Struggling to fine tune old mtb derailleur
Discussion
I'm doing up an old 7 speed mtb as my brother wants to ride it a bit (CBR Slice). Its about 20 years old and is a full suspension frame.
I'm really struggling to setup the old front derailleur, a Shimano FD M330 triple.
I have to cabled it and set everything up as per the Shimano instructions. However, a few niggles are still appearing:
1. When in the stand, it rubs the when on the smallest two cogs on the rear with the largest front chain ring selected. But when I ride it, it doesn't really rub. If I try to increase the cable tension to remove this rub, it introduces rub on the derailleur when I'm in the two largest rear cogs and the intermediate chain ring.
2. When in the intermediate chain ring, it rubs when on the smallest and largest rear cogs.
I have got it so it's working fine on most gears, but the extremities rub. In terms of cross chaining, I'd rather it rubs when on the largest chain ring and largest rear cog, but I cant add more tension to achieve this.
I will say that when I got the bike to look over, the front derailleur looked like it had had an impact as it was twisted around a bit and nowhere near the correct height and angle setting.
Could my issues be the result of a bent derailleur, or is it that I'm trying to make it too perfect and you will always get some rub on these old triple setups.
I'm using a bog standard Clarks 7 speed chain with a snazzy suntour rear cog if this helps.
Finally, I have been looking at new front derailleur. I have found one that has a max teeth limit of 18. The cranks on the bike (some old Cyclone things) are 42 on the big chain ring and 22 on the smallest, meaning 20 teeth. Would this be ok with an 18 teeth derailleur?
Thanks.
I'm really struggling to setup the old front derailleur, a Shimano FD M330 triple.
I have to cabled it and set everything up as per the Shimano instructions. However, a few niggles are still appearing:
1. When in the stand, it rubs the when on the smallest two cogs on the rear with the largest front chain ring selected. But when I ride it, it doesn't really rub. If I try to increase the cable tension to remove this rub, it introduces rub on the derailleur when I'm in the two largest rear cogs and the intermediate chain ring.
2. When in the intermediate chain ring, it rubs when on the smallest and largest rear cogs.
I have got it so it's working fine on most gears, but the extremities rub. In terms of cross chaining, I'd rather it rubs when on the largest chain ring and largest rear cog, but I cant add more tension to achieve this.
I will say that when I got the bike to look over, the front derailleur looked like it had had an impact as it was twisted around a bit and nowhere near the correct height and angle setting.
Could my issues be the result of a bent derailleur, or is it that I'm trying to make it too perfect and you will always get some rub on these old triple setups.
I'm using a bog standard Clarks 7 speed chain with a snazzy suntour rear cog if this helps.
Finally, I have been looking at new front derailleur. I have found one that has a max teeth limit of 18. The cranks on the bike (some old Cyclone things) are 42 on the big chain ring and 22 on the smallest, meaning 20 teeth. Would this be ok with an 18 teeth derailleur?
Thanks.
God I don't miss front derailleur set ups, they are a royal PITA at times.
I've built up X2 bikes and converted an old MTB to a single ring narrow wide up front and either 10/11 spread at back...and adding a clutch rear derailleur, to stop chain flap and dismount.
So so good, not just for simplicity, but cleaning!
Don't think I would ever go back to a double or triple front ring again.
Albeit, my road bike is a double unfortunately (front derailleur still a pain, and still get occasional rubbing) but my other road bike is a single speed, even less to setup and go wrong
Good luck, I can't add much wisdom but to ditch the front derailleur and embrace simplicity
I've built up X2 bikes and converted an old MTB to a single ring narrow wide up front and either 10/11 spread at back...and adding a clutch rear derailleur, to stop chain flap and dismount.
So so good, not just for simplicity, but cleaning!
Don't think I would ever go back to a double or triple front ring again.
Albeit, my road bike is a double unfortunately (front derailleur still a pain, and still get occasional rubbing) but my other road bike is a single speed, even less to setup and go wrong
Good luck, I can't add much wisdom but to ditch the front derailleur and embrace simplicity
Edited by DailyHack on Wednesday 17th February 21:40
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