Problems setting up SRAM Rival gears

crapshot

Hi all,
This is my first time on the forum and hoping someone can help solve a problem with the SRAM Rival gears. I have just bought a Boardman hybrid pro (2012/13 model), and i'm having a problem with rubbing on the front derailer.
I have full access to all the gears in the larger front cog, but in the smaller front cog, i get rubbing on the front derailer using the three smaller rear cogs which progressively gets worse to the smallest cog. Halfords have told me that i should not use these gears as they are overlapped with gears in the larger cog and it could damage the rear mechanism.

Is this the case with these gears or do i need to go to someone else to have a look at them. I have watched numerous videos on you tube to try and resolve the problem myself, but nothing works.

please help anyone !!!

bobones

I've got Rival on one bike and it's similar, but I am rarely in those gears so it doesn't bother me. If I hear rubbing then it's time to shift up to the big ring.

I cannot remember if Rival has a trim function in that position where you can nudge the cage out a little to stop the rubbing. I know 105 does this, but Rival might only have trim for big-big. Even without trim you might be able to improve it a little by rotating the FD cage: just try to set the angle to minimise contact when you're in small-small and small-big then see how it is on the big ring.

I prefer to have rubbing in small-small positions if it means I don't need to trim in big-big positions because I am much more likely to use these gear combinations with my compact setup.

StillGoing

crapshot wrote:

Hi all,
This is my first time on the forum and hoping someone can help solve a problem with the SRAM Rival gears. I have just bought a Boardman hybrid pro (2012/13 model), and i'm having a problem with rubbing on the front derailer.
I have full access to all the gears in the larger front cog, but in the smaller front cog, i get rubbing on the front derailer using the three smaller rear cogs which progressively gets worse to the smallest cog. Halfords have told me that i should not use these gears as they are overlapped with gears in the larger cog and it could damage the rear mechanism.

Is this the case with these gears or do i need to go to someone else to have a look at them. I have watched numerous videos on you tube to try and resolve the problem myself, but nothing works.

please help anyone !!!

SRAM is designed to cross chain so Halfords are talking crap. Having said that, you shouldn't ride for long periods cross chained, but that's another thread.

Check the FD alignment. It should run parallel to the big chain ring. If it is pointing slightly to the right, this could be the cause of the interference. If the FD is running parallel, change to the small ring and detach the cable. Change to the biggest cog on the cassette and check the chain is only just running through the FD without interference. Adjust with the limit screw nearest the seat tube. Re-attach the cable ensuring it is taut. Change up on the rear to the smallest cog and check for interference again. You may still get some slight interference when in the small small combination and fine tuning with the limit screws should see it eliminated. Lastly change up to the big ring to ensure the chain doesn't drop off the outside and finely (not finally) adjust the outer limit screw if it does.

crapshot

Thanks Philthy, will try this, I thought it couldn't be designed to have that kind of rub on the front DR, just hope i can put it back together when i take it apart. I'm new to gears and could do with some kind of workshop to help me sort out basic maintenance.

many thanks

ddraver

SRAM have a few good vids on YouTube for setting up gears. I reckon sometimes it's better to just remove everything and start from scratch rather than trying to adjust. I don't know if Rival has got it yet but the most recent SRAM FD's are set up very differently from any other so it's worth checking that out...

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Thanks lads will check out any ideas, but if there are any other solutions anyone can think of, then please post.

cheers dears.