The Easiest Way To Adjust Your Front Derailleur For Perfect Shifting 

The only thing I do in addition to your tutorial is turn all of the tension out of the barrel adjuster before I set the cable. That way I have the most adjustment available after the cable is connected. Really enjoy your down-to-earth approach to the issue and will be looking forward to seeing more of your videos.

2:19 How a front derailleur works 4:37 FD alignment 8:09 low limit screw 14:31 high limit screw 20:18 cross chaining and trim

I'm a really competent bike mechanic and I still watch these kinds of tutorials on a regular basis to see how good or bad they are and I have to say Jim has a great easy going manner and I've yet to see better, so keep up the good work as many newcomers to cycling will thank-you for it 🙂👍

Probably the best video I've seen for explaining this procedure. It has earned a thumbs up and I'm now subscribing to the channel as I have confidence in him as a mechanic 👍

Geez you’re a fantastic instructor. You obviously know your stuff but your manner of explanation sets you apart from most RU-vid tutors.

Excellent. Clear, concise, and not so fast that it's necessary to keep stopping the video. Well done.

As a newbie to road cycling, the half shift of the front derailleur was driving me crazy! I thought mine was broken or something! Thanks for introducing me to the trim function 😃😃😃😃😃😃 subscribed!

The best derailleur adjustment video ever. Explained so well!

I really appreciate good English. Here in Texas people frequently use the word "heighth" instead of the correct word, "height". Thanks for using the correct word! Good explanation for adjusting the most problematic component on a bicycle. I was a bicycle mechanic for almost 40 years and I had many a battle to the death with front derailleurs. Many of the problems were due to operator error. So, I retire and what do they do? They remove the (redacted) front derailleur from a good number of bicycles. Mechanics these days don't know how good they have it! I had to deal with Simplex pushrod front derailleurs and squeaking Mafac centerpull brakes. Keep up the good work!

Loving the way Jim explains the function as well as the setting up. Makes me feel as though I can, maybe, do it myself. Cheers Jim. More vids please

Very well explained, best I’ve found! I made a mess of my front cage today thinking I knew what I was doing and now I’ve somehow got back to it fully shifting and no more front cage rub. Thanks Jim!

Thanks, Jim. Yours is the best of several videos I checked out. Clear concise explanation that helped me correct a problem I was having with the front derailleur. And the he way you turn you head and open your eyes adds to the presentation. Most enjoyable and educational.

Just finished my Bike mechanic training but fixing bikes is not my profession so I need some video like this to refresh on what I've learned and by far this is the best detailed I've seen👌 I hope you'll do more content like this and electronic shifting🙏

On the R8000 & R7000 FD's, don't forget the 2mm support bolt that nips up against the seatpost. That is also used to correctly align the cage parallel with the outer chainring. Set the cage 0.5mm offset ( inboard) from parallel, then tightening the support bolt against the seatpost. That draws the cage back out to its parallel alignment. There will be no rub as a result. Download the Shimano manual for the 8000 FD to see what I mean. It's an often overlooked feature that results in frustrating rub in the smallest sprocket/big ring and large sprocket/small ring despite fettling limit screws. You sometimes find the front cage hitting the inner drive side crank arm as you try to adjust the high limit outboard to eliminate rub. Adjusting the support bolt as suggested fixes that.

An exceptional tutorial David, really well presented and easy to understand👌

Awesome explanation love the way Jim teaches. More videos from Jim please.

Great video, lots of useful info, thanks. I would add that it helps to screw the barrel adjuster all of the way in after the cable tension is released in order to give as much adjustment as possible from the barrel adjuster after the cable is attached to the FD.

Love your video, David, very helpful and high quality. Couldn't get the front gear change no matter how much I tightened the cable (barrel adjuster and cable itself) but it worked like a charm after I adjusted the high limit screw, on a whim, quite honestly!

Brilliant video explaining, to a complete novice on home bike mechanics, not only how to adjust your front derailleur, but the reason "why things happen"!! Definitely a thumbs up from me and a subscription to the mechanic. I looked at other 5-7 minute videos of the same process by better known channels but this instilled in me so much more confidence and belief in Jim as a mechanic! Right.....time to unbox my bike stand and put some of this into practice.......🤞🤞

Fixed my bike! Best way of stepping through the troubleshooting I've seen on the net. Thanks

Jim, you are a legend! I’ve had a long time problematic set up on my front Ultegra derailleur on a CAAD12 and I finally got the set up and tension set right, many thanks 👍

What an excellent presentation, in fact, probably the most clear, uncomplicated and useful explanations to be found. Quality. production and filming. I am an experienced rider, but with little mechanical sense. My home mechanics and fine tuning are the result of years of tears, occasional tantrums and trial and error. How I wish I had the benefit of this channel before now. Thank you so much to David Arthur and the production team.

