Setting 105 front mech?

[oldgreyandslow]

I flipped the handlebar stem to give me a slightly more upright riding position as I was getting a pain between my shouldr blades after a few hours and thought this may help, it did but I also found my front mech is now rubbing the chain when I am on the small front and the 3 largest rear sprockets..

I tried backing off the top adjuster screw but that was no good so I thought maybe moving the bar had tightened the cable somehow, so undid it from the mech, this dropped the mech to the inside and I adjusted it with the top screw so it just cleared the chain. I then reconnected the cable but discovered it rubbed on the outside plate when in the big ring and smallest 3 cogs, adjusting the lower screw didn't help but tightening the cable with the barrel adjuster did, however this then resulted in the inside plate rubbing on the large rear sprockets again when on the inner ring at the front.

Is it just a balancing act, or am I missing something?

I changed the rear cassette from the 12-25 fitted originally to a 12-27 but this seemed OK before I flipped the stem over, but the front mech shifter seems to take a fair bit of force to change from small to large ring.

Any advice welcome thanks

 

[accountantpete]

MAKE SURE THE CABLE IS FREEFLOWING!!!!!

105 left shifters are notoriously breakable - the movement should not be too stiff. Don't try to force it.

Have you remembered the trim feature and matched the lever/ mech positions?

If not -

release cable.

click big lever as far as it will go

pull out front mech so it is over the big ring and a little bit more (the inside of the front mech will be rubbing against the chain).

Secure cable.

Then click the trim on the small lever and the front mech should be above the big ring and not rubbing against the chain.

 

[oldgreyandslow]

MAKE SURE THE CABLE IS FREEFLOWING!!!!!

105 left shifters are notoriously breakable - the movement should not be too stiff. Don't try to force it.

Have you remembered the trim feature and matched the lever/ mech positions?

If not -

release cable.

click big lever as far as it will go

pull out front mech so it is over the big ring and a little bit more (the inside of the front mech will be rubbing against the chain).

Secure cable.

Then click the trim on the small lever and the front mech should be above the big ring and not rubbing against the chain.

They are indeed very breakable as I have just managed to do exactly that!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

They are indeed very breakable as I have just managed to do exactly that!

Ouch!

 

[accountantpete]

Ouch as well.

It's a long shot I expect but occasionally the nipple can work loose in the mechanism - take he cable all the way out and then test the lever. If it's still bust it's toast.

 

[oldgreyandslow]

Ouch as well.

It's a long shot I expect but occasionally the nipple can work loose in the mechanism - take he cable all the way out and then test the lever. If it's still bust it's toast.

It's toast, there's a small metal lever type part inside which is now busted. However the bike is only 6 months old so I have taken in back to Halfords (its a Boardman) and they are ordering in and fitting a new lever under warranty. Handy considering it was probably my fault.

This is the first raod bike I have had with shimano all my previous bikes had campy kit and I have to say I'm none too impressed with the shimano stuff. I bought a specialised sectaur off a chap on here to use in the winter since getting the boardman and that has a shimano 2300 group which is adequate but only just but then that's a budget set up so to be expected, but 105 is supposed to be good.

 

[e-rider]

it is indeed a very fine balancing act between getting a millimeter clearance at both extremes (small chainring large sprocket, and large chainring small sprocket).
I found my large carbon frame (seat tube) prevented enough inward movement.
I had to set it as best as possible and only have 'one' gear that rubs (large chainring, smallest sprocket) which isn;t a gear that I use much unless I'm going down a huge hill!

 

[Cocheese]

Ive got to ask, why just not take it back into halfords in the first place ? I know halfords gets slated a little but in my experience they are usually very helpful.

 

[oldgreyandslow]

Ive got to ask, why just not take it back into halfords in the first place ? I know halfords gets slated a little but in my experience they are usually very helpful.

I try to do my own maintenance wherever possible, I thought setting the front mech shouldn't have been beyond me. I had done it to all my Campag equipped bikes in the past, I had the shimano instructions that came with the bike. What could go wrong?

 

[Cocheese]

ahh famous last words

I had trouble setting up my 105 front mech too, i didnt manage to beak it though. I did however split a FSA carbon seat post 2 weeks old by over tightening the seat clamp £ 120 down the drain