Which front mech for a 46T chainring?

[SilverSurfer]

Going down from a 50T to a 46T, what type of front mech would work best?

I tried putting a 48 on there recently and found it hard to get the shifting to work properly - is it down to the curve of the mech?

 

[HLaB]

I'm no expert but couldn't you loosen the clamp for the existing mech and lower it to suit the new chain ring ?

Edit: and remember to take up the slack in your gear cable.

 

[jpembroke]

I use a standard 105 mech with a 48/34 chainset. Works perfectly.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Mine's a 105 as well, perhaps I'm just a crap mechanic. So going to a 46 with it would be ok in theory then?

 

[Joe24]

Mine's a 105 as well, perhaps I'm just a crap mechanic. So going to a 46 with it would be ok in theory then?

You just need to move the mech down. At the moment its set up to the old size of chainring you had on, which is bigger.
Undo the clamp, or where the mech bolts onto the clamp and move it down a little bit.

 

[jayce]

remember to adjust the cable as its going down the cable needs to be tightened (but you already know that)my bad

 

[SilverSurfer]

Yes I kind of know the theory (and found out about the cable slackening by accident) but I find it bloody hard to get everything lined up, tightened up and correctly positioned vertically!

Rear mechs are a doddle in comparison.