component-FD-6870-F

The Shimano FD-6870-F is a braze-on road Di2 front derailleur that can also be mounted using a clamp. It weighs 138.5 g and supports a top gear maximum of 46T-5

di2-dealer-manual-ultegra-6870

Ultegra 6870 Dealer Manual

manual-di2-front-derailleur

Di2 Front Derailleur User Manual

The 6870 Di2 groupset was released in 2013 and is “pro-proven” as it is a direct trickle down from Shimano’s DURA-ACE group. It stands for state-of-the-art technology, proven in pro races, the technology used in ULTEGRA 6800 series with 11-speed, advanced designed brakes, latest chain treatment and more.

Ultegra

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Front Derailleur

This guide applies to front derailleurs that have two adjustment bolts (or limit screws). All first generation 11-speed derailleurs are two-adjustment-bolt derailleurs:

- [Ultegra FD-6870](/component/ultegra-front-derailleur-fd-6870-f/)
- [DURA-ACE FD-9070](/component/dura-ace-front-derailleur-fd-9070-f/)

Before your start, make sure you have correctly set up your front derailleur height, angle, and support bolt. Have a look at the [front derailleur installation guide](/ultegra-fd-6870-dura-ace-fd-9070-di2-front-derailleur-installation-guide/) for information on how to do that.

## Set the low adjustment bolt
These derailleurs have three bolts close to each other, so take a moment to identify the correct bolt to adjust. We’ll first set the low adjustment bolt and have colored it yellow in the image below.

![FD low limit bolt](https://assets.bettershifting.com/two_bolt_limit_setup_front_derailleur_low_limit_screw_51a89ee9af.png)

In order to set the low adjustment first shift the front derailleur to the small chainring. Then, shift the rear derailleur to the largest sprocket.

Now take your size 2 hex wrench and turn the adjustment bolt to set the clearance between the chain and the chain guide inner plate. The goal is a clearance (**B–C**) between **0 and 0.5 mm** – but not so close to 0 that the chain rubs the chain guide

![Adjust the FD low limit electronically](https://assets.bettershifting.com/two_bolt_limit_setup_front_derailleur_set_low_limit_screw_ca4297a15b.png)

## Set the top adjustment bolt
![FD top limit bolt](https://assets.bettershifting.com/two_bolt_limit_setup_front_derailleur_top_limit_screw_625349d5de.png)

The top adjustment procedure is similar to that of the low adjustment. You identify the correct bolt – colored yellow in the image above – and turn it to set the clearance.

Start by shifting the front derailleur to the largest chainring and shift the rear derailleur to the smallest sprocket. Now turn the adjustment bolt until the clearance between the chain and chain guide outer plate is **between 0.5 and 1mm** (this is the distance between **B and C**).

![FD set up top limit screw](https://assets.bettershifting.com/two_bolt_limit_setup_front_derailleur_set_top_limit_screw_6c5f233b63.png)

## All done – electrical adjustment
You should now be done setting up limit bolts for your front derailleur. Next up is setting the electrical top limit.

Why also set the electrical top limit if you've already set the physical limit using the limit adjustment bolt? The top adjustment bolt sets the hard limit (between 0.5 and 1.0 mm) and the electrical top limit adjustment sets the final position (0 – 0.5 mm), allowing the front derailleur to overshift slighty – which is what we want.

## High limit adjustment
The process for doing the high limit adjustment is relatively simple, just follow these steps. 

To begin, shift the front derailleur to the **large chainring** and the rear derailleur to the **largest sprocket**.

Press and hold the button on junction A until the LED next to it lights up red. You will now enter adjustment mode. You then use the buttons on your shifter to move the front derailleur in or out - depending on the buttons you're pressing.

Use the shifter buttons to set the clearance between the chain and the chain guide inner plate to **0.0 and 0.5 mm**. 

When you’re done just press and hold the junction A button to leave adjustment mode.

![Buttons and their direction](https://assets.bettershifting.com/adjust_front_fd_buttons_direction_01400553bd.png)

## All done!
Note that this is not the only way to micro-adjust your front derailleur. You could also [connect your bike to your Windows computer](/how-to-connect-your-di2-system-to-your-windows-computer/) and use the e-Tube project software to adjust your derailleurs.

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Read how to set up your two-adjustment-bolt Di2 Front Derailleur (Ultegra FD-6870, DURA-ACE FD-9070)

Set up Front derailleur limits (two bolt derailleurs: 6770, 6780, 9070)

Installation of the previous generation Di2 front derailleurs [FD-6870](/component/ultegra-front-derailleur-fd-6870-f/) and [FD-9070](/component/dura-ace-front-derailleur-fd-9070-f/) is a relatively straightforward affair. These front derailleurs have both a top and low limit screw, making installation simple and quick.

## Attach the derailleur to the frame
These derailleurs are both meant to be attached using a braze-on mount, but a [band adapter](/component/front-derailleur-road-clamp-band-adapter-sm-ad91/) is available for frames without such mount.

