Any Wrenches?

[WindingRoad]

So I'd like to buy Velo's derailleur she's selling if it would work on my bike. She has this: Ultegra Front Derailleur (FD-6600), Clamp-on, 31.8. Here's a pic of what my current set up is. I'm running a compact double on the front but since moving to a hilly place the triple derailleur isn't working so well. I'd love to buy her derailleur and have a matching Ultegra set but do you think it will work?

[roguedog]

picture is too small to see.

what's the year and model of your bike? you might be able to look up the tube diameter of your bike to see if it'd work. even if it's a little smaller, i think they make inserts to fit a smaller tube.

but i'm not a wrench by any means of the word. someone like margo from luna is more knowledgeable than i!

also, i'm curious as to why when you move to a hilly place a triple isn't working. just sounds like you'd want a triple if it got hillier

[WindingRoad]

Rogue - LOL, it would make sense that since the derailleur says triple one would assume it's a triple but it's not, it's a compact double that has been made to work. That being said, it works fine when there isn't a lot of stress on it (flats) but with stress (hills) the triple derailleur is too slow to shift to the big and back down to the small ring. The chain gets caught about half way and wedges at very inopportune times and I have to abandon ship, not cool. My problem is that it's a Lemond and since Trek and Lemond's 'divorce' there are no specs online any longer. It's crazy you would think since Trek made the bike they could at least keep the info in their archives,... but no. Very annoying. If anyone has a 2007 Women's Carbon Lemond Versaille per chance and you know the seat tube or clamp diameter that would solve all my problems.

[Becky]

I run a compact double crankset with a triple derailleur. Sometimes, when the cable tension drops even slightly, that chain wedge thing will happen. It happens on DH's bike too, and he's running a compact double with a double derailleur. In fact, it happened on his bike on today's ride. Half a turn on the downtube barrel adjuster, and problem solved.

I'd double-check the tension before doing anything else...

Good luck!

[OakLeaf]

Unlike some measurements on a bici, tube and clamp diameter is a true measurement. Just put a caliper on it.

Can't help you with the rest of it, but size is easy.

[laura*]

I seem to be seeing a bolt head where there usually wouldn't be one. Thus I think you have a "braze on" style mounting for your FD. But it also looks like you have a clamp. So - perhaps you have a clamped on "braze on" mount? If so, this digression is moot because you could substitute the whole thing with a clamp style FD.

[ridebikeme]

AS many have already mentioned, you will need to know the diameter of your seat tube. Some times, the front derailluer has the size on it, you can take your current derailleur off long enough to read the inside. Often times they are marked and sometimes no... If you are comfortable doing this, then check with your LBS... more than likely they can simply tell by looking at it.

Good luck with the conversion, it shoulds definitely help your shifting issues.

[aicabsolut]

You can also see if there's a spec. sheet for your current bike on the web. It will generally tell you what derailleur it came with, including clamp size.

It does look like a clamp to me and not a braze-on. So that's step 1 out of the way at least.

[lunacycles]

I agree with Laura: it looks like this derailleur is actually a braze-on front derailleur attached to an after-market clamp (although the photo's really small, it's hard to be sure). I use these adaptors frequently to avoid the cheesey shims necessary to use Shimano clamp-on front derailleurs (that only come in 34.9 and 31.8mm diameters) on steel seat tubes (that are usually 28.6mm).

This is probably good news for you, if you are willing to buy a clamp in addition to the derailleur (or if the clamp comes with the derailleur and is the right diameter for your bike's seat tube). Google "Problem Solvers front derailleur braze on adaptor" and you will be directed to some online retailers that sell these clamps that are designed to accommodate braze on front derailleurs for all common size seat tube diameters. However, it may make more sense to just buy a new derailleur, as these adaptors run $15 or so, more with shipping.

errrr....never mind. I just re-read that the image is of your current set up, not of the actual derailleur for sale. So, never mind!!!