Drivetrain Help

[Matthew Williams]

Hello all, I’m having a tough time finding the correct components for my Appaloosa's drivetrain—specifically, the front derailleur doesn’t like the Silver crankset.

Here’s the existing setup:

Shifters: Shimano friction, thumb
Cassette: Shimano XT 11-34 9-speed
RD: Shimano Deore RD-M591
Chain: IRD 9-speed chain
BB: Shimano BB-UN55 (stock from RBW)
Crankset: Silver 3-ring (stock from RBW)
FD: Shimano CX-70 (yes, it’s a double, it came with the bike)

The CX-70 barely functions on the Silver triple. I have tried several Shimano triple 9-speed derailleurs, but their travel hits the Silver crankset arm before they can move the chain to the outermost ring.

I have heard Shimano doesn’t play well with other components, and I’m now wondering if I need a crankset with wider arms so a 9-speed triple derailleur has enough travel room to move the chain into position.

How have other people solved this issue? What front derailleurs and triple-ring 9-speed combinations are you using? What do you recommend? As always, your wisdom, advice, and experience are appreciated.

[Garth]

Most road double FD's, Shimano or otherwise, at least before the "sneaky" current road designs, shift triples fine. I'm unaware of their FD's otherwise being troublesome, unless with indexing. The CX-70 is a "normal" FD as far as I recall.  

As for the FD hitting the arms, A photo or two from different perspectives would be helpful ! Plus the ring sizes. Details help. 

Even back in the day with narrow straight crank arms, a rather wide cage Campy double FD moved the chain without hitting the arms. 

FWIW, I used a 9sp 105 FD-5500 double FD with 26/44/48 rings on a TA Zephyr crank for years and it shifted great. The Silver crank is about the same tread width as the Zephyr was, as I think it was a Grant favorite back then. I then used that same double FD with a Sugino XD 24/36/46 crank. I tried a Tiagra 9sp double FD also and it worked as well. 

No worries, I'm sure it's something simple.

[Matthew Williams]

Thanks Garth, my existing crankset is the stock RBW Silver 173 arms with 44/34/24 rings.

I have these derailleurs (all triples) in my parts bin:

Shimano Deore LX FD-M571

Shimano RX100 FD-A553-ST 

Campagnolo Mirage 9-Speed FD4-MIB3C2

Shimano XTR FD-M900 (tested, had issues shifting to high gear)

Shimano Deore XT M730

Shimano FD-MT62

Will any of these work?

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[Joe Bernard]

All or most of those derailers should work. I'd like to see a pic of your current setup, I think there's something screwy going on with how the mech is mounted/angled. 

[Garth]

I'd try the XT M730 Mathew, I have that on my Bomba right now with an Andel triple, 24/36/44. I also used that Fd with straight arm narrow Sugino AT triple cranks, so by golly it should work for you too.

[Matthew Williams]

Okay, even if the XT M370 is a 6-speed, will it work with a 9-speed chain?

My understanding is the wider cage means it must travel further to push the chain onto the outer ring, but in so doing, the cage hits the crank.

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[Bill Lindsay]

The over-arching meta-advice I always give in posts like this are: Have a good mechanic who you trust look your bike over and tell you what they think.  If that's what you're trying to do right now, and we're collectively the good mechanic, then allow us to look your bike over.  

"What front derailleurs and triple-ring 9-speed combinations are you using?"

The only bike in my stable that has a Silver Crankset, with three chainrings, and a 9sp chain and rear cassette is my HubbuHubbuH tandem.  That bike has a Shimano Claris front derailleur.  

The only other bike in my stable that has a triple crank and a 9 speed chain and rear cassette is my Hillborne, which has a Sugino Mighty 900 crankset and a Campy Mirage front derailleur.  

Both those bikes shift perfectly well with friction shifters.  

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Dorothy C]

Just bear in mind that the latest Claris FD’s are now different and don’t work like the older ones

https://www.rivbike.com/pages/watch-out-for-sneakypull-derailers-if-youre-using-friction-shifters