Struggling with Ultegra front mech....

[GoatBeard]

Recently bought a second hand bike with a 10 speed Ultegra front mech. Big step up from Claris. Trouble is, the bikes chain was pretty stretched and it needed binning. So I dropped in an Ultegra chain which did a lovely job of snapping on the second outing up hill. I returned to the shop and unfortunately they didn't have the KMC equivilent but did have a Tiagra 10 speed. I took them up on it, but I simply cannot for the life of me set it up without chain rub. I've set the limit screws so it can just make the shift up to the big cog with rub. If I back them any further so the rub is gone the cage won't make the chain jump to the big cog. It's a wonderful two grand bike without front mech barrel adjusters (presumably to save 'weight')

Am I fighting a losing battle with the Tiagra chain? I thought 10 speed was 10 speed...my god.

 

[itboffin]

Some Tiagra 10 speed aren't compatible with the rest of Shimano 10 speed groupsets, what shifters are you using?

https://images.app.goo.gl/411EA3BXHrrbeHBq8

 

[GoatBeard]

Ah thanks. I'm not entirely sure which brifters I'm using but they say Flight deck on them! Bike is a 2012 Boardman 9.0 Air Elite. Rest of the system is Ultegra 10 speed.

 

[I like Skol]

10speed chain IS 10speed chain.

Your problem is not the stop/limit screws but an indexing issue. You have two solutions, 1 - install an inline cable adjuster in the outer casing from handlebars to frame or 2 - try to accurately adjust the cable inner at the clamp bolt.

 

[figbat]

They sound like 6600 - I had the same shifters on my old Synapse. Are you using the trim facility?

 

[Gunk]

10speed chain IS 10speed chain.

Your problem is not the stop/limit screws but an indexing issue. You have two solutions, 1 - install an inline cable adjuster in the outer casing from handlebars to frame or 2 - try to accurately adjust the cable inner at the clamp bolt.

^^ this, I’ve mixed and matched 5 speed components with 8 speed over the years and managed to get everything working smoothly without any issues, I’d follow @I like Skol suggestion and fit an in line barrel adjuster on the front mech.

 

[Ajax Bay]

1 - install an inline cable adjuster in the outer casing from handlebars to frame or 2 - try to accurately adjust the cable inner at the clamp bolt.

Or better, both.

 

[GoatBeard]

Thanks, my cable is completely tattered from all the attempts I've made to get the tension right so it makes sense to put in an inline adjuster and do the cable at the same time. Fingers crossed I can then follow the front mech guide for dummies.

 

[Ajax Bay]

@GoatBeard - you are not alone. Only the extraordinarily talented (I am not one) seem to be able to get the cable tension for a front derailleur 'right' first time. An in-line barrel adjuster mitigates the risk (but the risk is still there) of a mashed cable by the clamp.