Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

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mlteenie
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Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by mlteenie »

Hi folks

I am looking to replace my old Deore LX f/d (M560) - it never works v well. It must be something either to do with chainring (48/38/28) or poss b/b axle length (110).

Can anyone recommend anything Shimano-compatible that will work better?

I have an XT RD750 rear mech and originally was going to buy a matching front but perhaps that is not such a good idea.

Thank you :-)
Last edited by mlteenie on 12 May 2021, 7:22am, edited 1 time in total.
slowster
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Re: Front Derailleur for 50/40/30 triple, please

Post by slowster »

I think it would help if you stated what shifters and chainset you are using.
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Tigerbiten
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Re: Front Derailleur for 50/40/30 triple, please

Post by Tigerbiten »

You really need to match the derailleur to your shifter to get better shifting.
So what shifter to you have or do you intend to buy a new shifter to match your new mech.

Luck ......... :D
mlteenie
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Re: Front Derailleur for 50/40/30 triple, please

Post by mlteenie »

Thanks, both. Now why didn't I think of that? D'oh!
I'm using Deore 3x9 Rapidfire shifters from 5 or so years ago and the Spa Cycles Sugino copy chainset
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Paulatic
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Re: Front Derailleur for 50/40/30 triple, please

Post by Paulatic »

Isn’t everything you have mentioned meant for 113 axle?
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slowster
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Re: Front Derailleur for 50/40/30 triple, please

Post by slowster »

Your chainset is a road triple and has road chainline. Modern MTB front derailleurs that are compatible with your MTB shifters are designed for a wider chainline (and, less importantly, smaller chainrings). Modern road front derailleurs that are designed for the chainline of a road triple are not compatible with MTB shifters, because they require a different amounts of cable pulled per shift/click.

If it's not actually worn out, I would have thought that your 1990s front derailleur was possibly already the best option, because I think MTB chainsets of that time used the same chainline as road chainsets, and so MTB front derailleurs of that era are more likely to be compatible with a modern road chainset.

I suppose you could get a wider bottom bracket to increase the chainline to the same as that of an MTB triple, and buy a modern MTB front derailleur, but I think it might be best initially to try to identify the reason for poor shifting with your current equipment. It might help if you posted photographs of your current set up, including side-on and overhead photographs of the derailleur and chainline. I presume you've already made sure that the front derailleur is at the correct height, e.g. as detailed in the Park Tool video in the link below?

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-he ... adjustment
Paulatic wrote: 11 May 2021, 9:26pm Isn’t everything you have mentioned meant for 113 axle?
Spa recommend a 110mm bottom bracket for the XD2 triple chainset, and 113mm for the TD2. I presume the OP has the XD2 (the one with a chainring bolt hidden by the crank arm).
mlteenie
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by mlteenie »

Thanks for the replies.

I haven't been on here for a while, so apologies for the lack of precision - I should have remembered! I have amended the title - it is indeed the XD2 with 48-28 rings.

I will have a closer look later and try and remind myself of the mech's movement but you know how it is with some things where you just become used to their shortcomings and live with less than correct performance..

Have a great day!
UpWrong
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by UpWrong »

Spa TD-2 road triple, Sora FD, Deore shifter, widget to change the cable pull at the FD:
IMG_20210509_125123_HDR.jpg
mlteenie
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by mlteenie »

UpWrong wrote: 12 May 2021, 11:33am Spa TD-2 road triple, Sora FD, Deore shifter, widget to change the cable pull at the FD:
IMG_20210509_125123_HDR.jpg
Interesting. How does the widget affect the shifting?

My shifter basically seems to travel a bit too far in either direction after being adjusted optimal in every direction, but I'm going to have to check whether a wider b/b might help the whole problem or not...
Brucey
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by Brucey »

what exactly is your chainline?
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531colin
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by 531colin »

For XD2 , Spa recommend 110mm bottom bracket axle.
Its not explicitly stated, but my assumption is that is for a "road" chainline, ie the middle ring is 45mm from the bike centreline.
MTB front mechs. expect to find the middle ring 47.5mm from the bike centreline.
Triple front mechs. are designed for a specific tooth difference between middle and big chainring, but I don't know where to find this information!
mlteenie
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by mlteenie »

Brucey wrote: 12 May 2021, 3:40pm what exactly is your chainline?
Hi Brucey
I have no idea :-) I can google how to calculate it?
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Cowsham
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by Cowsham »

Brucey wrote: 12 May 2021, 3:40pm what exactly is your chainline?
:lol: brilliant!
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esasjl
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by esasjl »

I think the LX f/d may be intended for 44/32/22 on an MTB chainline. Mine worked OK on 48/36/26. Maybe it is the 10-tooth difference rather than 12 that is an issue? The inner cage plate may have a groove to lift the chain a specific distance. Is it the middle to outer change that is an issue?

I've moved all my other bikes to friction shift f/ds, and 1990s Shimano CXs are both cheap and good for 48-tooth outer chainrings and any middle/inner combination you like.

PS, on checking I have an FD-580, not a 560.
fastpedaller
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Re: Front Derailleur for 48/38/28 XD2 triple, please

Post by fastpedaller »

Here's my 'fix' from 6 years ago - a means of changing the cable pull ratio. It works! Using a Claris FD
download/file.php?id=35389&mode=view
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