Which XT f. dérailleur?
 

I'm building a frankenbike commuter/tourer with an XT rear dérailleur, 9-spd chain, rings and cassette. I'm running a road triple up front (26-38-50) on a Soma Doublecross DC and I'm trying to decide which fd-m77X will work best.

Anyone else running a similar setup?

the e doesn't need an accent thx

My browser automatically does it. Thanks for the substantive contribution

yw

P.S If you don't tell us what shifters you're running there is no answer to this thread.

That would help. I'm will be running Ultegra 9-spd brifters.

Thanks

Shimano's road and MTB front shifters/derailleurs operate on a different cable pull ratio. You're better off using a road triple 9-speed FD.

The only issue I can see is if your frame routes the FD cable from the top (top pull). There is a part you can put on to allow a cable that runs from the top to work on a bottom-pull FD (all road FDs). Edit: Here it is "'Cross Cable Clamp with Cable Pulley" in various sizes and colors: http://www.bikeman.com/Problem_Solve..._Supplies.html

Your chainring sizes and your shifter both call out for a road front derailleur, so get an Ultegra 6603 or 6703, or a 105 5603. A lot of places are selling 6600 stuff for cheap right now because 6700 was just released to replace it.

Ultegra 9s: FD, brifters
XT 9s: crankset 22/32/48, cassette 11-34, RD
http://www.dim.com/~ryoder/SomaPhotos/IMGP0014.jpg
http://www.dim.com/~ryoder/SomaPhotos/IMGP0018.jpg
http://www.dim.com/~ryoder/SomaPhotos/IMGP0019.jpg

Cool bike! I actually have a 5603 right now and I'm using a 10-spd setup, but plan on going back to 9. My only problem with the road f der is that I have a an XT rear hub and the chainline spec is different.

Thanks

The rear hub spacing shouldn't mean that you need to use an MTB FD, a road FD should have plenty of adjustability to make it work fine. A lot of stock touring bikes come set up like this. For instance, my Trek 520 has a 135mm rear hub and came with a 105 triple crankset and FD (both 5503 models), which caused no problems at all.

Thanks.

I'll mess with my adjustments some more.

With a 9 speed chain, you'll want to use a 9 speed front derailler. If you don't mind going down a few levels, the newer Tiagra deraillers will work and are readily available. Otherwise, you'll be looking to eBay for an Ultegra 6503 or 105 5503 FD. The cage on a 10 speed FD is narrow enough that you'll have issues with the cage rubbing on the chain in otherwise easily usable gear combinations.

A year ago I was collecting the parts to build that bike in the links above.
You wouldn't believe how long it took me to find a 6503 FD.:eek:
I finally found a NOS on eBay and had to drive the price up to darn near new MSRP to get it.:mad: