered, they are relatively inexpensive.
We managed without front mechs and chains constantly coming off in the old days of the front mechless 5 speed racer!
I'd reiterate everything else - clean the old mech and if that fails source another for a tenner.Faster than a tent.......0 -
pitchshifter wrote:If you leave the front mech off the chain will likely come off over bumpy surfaces. Get a new mech if its knackered, they are relatively inexpensive.
This.
Here is a band on one for a fiver posted http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-NOS-shimano-front-mechs-bottom-top-down-pull-band-on-31-8-28-6-BB-mount-low-/200910852546?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&var=&hash=item2ec73851c2. You'll probably get cheaper if you shop about and lurk on eBay.
It's not like they're expensive or heavy.0 -
Thanks for all the advice, I think leaving it off would be a mistake so I'll probably just bin it and get a new one as suggested. To be honest an hour spent cleaning and degreasing sounds like more of a cost than getting a replacement!
I've never touched the limit screws to potentially have caused the problem, so after 12yrs of abuse I think it's just ready for the big bike store in the sky....0 -
paolo73 wrote:Thanks for all the advice, I think leaving it off would be a mistake so I'll probably just bin it and get a new one as suggested. To be honest an hour spent cleaning and degreasing sounds like more of a cost than getting a replacement!
You drop it in a jar of degreaser for a bit, or better still, a pan of hot degreaser. After it has sat for a bit, you take it out, rinse it and refit. If that doesn't work you get a new one.
Not sure how you get an hours work out of that - more like about 2 minutes!Faster than a tent.......0 -
Rolf F wrote:paolo73 wrote:Thanks for all the advice, I think leaving it off would be a mistake so I'll probably just bin it and get a new one as suggested. To be honest an hour spent cleaning and degreasing sounds like more of a cost than getting a replacement!
You drop it in a jar of degreaser for a bit, or better still, a pan of hot degreaser. After it has sat for a bit, you take it out, rinse it and refit. If that doesn't work you get a new one.
Not sure how you get an hours work out of that - more like about 2 minutes!
58mins to go to the store and back and buy degreaser? :?0 -
paolo73 wrote:Rolf F wrote:paolo73 wrote:Thanks for all the advice, I think leaving it off would be a mistake so I'll probably just bin it and get a new one as suggested. To be honest an hour spent cleaning and degreasing sounds like more of a cost than getting a replacement!
You drop it in a jar of degreaser for a bit, or better still, a pan of hot degreaser. After it has sat for a bit, you take it out, rinse it and refit. If that doesn't work you get a new one.
Not sure how you get an hours work out of that - more like about 2 minutes!
58mins to go to the store and back and buy degreaser? :?
Got any petrol in the garage? You could use that. Or oil.
Don't heat the petrol though!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@N05/0 -
paolo73 wrote:Rolf F wrote:paolo73 wrote:Thanks for all the advice, I think leaving it off would be a mistake so I'll probably just bin it and get a new one as suggested. To be honest an hour spent cleaning and degreasing sounds like more of a cost than getting a replacement!
You drop it in a jar of degreaser for a bit, or better still, a pan of hot degreaser. After it has sat for a bit, you take it out, rinse it and refit. If that doesn't work you get a new one.
Not sure how you get an hours work out of that - more like about 2 minutes!
58mins to go to the store and back and buy degreaser? :?
The fact that you don't already have the degreaser explains a lot!
Faster than a tent.......0 -
Rolf F wrote:The fact that you don't already have the degreaser explains a lot!
:oops: I just ride it and then stow it, but I've learned my lesson!
The mech is still U/S, but the ton of filth I got off the rest of the drivetrain has redistributed about 50W of my output into speed as opposed to frictional heat :arrow:0 -
Been riding sans front derailleur for a few weeks now after one of the pivot bolts unscrewed itself on E&C roundabout, and I've dropped the chain once when the chain was in need of a clean and lube. I ride over cobbles twice a day as well, so you don't need a derailleur to keep the chain on. You do however need to keep everything clean and lubricated.1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
My 1x9 was throwing the chain frequantly on shifts mid cassette, no bumps needed, so on my experinece something to guide the chain is a must and yes it was all clean!Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
-
One too many links in the chain? Slightly out of true chainring?The Beginner wrote:My 1x9 was throwing the chain frequantly on shifts mid cassette, no bumps needed, so on my experinece something to guide the chain is a must and yes it was all clean!1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
rjsterry wrote:Been riding sans front derailleur for a few weeks now after one of the pivot bolts unscrewed itself on E&C roundabout, and I've dropped the chain once when the chain was in need of a clean and lube. I ride over cobbles twice a day as well, so you don't need a derailleur to keep the chain on. You do however need to keep everything clean and lubricated.
Just stick to the middle half dozen!Faster than a tent.......0 -
Rolf F wrote:pitchshifter wrote:If you leave the front mech off the chain will likely come off over bumpy surfaces. Get a new mech if its knackered, they are relatively inexpensive.
We managed without front mechs and chains constantly coming off in the old days of the front mechless 5 speed racer!
I'd reiterate everything else - clean the old mech and if that fails source another for a tenner.
Fairy nuff but 1X5 had much straighter chainlines than 1x 9/10, escpecially hwen that 1 is an offcentred half of a compactBianchi Infinito CV
Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
Brompton S Type
Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
Gary Fisher Aquila '98
Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem0 -
True. I only use about half of my current 1x7, just as I wouldn't cross the chain if I had both rings up front.t4tomo wrote:Rolf F wrote:pitchshifter wrote:If you leave the front mech off the chain will likely come off over bumpy surfaces. Get a new mech if its knackered, they are relatively inexpensive.
We managed without front mechs and chains constantly coming off in the old days of the front mechless 5 speed racer!
I'd reiterate everything else - clean the old mech and if that fails source another for a tenner.
Fairy nuff but 1X5 had much straighter chainlines than 1x 9/10, escpecially hwen that 1 is an offcentred half of a compact1985 Mercian King of Mercia - work in progress (Hah! Who am I kidding?)
Pinnacle Monzonite
Part of the anti-growth coalition0 -
A mate of mine killed his front XT mech over one winter by not bothering with any maintenance. Ended up buying new. I would remove the mech and soak the mech in degreaser or WD40 and work the shifter. Tey are simple mechanisms and I'd think its rusted up. Over winter it's worth a regular quick squirt with WD or GT850