### When there is a mounting boss on the frame
Use your **size 5 hex wrench** to loosely screw in the mounting bolt and attach the derailleur to the frame. Do ***not*** tighten it fully yet. 

These derailleurs have a tiny bolt that goes through the derailleur and comes out the back. You’ll later tighten this bolt to sit flush against the frame, giving the derailleur something to push against when shifting. 

Now check where the derailleur’s support bolt hits the frame,  and stick the **backup plate** on the frame by peeling off the liner on the back. The **backup plate** is the small metal plate you got with the front derailleur - it’s there to prevent damage to the frame itself.

Note that if the support bolt touches the frame’s mounting boss itself, you may not need the **backup plate**. I haven’t used this plate [on my Cinelli](/build-log-cinelli-veltrix-disc-di2/), for example. 

The support bolt should touch the side of the backup plate without the tape. Tighten the bolt until it touches the backup plate.

![FD backup plate](https://assets.bettershifting.com/fd_6870_9070_installation_guide_FD_RX_815_F_backup_plate_b7c0fd64b3.png)

### When there is no mounting boss on the frame
If the frame you’re using does not have a mounting boss you will need a Front-derailleur [band adapter](/component/front-derailleur-road-clamp-band-adapter-sm-ad91/). While you can probably get away with using any band adapter, we recommend using the one Shimano make, the [SM-AD91 band adapter](/component/front-derailleur-road-clamp-band-adapter-sm-ad91/). 

Install the band adapter to the front derailleur using a size 5 hex wrench and the provided bolt. You do not have to install the backup plate, since you'll tighten the support bolt to sit flush against the band adapter. It won't damage your expensive frame.

Now tighten the derailleur’s support bolt using a **size 2 hex wrench** until it only just touches the backup plate.

Remove the clamp bolt from the clamp band, attach the band to your frame and insert and tighten the clamp bolt. Do ***not*** tighten it fully yet, as we haven’t checked the height of the front derailleur yet.

## Install the electric wire
Now let’s install the [EW-SD50 electric wire](/component/di2-electric-wire-ew-sd50). This is easier to do when the crankset has not been installed yet, because you’ll have easy access to the front derailleur area.

If you haven’t run the [electric wire](/component/di2-electric-wire-ew-sd50) through the frame yet, do so now. In order to plug the wire into the socket properly we recommend you use the Shimano [Cable Plug tool TL-EW02](/component/di2-cable-plug-tool-tl-ew02). You should feel it snap into place. If it doesn’t, the wire is not installed correctly and will most likely come loose.

![FD attach wire](https://assets.bettershifting.com/fd_6870_9070_installation_guide_front_derailleur_wire_1024x485_6721d2ee8d.png)

The [FD-6870](/component/ultegra-front-derailleur-fd-6870-f) and [FD-9070](/component/dura-ace-front-derailleur-fd-9070-f) both have a cable holder on the back which you can use to tidy up your cable routing. Whether or not you’ll use this cable holder will depend on where the electric wire exists the frame. If you do use it, the [TL-EW02 tool](/component/di2-cable-plug-tool-tl-ew02) is very helpful pushing the electric wire into place.

## Set the derailleur height and angle
Make sure the crankset is installed so that you can secure the front derailleur to the frame at the right height and angle. First we’ll adjust the derailleur height.

Loosen the mounting bolt and move the front derailleur vertically until there is about 1-3 mm of clearance between the chain guide outer plate and the tip of the teeth of the largest chainring.

![FD derailleur height](https://assets.bettershifting.com/fd_6870_9070_installation_guide_front_derailleur_height_3dcce7407f.png)

To set the angle of the Front Derailleur, rotate it so that the flat surface of the chain guide outer plate is directly above the largest chainring and the rear edge of the chain guide is **inwards by 0.5 to 1 mm** compared to the front edge.

![FD Angle](https://assets.bettershifting.com/fd_6870_9070_installation_guide_set_angle_1024x752_dbd82e5bf8.png)

Now let’s straighten up the Front Derailleur so that the chain guide outer plates are in line with the chainring.

Use a **size 2 hex wrench** to adjust the support bolt and make sure that the flat portion of the chain guide outer plate is aligned with the surface of the largest chainring.

If the support bolt does not touch the backup plate, move the backup plate so that it does.

![FD support bolt](https://assets.bettershifting.com/fd_6870_9070_installation_guide_support_bolt_straighten_1024x609_1079c1fb4b.png)

## Almost done!
That concludes the installation of your Front Derailleur. It should now be properly attached to your frame. The only thing that’s left to do is set the [Top Adjustment bolt and the low limit](/set-up-front-derailleur-limit-screws-adjustment-bolts-two-bolt-derailleurs/).

This can only be done once all components have been installed. Read about [setting the Top Adjustment bolt on this page](/set-up-front-derailleur-limit-screws-adjustment-bolts-two-bolt-derailleurs/).

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Bought a new Di2 derailleur or have to replace your old one? Read FD-6870 / FD-9070 Di2 Front Derailleur installation instructions here.

Front Derailleur

Installation guides

Details & Specifications

Shopping links