Definately the best video for adjusting front derailleur, far better than other videos. he explains it all perfectly clearly for home mechanics.

Agreed. Instruction delivered at just the right pace so that you can take in the information. Also great to see how Jim gives plain, thorough instruction, without attempting to be funny. Impressive.

Thank you, David. This is the most *concise* and *comprehensive* explanation of the *PRINCIPLES* of gear change/drive train adjustment, that I've found in 7 years. Most "experts" talk about the "mysteries" and/or the "knack/trick"; and just don't explain the principles or the reasons properly, whatsoever. Your clear instructions and concise explanation of principles will enhance the riding experiences of everyone who watches.

You ARE the guy! Can’t wait to get her back on the stand and follow this through. Cable tension sounds like the secret! Many thanks from the Southern Hemisphere!

The explanation you laid out in this video is excellent. I've watched a number of videos, 5+, and your is the most thorough and well-explained. Thank you!

Had so much trouble adjusting my front derailleur and understanding the function of each part, adjustment, and the series of steps involved. Thank you very much this video! Explained everything perfectly!

Thanks Jim.. This is by far the best deraileur tutorial I've ever watched... UDAMAN!!!

The best video on this topic I’ve found. Clear, step-by-step explanations and methodology. Great job.

You are an excellent instructor. You not only show but you also help conceptualize concept.

I actually posted before the end complaining about the lack of trim discussion (deleted), you have my apologies. This is only the second video I've ever come across that does. Nice one.

Very helpful, plus you explain in such a calm and relax way it gives me great confidence to go ahead and work with it myself.

Awsome guide! Finally got great shifting on my bike. Best video out there. Thanks!

Love this guy, no complicated instructions, straight, simple and concise. Wouldn't trust anybody else for my repairs.

Great video. One of the best I've watched in adjusting these. Just pulled 2 Trek bikes out if someone's trash on big trash day and I want to get them set up and running better.

Life saver!! I didn’t know they put the small H and L screws around the other way on a modern bike, couldn’t get the gears to adjust properly on my wife’s new bike, until I watched your video. I just started again from scratch using your advice and now there silky smooth cheers 👍👍

By far the best instruction i have seen so far. All the others seem to gloss over certain bits about when to tighten the cable etc. will have a go tomorrow - thank you

Thank you for teaching me how to set up my front derailleur, you are a good detailed teacher, good on you

Thank you for speaking slowly and clearly. You are a good teacher. I just ordered a Shimano Tourney for my Trek Verve.

Great video! I did most of what you showed and I can shift flawlessly now.

Outstanding video. Solved our problems with a new bike and taught us more about maintaining it than any other resource I've seen. Thanks legend.

Thank you David. Great demonstration on front derailleur adjustment.

Cheers mate 👋, Indeed the most basic and easy to understand video on how to adjust your front mech 👍😊. Have a good one and stay safe ☺️ cheers from Denmark 👍😊👋..

to me, the best tutorial on RU-vid. Keep em going, please. Cheers!

Best explanation of cable tension with in line barrel adjuster I have ever come across!

great video, love Jim's approach to explaining

Brilliantly and joyfully explained! Thank you!

This is by far the best explanation of front mech setting I have ever watched made my front mech work like a dream

Great video. I thought I was in need of a lot of new parts on a used bike. Followed these directions and everything works great. Thank you.

Excellent tutorial and way of communicating technical issues.

great understanding, explanation and walking through the setup process, thank you for helping me understand of how this system works rather than just fixing a short term problem. The emphasis on tension was the key for me. I was relying on the adjusting screws too much.

Great info! Thank you! I was able to realign my front derailleur, following this vide.

Fantastic. I was about to give up with my Shimano Sora, but you covered it all. I ll try again now! It is what I was looking for.

Best front derailleur tutorial on RU-vid. Terrific explanation. Excellent detail and precision language.

Mate, this was excellent. Extremely helpful and I just love your cool, calm demeanor. I’d definitely watch more of these. Thank you 🎉

Very helpful explanation! finally got my front derailleur set up properly after watching.

Great tutorial. Having been gifted a bike and knowing next to nothing about them, I replaced the front detailleur and got it working for all three gears. I can now conquer those hills with ease. Many thanks.

You are the best for couple years my bike was scratching the front dereilleur and I took it to a couple bike shops and didn't fix it I watch these video like 6 time to fallow step by step and now no more issues thanks so much ❤.most of the problem was in the high the explanation of the coin is great after that everything was beatiful.

