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Note:

Do not force the mode select switch to turn. If you force it to turn, it
will break.

Mode converter

Mode select switch

Model number

Normal type

Top route type

Front chainwheel tooth difference

Min. difference between top and intermediate

Front derailleur installation band diameter

Chainstay angle (

a

)

Applicable chain line

Front Derailleur

One Holland, Irvine, California 92618, U.S.A.  Phone: +1-949-951-5003

Industrieweg 24, 8071 CT Nunspeet, The Netherlands  Phone: +31-341-272222

3-77 Oimatsu-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka 590-8577, Japan

* Service Instructions in further languages are available at :

http://techdocs.shimano.com

Please note: specifications are subject to change for improvement without notice. (English)  
© Jul. 2010 by Shimano Inc. XBC SZK Printed in Japan.

This service instruction explains how to use and maintain the
Shimano bicycle parts which have been used on your new bicycle.
For any questions regarding your bicycle or other matters which
are not related to Shimano parts, please contact the place of
purchase or the bicycle manufacturer.

General Safety Information

WARNING

“Maintenance interval depends on the usage and riding circumstances. Clean regularly the chain
with an appropriate chaincleaner. Never use alkali based or acid based solvents such as rust
cleaners. If those solvent be used chain might break and cause serious injury.”

In order to obtain good gear shifting performance, this chain has a forward side and a reverse side, and the
sides are marked so that the chain will face the correct way when installed. The proper design performance
will be obtained when the chain is installed so that it faces the correct way. If it is installed so that it faces
the opposite way, the chain may come off and the bicycle may fall over and serious injury may occur as a
result.

• Use the reinforced connecting pin only for connecting the narrow type of chain.
• If connecting pins other than reinforced connecting pins

are used, or if a reinforced connecting pin or tool which
is not suitable for the type of chain is used, sufficient
connection force may not be obtained, which could
cause the chain to break or fall off.

• If it is necessary to adjust the length of the chain due to

a change in the number of sprocket teeth, make the cut
at some other place than the place where the chain has
been joined using a reinforced connecting pin. The chain will be damaged if it is cut at a place
where it has been joined with a reinforced connecting pin.

• Be careful not to let the cuffs of your clothes get caught in the chain while riding, otherwise you

may fall off the bicycle.

• Check that the tension of the chain is correct and that the chain is not damaged. If the tension

is too weak or the chain is damaged, the chain should be replaced. If this is not done, the chain
may break and cause serious injury.

• The two left crank arm mounting bolts should be tightened alternately in stages rather than each bolt being fully tightened all at

once. Use a torque wrench to check that the final tightening torques are within the range of 12 - 14 N·m. Furthermore, after
riding approximately 100 km (60 miles), use a torque wrench to re-check the tightening torques. It is also important to
periodically check the tightening torques. If the tightening torques are too weak or if the mounting bolts are not tightened
alternately in stages, the left crank arm may come off and the bicycle may fall over, and serious injury may occur as a result.

• Check that there are no cracks in the crank arms before riding the bicycle. If there are any cracks, the crank arm may break and

you may fall off the bicycle.

• If the inner cover is not installed correctly, the axle may rust and become damaged, and the bicycle may fall over and serious

injury may occur as a result.

Obtain and read the service instructions carefully prior to installing the parts.

Loose, worn or damaged parts may cause the

bicycle to fall over and serious injury may occur as a result. We strongly recommend only using genuine Shimano replacement
parts.

Obtain and read the service instructions carefully prior to installing the parts.

If adjustments are not carried out correctly, the

chain may come off and this may cause you to fall off the bicycle which could result in serious injury.

• Read these Technical Service Instructions carefully, and keep them in a safe place for later reference.

• If the chain is on the smallest or intermediate chainring, there is the danger of injury from the tips of the teeth on the largest

chainring.

Note

• In addition, if pedaling performance does not feel normal, check this once more.
• Before riding the bicycle, check that there is no play or looseness in the connection. Also, be sure to retighten the crank arms

and pedals at periodic intervals.

• If a squeaking noise is heard coming from the bottom bracket axle and the left crank arm connector, apply grease to the

connector and then tighten it to the specified torque.

• Use a neutral detergent to clean the crank arm and the bottom bracket. Using alkaline or acidic detergents may cause

discoloration.

• Do not wash the bottom bracket with high-pressure jets of water.
• If you feel any looseness in the bearings, the bottom bracket should be replaced.
• If gear shifting operations do not feel smooth, wash the derailleur and lubricate all moving parts.
• If the amount of looseness in the links is so great that adjustment is not possible, you should replace the derailleur.
• You should periodically wash the chainrings in a neutral detergent and then lubricate them again. In addition, cleaning the chain

with neutral detergent and lubricating it can be an effective way of extending the useful life
of the chainrings and the chain.

