Front gear change (Sora)

[Wardy]

Whenever I change down on my road bike's front Sora derailleur, I almost always have to press the button twice before the chain moves onto the next ring. This doesn't occur when changing up, although that action is always accompanied by a slight reluctance to shift. My LBS (after a gear service) says this is normal, but I don't get it on my Deore triple other bike. Is this a characteristic of the Sora or is there something else I should be looking at?

 

[Pauluk]

I don't know about Sora, may be some of the more knowledgeable people on here do, but I would have thought it was designed to change in a more positive fashion than this. I wouldn't trust the bike shop on this especially if they have done the service. I have always found on my bikes that a reluctant or clunky change is nearly always caused by cable tension issues.

I've had a similar response from Halfords "mechanics" but later found with perseverance a good positive change can be achieved.

Before playing about with chain tensions I always do a quick visual check of the derailleur cage alignment (parallel/inline with the bike line and height)

 

[gbb]

Sora 9 speed or 8 ?
My 8 speed gets gunked up in the winter and almost annually needs some tinkering.
If its 8 speed (and 9 may be the same) its the pivot that wants some oil. There's a domed allen bolt at the pivot, you can see the bolt head from the back of the bike.
Undo...do NOT remove, just loosen the bolt, soak well with some WD40 or similar, manipulate the mech by hand to work it in, then tighten the bolt.

IF its the problem, it always works a treat for me.

 

[Broadside]

I have got a Sora triple and do not have to double click to change down. Is the STI lever a triple being used on a double crankset?

 

[potsy]

My Sora equipped bike does a similar thing, almost a double click to change down, but it's the same when I change into the big ring from the middle, like a 'trim' then another to shift.
The Tiagra bike changes up in 1 fluid motion.

I just learn to live with it tbh.

 

[Hacienda71]

The two clicks are for trimming. The first in theory should change to the middle ring, the second should be a smaller move to stop rubbing on the front mech when you a using a more acute chain line i.e. to the largest rear cog. I hate fettling triples , the one thing I would say when it is all working right, it makes sense.

 

[Wardy]

Thanks guys. Pauluk - Must say, I too thought it would change more positively. Seems nonsensical to have to make two attempts. gbb - it's a 9 speed. I'll try doing what you did. dmoran - no, the sti lever is for a triple crankset.
potsy and hacienda - Interesting the mention of "trimming" as the cage moves slightly with the first click. I tend to find it ALWAYS needs two clicks from large chainwheel to middle and SOMETIMES between middle and small chainwheel.