Originally Posted by Andrew R Stewart

More details are good. The model numbers get right to the points asked about. Only took 10 posts. As I've said many times before my replies aren't just for the OP but for the others who read and try to learn here. Usually I try to limit my replies to 3, like baseball's 3 strikes. But when there's a teaching moment I'll continue.

The first take away in this thread is to get the info complete early on. Withholding details can lead others to think you don't know what your posting about.

Here are some of the points that proper index systems are dependent on- Cog count and lever detent being the same. Diameter of the inner cable. Compresionless housing. Housing end caps with solid ends. Cable stops that the caps can nestle into. Cog c-c spacing. Ring c-c spacing. Cog or ring tooth shape (shift gates/pins/ramps). Chain plate shape and width. Der cable pull ratios. Chain lines. Pulley float and tooth profiles. Axle to rear der upper pivot/mount. Drop out pivot stop tab location. There are more but these are most of the high points. When you drift form one or two minor ones the index performance isn't too bad. drift from a bunch of minor ones and things get touchy. Drift from only one biggie and things get bad right off.

Most doing there own work don't really care to know all this. But when you're working for paying customers you better have a good grasp on the fundamentals. Andy.