• If the chain keeps coming off the chainrings during use, replace the chainrings and the

chain.

• When the chain is in the position shown in the illustration, the chain may contact the front

chainrings or front derailleur and generate noise. If the noise is a problem, shift the chain
onto the next-larger rear sprocket or the one after.

• For frames with suspension, the chain stay angle will vary depending on whether the

bicycle is being ridden or not being ridden. When the bicycle is not being ridden and the
chain is positioned on the largest/larger chainring and on the smallest sprocket, the chain guide outer
plate of the front derailleur may touch the chain.

• The cuffs of your clothing may get dirty from the chain while riding.
• Apply grease to the left and right adapters before installing them.
• For smooth operation, use the specified outer casing and the bottom bracket cable guide.
• This front derailleur is for triple front chainwheel use only. It cannot be used with the double front

chainwheel, as the shifting points do not match.

• When installing the top route type, choose a frame that has three outer casing holders as shown in the

illustration at right.

• Use an outer casing which still has some length to spare even when the handlebars are turned all the way to both sides.

Furthermore, check that the shifting lever does not touch the bicycle frame when the handlebars are turned all the way.

• A special grease is used for the gear shifting cable. Do not use DURA-ACE grease or other types of grease, otherwise they may

cause deterioration in gear shifting performance.

• Grease the inner cable and the inside of the outer casing before use to ensure that they slide properly.
• Operation of the levers related to gear shifting should be made only when the front chainwheel is turning.
• If the brake fluid used in the oil disc brakes is of a type which tends to adhere to the plastic parts of the shifting lever, this may

cause the plastic parts to crack or become discolored. Therefore, you should make sure that the brake fluid does not adhere to
these plastic parts. The mineral oil which is used in SHIMANO disc brakes does not cause cracking or discoloration if it adheres
to plastic parts, but such parts should be cleaned with alcohol beforehand to prevent foreign particles from adhering.

• Do not disassemble the shifting lever unit, as this may damage it or cause mis-operation.
• Be sure to read the service instructions for the Rear Drive System in conjunction with these service instructions (SL-M980-I).
• Parts are not guaranteed against natural wear or deterioration resulting from normal use.
• For maximum performance we highly recommend Shimano lubricants and maintenance products
• For any questions regarding methods of installation, adjustment, maintenance or operation, please contact a professional

bicycle dealer.

Outer casing holders

Front
chainrings

Rear
sprockets

Technical Service Instructions

SI-5M40A-002

Specifications

X = Available

Installation band diameters:

S (28.6 mm), M (31.8 mm), L (34.9 mm)

When using the S, M size, use an
installation band with a diameter of 28.6
mm, 31.8mm and install it to a L size
adapter.

Chainstay angle

Chainwheel

Model number

Chainwheel tooth combination

Bolt circle diameter

Crank arm length

Chain line

Bottom bracket shell width

Thread dimensions

Applicable bottom bracket

FC-M980

42-32-24T

104 mm / 64 mm

165 mm, 170 mm, 175 mm, 180 mm

50 mm

68, 73 mm

BC1.37 (68, 73mm)

SM-BB90-A

SI-5M40A-002-00

Front Drive System

Series

XTR

SL-M980-L / SL-M980-IL

OT-SP41 (SIS-SP41)

FD-M980 / FD-M980-E / FD-M981 / FD-M981-D

FC-M980

CN-M980

SM-SP17

Rapidfire (Shifting lever)

Outer casing

Front derailleur

Front chainwheel

Chain

Bottom bracket cable guide

In order to realize the best performance, we recommend that the following combination be used.

(1) Check whether the width of the bottom

bracket shell is 68 mm or 73 mm.

(2) Next, install the adapter while referring to the

illustrations below.

Band Type

Bracket Type

68 mm 

2.5 mm

Spacer

68 mm 

BB mount-type
bracket

73 mm 

73 mm 

F

A

F

A

F

A

F

A

F

A

F

A

Installation of the Front Chainwheel

Follow the procedure in the figure.

1, 2

Use the special tool TL-FC32/36 to install the right adapter
(counterclockwise thread) and the left adapter (clockwise
thread).
Tightening torque: 35 - 50 N·m {305 - 435 in. lbs.}

Note : 

Spacers may be necessary depending on the bottom
bracket shell width. For details, refer to "Spacer
installation method”.

3

Insert the right crank unit.

4

Set section A of the left crank into the axle of the right crank
unit where the groove is wide.

