105 Shifter / FD problem - HELP!

Rob001

Hey, not sure if anyone can advise me on this but I recently bought a Boardman Team road bike with 105 shifters and I'm having a nightmare trying to get the front derailleur to get the chain onto the outer chain ring, or vice versa. I did manage it the other day but the steup didn't seem to last and the only way I could do it was adjusting the barrel adjuster so much that the cable was really tight when the FD was on the inner ring position. I'm wondering if there's a fundamental problem with the shifter itself as I read this can be an issue for older 105 groupset with double chainrings.

I normally try and repair anything mechanical myself but this seems to have beaten me, perhaps I should just take it to the bike repair shop and see what they can do with it. Although if its a mechanical fault or faulty design then I'll just be wasting my money. Arg!

rafletcher

I suggest that you set it up from scratch following the instructions in the Shimano tech dos (which you can find on-line.

http://bike.shimano.com/media/techdocs/ ... 696762.pdf

arlowood

In addition to reading the tech docs in the above link, have a look at this video.

http://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/mainten ... lleur.html

One of the better ones I've seen IMHO.

I would also check that your cable is not frayed and snagging on the outer or some part of the STI mechanism. That would lead to poor shifting also.

Rob001

Thanks guys, I'll check all that out and see if I can sort it. My hair's already started to thin to I can't afford to pull out anymore! I'll let you know how I get on, if I'm totally bald when I do, things haven't gone well ...

arthur_scrimshaw

Sounds like the limit stops need adjusting.

rafletcher

Arthur Scrimshaw wrote:

Sounds like the limit stops need adjusting.

That was my initial thought, but I recall the OP had posted before that he's tried that and it hadn't worked.....

Another option is that for some reason the chainset/bb combination has moved the chainrings out too far for the mech to reach, but that's, well, reaching for a solution! And unlikely (I'm not aware of asymmetric HT2 bbs)

And I'm assuming this is a double, and he hasn't got what I had - tried running Ultegra triple mech on 105 triple chainset. It won't. The inner cage fouls the inner chainring. It's got to be a matching 105 chainset and mech which I'd never come across before. Shouldn't matter on a double though.

Rob001

I think I'm going to give up on this, getting too angry with the damn thing, looks like its the bike shop. You'd think these manufacturers would make something that wasn't so finely tuned. The guy I bought the bike off works for halfords and said the bike had been harvested for some parts so I'm wondering everything is okay on it, also when he delivered it the bike wouldn't change onto the big chain ring then either, so it makes me believe there's an issue with it I'm not aware of. I did get it to work for a while but then it went out after a couple of rides, I suppose the cable could have slipped a fraction but the fact I cant get it to work as before even though I'm following the same method seems odd. Perhaps I'm not being patient enough. Also tried the limit stop, not that and when changing the shifter it seems so tough to move it across. Might give that a lube and see if that helps things. Its funny ive got a 25 quid MTB that changes perfectly and this over engineered sod bag just refuses to play ball.

styxd

I'm fairly certain this series of shimano shifters had a habit of chewing up inner cables. I'd fit a new one, and peel back the bar tape and make sure the outer cable is seated in the shofter correctly.

rafletcher

If it is a cable issue I'd replace both inner and outer. I assume that you CAN swing the mech far enough out by hand (ie using your fingers), so you may be right about it being a cable/shifter issue.

dinyull

Yep, I'd have a look at inner cables too. I had a shifter that loved eating cables.

Also, does the mech move freely? I had a seized mech earlier in the year and was frustrating to say the least. Eventually binned it and replaced.

Rob001

Yeah I just replaced the cable when I got the bike so that should be okay, I peeled back the hood and fitted it correctly, at least i think I did, perhaps I'll take it out again and have a look at it. As to the mech, it seems okay but it coud be that that's causing the issue, I might take it off and soak it in WD and then regrease it after flushing out the WD, hopefully that will sort it if it is that. If it was hanging around in a room for years which the Halford guy said it was before he decided to sell it I suppose it could well have seized up. It does seem the most likely cuase. i'll report back back on my progress. Thanks all for your advice, its much appreciated, I still have a few hairs left on my head so I may just make this out without becoming a complete slap head, but I fear the inevitable decline has begun...

dinyull

Tbh, when a mech is seized it's pretty difficult to free up - if it is that - I too tried soaking and it didn't make any difference. Someone on her suggested me buying a sonic cleaner from Maplin, but a new mech was about the same price.

The mech should be able to be moved by hand and 'should' spring back into place.

Rob001

Okay, took off the chain and mech and wiggled it around a bit for a while, its definitely not seized but I think it might have eased up a bit after a while. I stuck it back on and then reset the FD by putting the chain onto the middle ring at the rear and then left the cable off, adjusted the screws as usual for front inner and outer ring for inner and outer of the FD rail and then attached the cable and it seems to work, just needs some fine adjustment and its good to go, hurrah! Until that is it goes funky again, although I'll just pretend that wont happen and jsut look forward to a nice ride with all my gears. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions, you've eased by suffering! Happy riding to you all.
Rob

Rob001

Okay, not sure what's going on but I'm suspecting the FD is getting seized again unless someone knows whats going on which is as follows: I adjust the FD so it works perfectly but then every time I chnage up or down on the front two chain rings the FD moves a little bit less each time until finally it hardly moves at all and doesn't change up or down. Very annoying. I thought it might be the cable that's loose but I've tightened it up nice and tight so I think its just a seized FD again unless someone has had similar problems and knows it to be something else? Could it be the shifter perhaps? I'm a bit lost to know what to do to be honest.

me-109

By a process of elimination it sounds like the outer cable is obstructed and in need of replacement. Assuming when you say you removed the FD and it is moving freely that it really is. The spring should be strong enough to move the cage quickly back to the inner position as you manipulate it. Any hesitancy is a weak spring or a build up of muck.

Rob001

I'll check the cable out. I did replace it very recently but there was 2 options where to feed the cable through so perhaps I chose the wrong one, either that or the shifter is buggered. The cage is strong and springs back well but I may take a longer look at it to be on the safe side. Thanks for your help, this thing is driving me nuts.