Bicycle Mechanics - SLX Rear Derailleur - no barrel adjuster?

Would it be possible to take a barrel adjuster off an old LX derailleur and screw it on the SLX? Or is it best to leave it off this model? Why have shimano left it out in the first place?

I've got a barrel adjuster on the frame (bar-end shifter set-up), however it doesn't seem to be as effective when fine tuning indexing. Should I just use the frame barrel adjuster or is it best that I install one on the derailleur as well? Thanks!

Adjusting the barrel on the frame should have exactly the same effect as one on the RD.
I have no idea why your's has none.

If the SLX derailler is like the XTR derailler w/o a barrel adjuster, you cannot add one, at least not easily. I also second Metzinger's comment about the adjustment having the same effect. If you are having trouble getting your rear derailler adjusted, try some new cable and housing.

From what I've read, Shimano left off the barrel adjuster on the RD to save weight and due to the fact that they often freeze up anyway from being so exposed to the elements.

As already mentioned, Shimano's newer, higher end RD's don't have barrel adjusters. The body of the derailleur isn't made to accept one, so for those derailleurs, you'll have to do without. I think the weight savings and the fact that the shifters from the same group(s) do have barrel adjusters is the reason Shimano left them off. They were doing away with the redundancy of two barrel adjusters along the same cable.

Personally, I like a barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur. Heck, I wish there were barrel adjusters on front derailleurs. But as already mentioned, you should be able to manage with your barrel adjuster on the downtube cable stop.

I've got a Surly LHT with that setup (XT RD w/ no barrel adjuster on the derailleur, barrel adjuster at the downtube cable stop), I can fine tune the cable tension just fine if necessary.

you can also purchase inline adjusters, just splice the housing anywhere you want and presto! there ya go
see QBP

Thanks for your replies, the above posts are correct in that you cannot add a barrel adjuster to the SLX derailleur. I've had a closer look at it and taken a picture of it, there's no thread inside it to screw in a barrel adjuster. If there was one installed it would interfere with one of the limit screws as well. I'll use the downtube adjuster instead.

Don't ya just love the new and improved BS. odds are that shimano will realize this mistake and quietly phase it out also.

besides saving weight it reduces a part and labor, this in turn reduces manufacturing costs.

Don't ya just love the new and improved BS. odds are that shimano will realize this mistake and quietly phase it out also.

I don't see how it's a mistake at all. MTB's already have cable adjusters at the shifters. Road bikes either have adjusters at the down tube cable stops or inline adjusters. Why add a tapping operation plus three extra components (knob, threaded stop, and spring) when most people won't ever touch it?

I think it is better to fine tune RD adjustment while you are actually riding and that is rather tough to do from an adjuster on the RD.

Well if I had to have one or the other, I'd take the one I could adjust while riding without hesistation. I don't need it often, but when I do it's much more convenient even if I'm stopped. Ever try adjusting a rear derailler mounted adjuster on a bike loaded with two heavy panniers?

I just addressed this very situation in another thread dealing with the exact same problem. Save me from Carpal-Tunnel Syndrome and check out this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=595018