You are on page 1of 3

How to adjust bicycle derailers

Written by David Heatley


Monday, 13 December 2010 12:04 - Last Updated Thursday, 13 January 2011 08:29

Another great article from the Bicycle Shipping guide on how to adjust your bicycle derailers.

Written by the Bicycle Shipping guide

To enjoy riding your bicycle, it must have perfectly tuned derailers so that the speed transitions
are smooth and precise. Tuning derailers is really easy and a matter of a few minutes once you
get some experience doing it.

Most derailers have two Phillips screw on them so that you can set the inner and outer limits of

1/3
How to adjust bicycle derailers

Written by David Heatley


Monday, 13 December 2010 12:04 - Last Updated Thursday, 13 January 2011 08:29

the derailer travel zone. This must be well adjusted to avoid situations where the chain would
drop off the sprocket due to a too long derailer travel.

Lets first find these screws. Look at the front derailers first. You will probably find the two screws
on the top of that piece. Now look at the rear derailer. The two screws are usually located on the
back of the main derailer body. The picture below points out typical locations for the screws.

Top view of a Shimano 105 front derailer (left) taken from service instructions manual and side
photo (right) (http://bike.shimano.com)

2/3
How to adjust bicycle derailers

Written by David Heatley


Monday, 13 December 2010 12:04 - Last Updated Thursday, 13 January 2011 08:29

Rear
photo
screws
Now
have
Let's
chain
are view
(right)
manipulations.
front
the
its
desired
sprockets.
extension.
left-most
saddle
selected
that
and
done,
begin of
aposition
bicycle
and
front
and
you
read
the (http://bike.shimano.com)
a
tube.
For
To
watch
with Shimano
derailer
and
right-most
know
do
derailers,
each
handle
Thought,
With
that,
chain
so rear
thethe
where
that
inner
should 105
derailer,
go
the
itsprockets.
the
in
youone
is rear
sprockets.
the
your
as
other
derailer
the
will
you
same
speed
you
shop
derailers
inlook
the derailer
screws
have
hand,
will
Repeat
will
guide
technique
Once
that
up
see,
to
turn
smallest
like have
are
set
orismove
positions.
this: (left)
itfront
this
down
you
the
located,
surely
the
is taken
toeasy
will
pedals
procedure
adjust
have
chain
inward
atthe
Like apply. from
aexplained
to
lets
done
sprockettime.
to
the
easiest
forward
doand
both
get service
Using
minimal
these
until
this,
Then,
and outwards
toits
way
until
the
work.
theyou
the instructions
adjustments
extreme
with
above,and
chain
to
the
derailer
will
Ifdo
biggest you
one
maximal
you
chain
be
these
ispositions
proceeddo.
hand,
able
set
are manual
shifter
rearwithout
issprocket.
to
adjustment
lucky
stable
derailer
to
lift
the
turn
levers,
on
changethe
it.
enoughand
correct
the
on
the
For
bicycle
the
Once side
make
derailer
theboth
toyou
by

touching
about
derailer
middle
very
front
the
Now, little
derailer
use
two
(the
and
smallest
do the
gear
the
millimeters
theteeth)
adjust
chain
guide).
inner
noise.
rear
exact ofon
its
derailer
the
Also
ifinner
sprocketitsgap
opposite biggest
side
make
screw
between
andinward
thingrear
sure
the of
so
we the
the
sprocket.
that
thefront
biggest
just bicycle
chain
chain
the
did. middle
derailer
frontBy
and
is
That frame.
not
gently
the
of
touching
sprocket.
is, and
derailer
the
Then
turning
changeturn
derailer
The turn
any
itguide.
the the
so
chain the
derailer
flywheel
that
chainpedals,
screw
Then,
theparts
should derailer
is
slowly
you
goaligned
position
look to
soshould
(especially
the
likeuntil
guide
thatrear
with
ityou
this: notice
isisthe
insee
the

Here
appears
screw
sprocket
pedals.
We
speed
on again,
flywheel
clockwise
the
means
check
close
play the
derailer
moves
If
tuning
the
Source: so between
chain
rear (toward
gear.
that
sprocket
are
with
to
the
offset
sprocket
you
almost
barrel
too adjust
the
perfectly
is
the
or
sound
again
have
inter-speed
gears
much
goes
is Verify
counter
gear,
is
gears
done.
not middle
makes
off the
the
correct.
next
itinward
in
thetunedpedal).
turnagain
guide
makesfront
ofsetting.
thoroughly.
the
to
best
clock
Nothe
To
middle
the
correctly
offset
one weird
or
ofisthat
the
derailer
and
Then
derailer.
weagain.
do
wise
pedal derailer
the
current
need
that
of
outward.
the the
as slowly
Now
adjusted.
correct.
noises chain
so
chain
After
that
and
Go
to
shift
one,
you
sprockets, that
see
is flywheel
Iffinish
yet
athe turn
look
(like
http://bikes.jump-gate.com/derailers_adj.html In theis
sprocket
time
few
that oneonits
ithow
that not
our
rear
is the
the
guide
touching
iscase,
smallest
at
is sprocket.
outward
aligned
iterations,
to
gear
means
thederailer
the
gear.
derailer
take
case,
about touches
derailer
down
that
If
one).
use
you
to any
screw
itchange
tuning
you
one with
For
isand the
derailer
bicycle
repeat
the
set not, the
the
Verify so
outward
flywheel.
sounds.
should
speed
redo
oneby
gently
ofand
barrel
the rear
middle
that
making
that
speedthe parts
pretty
down
The derailer,
When
ride
againthe
turnasure
whole
process
the all itside
less two
muchof
itaby
(the
middle
the
derailer
and
the we the
is slowly
millimeter
of
sound adjust
smallest
the
process.
few
chain
the
fine
in
end
time),
make
just of
minutes
screwrear biggest
turning
tuning
the
itup
will
went
sure
Your the
middle
makes
soThengap
rear
outer
derailer
with
derailer
end the
barrel
and
aup
itof
trough.
the
that
fine

3/3

You might also like