5

Use the TL-FC16/18 to tighten the cap.
Tightening torque: 0.7 - 1.5 N·m {6 - 13 in. lbs.}

6

Push in the stopper plate and check that the plate pin is
securely in place, and then tighten the bolt of the left crank
arm. (5 mm Allen key)

Note : 

Each of the bolts should be evenly and equally
tightened to 12 - 14 N·m {106 - 122 in. lbs.}.

Spacer installation method

6

2

1

3

Wide groove area

TL-FC16

Stopper plate

Plate pin

Push up

5

4

(A)

TL-FC32

F

A

Inner cover

Reinforced Connecting Pin

Link Pin

Link Pin

Chain tool

Chain

10-speed super narrow

chain for 

MTB

Reinforced 

connecting pin

TL-CN32
TL-CN23
TL-CN27

with groove (3)

with groove (2)

* If using a bottom bracket shell having a width of 68 mm which is a

band type, an 1.8 mm spacer and a 0.7 mm spacer can be used
together instead of a 2.5 mm spacer.

Attach the same outer end cap to the cut end of the outer casing.

Outer end cap

Cutting the outer casing

When cutting the outer casing, cut the opposite end to the end with
the marking. After cutting the outer casing,
make the end round so that the inside of the
hole has a uniform diameter.

CAUTION

X

X

18T

10T

66° - 69°

50 mm

FD-M980

S, M, L

FD-M980-E

FD-M981

S, M, L

FD-M981-D

1.

Loosen the cable fixing bolt (nut) of the front derailleur, and then
pull the inner cable out of the shifting lever unit in the same way
as when installing the inner cable.

2.

Remove the adjustment barrel.

3.

First remove the unit fixing bolt.

4.

Remove the four shifting lever mounting screws, and then remove
the shifting lever unit as shown in the illustration.

5.

To assemble, align the shifting lever unit and the bracket and then
secure the shifting lever mounting screws.

6.

Place the washer onto the bolt, and then secure the unit fixing
bolt.

7.

Install the adjustment barrel.

Disassembly and reassembly should only be carried out when
replacing the shifting lever unit.

Chain length

Add 2 links (with the chain on both
the largest sprocket and the largest
chainring)

Largest sprocket

Largest chainring

Chain

To shift from a small chainring to a larger chainring 
(Lever A)

When lever (A) is pressed once, there is a shift of one step from a
small chainring to a larger chainring.

Example: 

from intermediate chainring to largest chainring.

To shift from a large chainring to a smaller chainring 
(Lever B)

When lever (B) is pressed once, there is a shift of one step from a
large chainring to a smaller chainring.

Example: 

from largest chainring to intermediate chainring.

Gear shifting operation

The INSTANT RELEASE mechanism makes fast releasing possible because cable tension is released immediately when a lever is
depressed.
This release lever is equipped with a 2-way release mechanism which allows release operations to be carried out by either pushing or
pulling the lever.

Both lever (A) and lever (B) always return to the initial position when they are released after shifting.
When operating one of the levers, always be sure to turn the crank arm at the same time.

Lever (A) initial position

Lever (B)

• 2-WAY RELEASE

Install the inner hole cover by turning it as
shown in the illustration until it stops.
Do not turn it any further than this, otherwise
it may damage the thread on the cover.

Inner hole cover

Tightening torque :

3 N·m {27 in. lbs.}

4 mm Allen key

Use a handlebar grip with a maximum
outer diameter of 32 mm.

Installation of the shifting lever

Replacement of the shifting lever unit

Tightening torque :
2.5 N·m {22 in. lbs.}

The shifting lever position can be
adjusted by sliding it to the left or right.

• Install the shifting lever in a position where it will not obstruct

brake operation and gear shifting operation.

• Do not use in a combination which causes brake operation to be

obstructed.

Note:

When installing the components to carbon frame/handle bar
surfaces, verify with the manufacturer of the carbon frame/parts for
their recommendation on tightening torque in order to prevent over
tightening that can cause damage to the carbon material and/or
under tightening that can cause lack of fixing strength for the
components.

Tightening torque:

2.5 N·m {22 in. lbs.}

Washer

Unit fixing bolt

Note : 

Set the stopper plate in the right direction as shown
in illustration.

Connecting and securing the inner cable

Switch the mode converter to the 3x (triple mode) position, and then
check the lowest position. Operate lever B two times or more to set
the lever to the lowest position. Remove the inner hole cover, and
install the cable.

Inner hole cover

Inner cable

Lever (B)

Refer to the FD-M980 / M980-E / M981 / M981-D (Front
Derailleur) Service Instructions for details on installing the
front derailleur and SIS adjustment.

Tightening torque:

0.08 N·m {0.7 in. lbs.}

Shifting lever mounting screws (Small)

Tightening torque:

0.14 N·m {1.2 in. lbs.}

Shifting lever mounting screws (Large)

Adjustment barrel

Bracket

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