Excellent Demonstration. Thanks.

Great video, Jim. Well done.

Thank you very much. As someone who's just taken out the new bike and experienced stretch, trying to understand how to set up the front Mec has been a chore and a half. Thanks Jim that's really helped me understand the process never mind how to

Brilliant Jim, really clear explanation 👍

What a masterclass! 😍

I've arrived here in frustration, and am glad I've found this channel. I've just bought a new bike with a 105 groupset (11/34 cassette, 52/36 chainset) - but with the modern front derailleur, which works differently to the 'pivot' High/Low adjustment shown here. The high limit bolt still determines how far out the front derailleur can travel, but achieves this in a completely different way. It works in conjunction with the shift cable tension, not against it. The high limit bolt determines where the derailleur is positioned relative to the tension of the shift cable. For this reason, the high limit setting also changes the location of the front derailleur in both the LOW and HIGH TRIM shift positions as well. I've had quite a job trying to get the adjustments right - something that was never a problem for me on the older front derailleur. Lots of fine-tuning in all the usual areas - but I still can't completely eliminate the chain rub (minimal, but still there) on the three highest gears (large chainring, three smallest sprockets). Trimming of course makes a difference, but still not enough. I've still got a bit of outward movement on the cage (not enough to throw off the chain), which makes me think it can only be a question of cable tension now. Can you suggest where I might be going wrong, please?

👏👏 Thanks for the amazing instruction/help!!

Thanks mate, very well detailed, you're a champ !

Finally a vid properly covering the trim function!

Not probably, but for sure, the best video related to this topic. Absolutely briliant!

Tanks mate now i undertand how the front deraileur works i try het now is working very good 😀. Cheers

Great walk-through. Very helpful! 🙂

Awesome explanation and exactly what I needed to set a new bike. 👍👍👍

Excellent information, awesome instructions, top instructor.

Really good explanation. massive thanks

Brilliant instruction video, helped me alot

Really useful tutorial, many thanks!

My favourite bicycle repair man, sorry I mean bicycle mechanic 😉 You've got a gift for explaining things!

Great thanks David. Really easy to follow and able get mine back working properly!

Outstanding video!

Thank you so much David, After many videos watched on youtube, yours it he one. properly explained and with all the tips and details. Best!

Very useful video - thanks!

Agree with each and every comment from the folks below... This is the best and most comprehensive explanation and demonstration of setting up the front Derailleur.. Thank you ;-)

Thank you so much; awesome that you showed it for r8000 ultegra too ,must be one of the most common deraileurs, including what i have on my bike

Awesome explanation, thanks very much

Thank you good sir! definitely helped me adjust my front derailleur with this video. very informative and easy to follow.

Thanks a lot! This is a very good instruction indeed; it inspires the confidence required for an amateur to start doing this by himself. Cheers from Norway 🎯

Thank you, sir, for your excellent advice on how to safely adjust your front derailleur! Much appreciated! Stay blessed! Best regards, from Sweden! 💯👍👍👍

This was fantastic. I have to troubleshoot a derailleur that is not going onto my big chainring later tonight. This will help a ton as it's been ages since I last worked on one.

Brilliant video. Thank you.

I watched three videos before I found this one on how to adjust the front derailleur. This was by far the best and easiest to understand for a newb like me. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. I'm not a very good mechanic but I love diy fixes that can save me time and money. This video helped me do it myself, and have a better understanding of how my bike works!

Kudos for the clarity, the conciseness and the pace. All are paramount for a newbie to latch on the info. I've tried to adjust following another video and the derailleur would not shift up. I now think I got the cable tension wrong. I'll first disconnect the cable and walk the steps again. Hopefully I'll get a better result, or else I'd have to believe my derailleur itself is a fiddly subpar part, bring it to the shop and try to wring out some specific intel from the mechanic.

Good video. Easy to follow.

Awesome instructor, straight to the point and clear, just got a new bike and didn't know how to adjust the H. On an ultegra 8000.....thanks so much you just save me a ton of money....🎉🎉🎉

Just what I needed to see and hear. Thank You, Jim 🙂

The best and most pedagogy on RU-vid 👍😀

Best video to explain how to adjust the from derailleur. Thanks a lot

Well I hung in right to the end, the last bit when you covered the new 2022 105 with different config. This video is the only place I could find info on the different placement of limits and barrel adjust. Much appreciated. (better than gcn)

WOW! Now I feel like an expert. Great job and thank you so much.

Masterclass, THANK YOU

That was a very good video. Thank you.