Cross-transplant of the tandem and commuter drivetrains was successful for the commuter but did not go as planned for the tandem.

Removing the cassette from the tandem was a pain as there's a tiny lip or something at the edge of the freehub shell that made me work off each cog one at a time. But after that it presented no problem. The 11 speed chain that moved over from the tandem is quite new, but a pretty plain low-end one without a finish or much plate shaping. It looks pretty drab next to the multi-finish and shiny SLX cassette, so it will probably get changed out for an XT chain soon enough. I shook it up good in mineral spirits and soaked it with drip wax. I did not yet but may still change out the derailleur and shifter - definitely the shifter, as the Shimano pod configuration is just so much nicer to use than the SRAM pods. Many Shimano parts are quite good enough at Deore but the XT shifters are one of the things that's really worth it.

Even though I knew exactly where the tandem's original stoker crankset was, the baggie of 24-speed components was not found, so it now does not have shifters, derailleurs, cassette, chain, or the original timing ring, along with some nuts and bolts. I might have taken them to the co-op but I don't think so. This configuration of the tandem is half a decade old at least so the components have had time to burrow deep into the garage. I guess I could throw some of the worn out 1x11 speed parts back on, if I'm just getting rid of it. But if it's going to be a real tandem again and not a kid tug it's going to need the full triple range once more