Really cleaning your derailleurs can do wonders for its smart operations

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines   | March 7, 2015.



The front derailleur of my SARS bike (it is part of the Ultegra groupset before it was outmoded with the latest model) was malfunctioning,  It would not downshift to 39 once I clicked the smaller/downshift paddle.  I checked the STI and its cables and nothing was wrong with it.

I checked the front derailleur;  it was grimy and had some sand particles on it.   I sprayed WD 40 to no avail.

Thus I had to disassemble this, remove from the bike and had small watch screwdriver to remove the sand and soil wedged between the pivot of the shifter.   I had to repeat this 3x.  True enough, some grit is preventing the free movement of the derailleur.

I assembled the derailleur again and this time, it shifted efficiently.  I thought the derailleur was a goner.