How To Adjust A Shimano Front Derailleur

Your shifter is not working properly on your bike and you want to know how to adjust a Shimano front Derailleur? The front derailleur moves your bike chain between chain-rings from one chain ring to another. When you shift, gears tension can alter on the cable because that cable that connects the derailleur to the shifter body over time can stretch. This affects the shifting and causes for it to not respond properly and become sluggish. Adjusting the Shimano front derailleur will put everything back into place.

To adjust a Shimano front derailleur you need:

• 5 mm Allen key

1. Shift the chain. Use the front shifter to shift the derailleur and the chain to the largest rear sprocket. Push the front shifter all the way forward as far as it can go.
2. Loosen the front shifter bolt. Locate the shifter cable bolt above the front derailleur. Loosen the bolt using a five mm allen key. The derailleur cable will get slack.
3. Turn the cable adjuster. Locate the Shimano front derailleur cable adjuster located along somewhere midway along the cable or beside the shifter. Then turn the adjuster all the way. Once the adjuster barrel is turned all the way in, turn the barrel in the opposite direction for three full turns.
4. Re-tighten the front shifter bolt. Grab the end of the cable, being sure to pull it tight. Tighten the shifter bolt using the Allen key back on the Shimano front derailleur cable.
5. Shift the front derailleur to the large chain ring.  Use the front gear shifter to help shift the Shimano front derailleur and chain. Turn the adjuster barrel counterclockwise about a one quarter turn, and then shift it again. Continue this until the derailleur completely transfers the chain to the large chain ring when your shift. Once this occurs your Shimano front Derailleur has been adjusted.