Front Mech totally out of tune...

[Gazzab]

I have been trying to get my bike into tune today but am getting nowhere !!
Any ideas...?
I am concentrating on the front mech first of all (albeit the rear mech seems to be struggling to!).
Anyway - I cant get the chain onto the smallest front cog. So I have undone the cable. It still wont change down off the middle ring though ! I have tried adjusting the the inner screw (anti clockwise). I have ensured that the front mech plate is adjusted so it is only a few mm clear of the biggest cog and that it is angled properly (parallel with the chain and cogs). But it still wont work ! I dont really want to give in and take it to a bike shop! Starting to consider dumping the front and rear mechs, rear cassette and chain and using this as an excuse of upgrade to XT !
Any ideas? thanks
Gary

[groomi]

Is the front mech fastened to the frame by a clamp or does it screw directly into the frame? If it's a clamp then it is possible that is has either slipped too low or turned slightly. A fiddle in these directions should yield better results.

Other considerations are chain wear or bent or damaged front mech.

[Rico]

Front mech is hardest to adjust imo.

Good info here - http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=frontmech

[Xenocide]

The two grub screws are upper and lower bound adjusters. Slacken off the cable all the way and fiddle with the screw with L on it, it should move towards the frame. If it's still not at an acceptable place it may be not straight or bent.

Basically what the rest have said.

Cheers.

[Edit: Here's a spanking site on it: http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html]

Edited by Xenocide on Sunday 1st July 22:58

[Beyond Rational]

Is the mech or the bottom bracket/chainset new?

[Gazzab]

None of it is new.
I have undone the cable and unscrewed the inner adjustment screw and it still wont let the chain drop to the inner ring. Looks like it is shop visit time!