Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,818
Likes: 1,791
From: Northern California
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
This is by now an old story with the 11-28t cassette on the upper-level Shimano drivetrains.
Because of the 28t sprocket, the B-tension screw has to be turned in so far that there is a large gap between the top pulley and the smaller-middle cogs of the cassette.
The 10sp spacing is principally what makes the shifting so sensitive, as even the 12-27t 9sp systems didn't have this problem.
Short of fanatically adjusting, lubing and cleaning cables, or of pre-mature chain replacements (you are using Shimano chain, I hope) to hold side-play in check, the best way to deal with this is to swap your upper and lower pulleys. Note that the rotation is directional when re-fitting them.
This sounds rather home-spun, but I have easily doubled the service interval with this simple modification, and no need to replace chains before they reach the standard stretch wear limit. Shifting is much crisper as well on every one of the several bikes that I have done this to.
You could go one better by using an 11t ball bearing pulley in the lower position, which can be inexpensive while offering less friction than Shimano's top-pulley sleeve-bearing. I've sourced quite a few good lower ball bearing pulleys from discarded Shimno 9sp mtb derailers, and these work great. Shimano's pulleys are very high quality.
Last edited by dddd; 09-03-12 at 06:58 PM.