Slipping Front Derailer

[neb32]

Having an issue with my front derailleur slipping. My bikes seat tube is dented where the derailleur mounts. I see why it was such a good deal when I bought it. I had issues with the front derailleur and brought it in 3 or 4 different times. The derailleur was torqued down so much that it dented a small vertical dent where the derailleur was. Needless to say I will no longer go there for adjustments. I have adjusted it correctly and modified the cage to be the same as current models for tire clearance on the smallest chain ring. It shifted fine through many tests on the stand. Upon my first ride it has repositioned itself back in the dent. Is there something I can put on the frame to make it true again? I was thinking about a small piece of silicon rubber or some JB weld and build up the frame again.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[dvo1]

Frame and dérailleur model info needed first.

[soupboy]

1x9 FTMFWy0

[Ish]

can you take it back to the shop that dented it?

[neb32]

It is a 06 Gary Fisher Fat Possum. Shimano M-510 Deore front derailleur.
Don't think they will take it back, I should check. They would probably give me store credit if anything. I don't think I want to buy another one from them after this.

[neb32]

1x9 FTMFWy0

Thats how I'm rollin now. Funny avatar, creative!

[soupboy]

Take it Mike Nendza at Erik's in Cloudy Town.

Thats how I'm rollin now. Funny avatar, creative!

[Stonehenge]

simple fix try.....

cut a piece of thin aluminum to make a shim.....preferably beer can. the better the beer the better the shim.

Place shim over dent area or around as much of tube as needed for tight fit. Note if it slips then you can use sand paper and rought up the paint and aluminum or maybe use some sticky stuff between shim and tube. Either way there is not enought girth on the tube to fill the I.D of FD mount.
Sometimes the cheap fix is a great fix.
You were on the right track with silicone and JB weld for the idea to fix but silicone is too soft and JB may be a little tought to deal with. Unless you fill the gap with it and make it nice contour...but hey...you could drink a good bear the cut the can before done preping for JB weld.

[neb32]

I like it i'll try it. If it doesn't work i'll have another beer and try again!

[daviebee]

I like it i'll try it. If it doesn't work i'll have another beer and try again!

or get a plastic shim from a LBS, I think I forked over a buck and then just clamped er down, no problems. No reason to f around and frink beer do to frustration....think I'll have a drink.

[wildride]

:banana:mmmmmmmm BEER!:etard:

[neb32]

Take it Mike Nendza at Erik's in Cloudy Town.

Is that really wrenching advise!?

A side note:
Not very impressed with Eriks sales/service lately. Lets put it this way their sales told someone I know that disc brakes are not that good. He bought a POS Rockhopper. The Front derailler would not shift to small chain ring. Brake pads rubbing on tire. Front and rear brakes not set evenly. Brake levers needed to be pulled almost to the bar. Scewer was broke from day one. And they had issues with the bike rack they got from Eriks.

The good news!
I will have to say that the shop I bought my bike from contacted me through MORC and has step up and offered to replace my front triangle! Very much impressed! Thank you guys!

[Slackadocious]

another option for you is if the derailleur is a top mount, and if the frame allows, you could switch to a bottom mount derailur or vice-versa, to avoid clamping over the dent.

Not all frames will accept both top and bottom mount types, but most standard hardtails will.

Making this kind of switch used to be of greater concern because derailleurs were either top or bottom pull.. but today most are universal, top/bottom.

If your frame allows, a halfway decent front der will run something like 20-30 bux depending on where you shop.

Also, I'd like to hear if anyone has any qualms with this type of fix. On several of my bikes I've used both top and/or bottom mount ft der with no issues. Is there a good reason not to do this?

I hope this helps, and let me know your thoughts..

thanks