For the true LBS Mechanics a question
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 272
Likes: 4
For the true LBS Mechanics a question
Using the Shimano Ulterga 6800 RD mid-cage for parts, will i be able to use the cage to bolt up to the Dura Ace 9000 RD to turn it into a mid-cage RD to use with Ulterga new 11-32 cassette?
#2
Mechanic/Tourist
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,522
Likes: 12
From: Syracuse, NY
Bikes: 2008 Novara Randonee - love it. Previous bikes:Motobecane Mirage, 1972 Moto Grand Jubilee (my fave), Jackson Rake 16, 1983 C'dale ST500.
True mechanics have not necessarily tried or spec'd every combo of parts mashups (often it's the garage mechanics who have the time and inclination to experiment) but the geometry/dimensions that allow a derailleur to handle a larger cog are not primarily in the cage, whose function is to take up chain slack.
#3
what cny bikeman said is true
lbs techs seldom have time for experiments of idle curiosity
there is more money to be made by selling a whole derailleur
than by taking two hours to rebuild an old one
anyways
i seriously doubt this is possible
the main problem is that shimano derailleurs
are not designed to be servicable
beyond replacing jockey wheels and maybe bolts
so even if the derailleur parts mate together properly
which is a big if
it will be tough to get the thing reassembled and functioning
however
if you have the two derailleurs
you can go ahead and try
and report back here
also
what i want to know is
the reason you cant just use the ultegra derailleur
edit
also like cny bikeman said
a long cage will not allow larger cogs
for that you need a long body
like a mtb deralleur
lbs techs seldom have time for experiments of idle curiosity
there is more money to be made by selling a whole derailleur
than by taking two hours to rebuild an old one
anyways
i seriously doubt this is possible
the main problem is that shimano derailleurs
are not designed to be servicable
beyond replacing jockey wheels and maybe bolts
so even if the derailleur parts mate together properly
which is a big if
it will be tough to get the thing reassembled and functioning
however
if you have the two derailleurs
you can go ahead and try
and report back here
also
what i want to know is
the reason you cant just use the ultegra derailleur
edit
also like cny bikeman said
a long cage will not allow larger cogs
for that you need a long body
like a mtb deralleur
#4
All true.
However, people have reported that they have successfully used both a mid cage and long cage Ultegra RD with an 11/32 cassette. Mid cage may require installation of a longer B screw (or removing it and reinstalling from the hanger side to get more length), long cage seems to handle it just fine.
Hope they are correct, as I'm planning to use a 6600 long cage RD with an 11/32 combo on my century build.
However, people have reported that they have successfully used both a mid cage and long cage Ultegra RD with an 11/32 cassette. Mid cage may require installation of a longer B screw (or removing it and reinstalling from the hanger side to get more length), long cage seems to handle it just fine.
Hope they are correct, as I'm planning to use a 6600 long cage RD with an 11/32 combo on my century build.
__________________
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
#5
Senior Member




Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 21,855
Likes: 5,832
From: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Or the OP could simply buy a RD designed to handle an 11-32 cassette. In any case, disassembling an ultegra RD to move the arms over to a dura ace body doesn't seem to make much sense. If the ultegra is doing its job, why waste your time on this project? If it's not, it's hard to believe this will make an improvement.
#6
Senior Member


Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,180
Likes: 1,699
That is not something "true LBS bike mechanics" would deal with. More like folks who live bikes and spend their boss' time on the interweb thinking up such nonsense. If you don't believe me go in on the next really nice Saturday (I'm thinking 10 or 11 AM) and ask, see what he says...
#7
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,992
Likes: 713
From: Boulder County, CO
Bikes: '80 Masi Gran Criterium, '12 Trek Madone, early '60s Frejus track
All true.
However, people have reported that they have successfully used both a mid cage and long cage Ultegra RD with an 11/32 cassette. Mid cage may require installation of a longer B screw (or removing it and reinstalling from the hanger side to get more length), long cage seems to handle it just fine.
Hope they are correct, as I'm planning to use a 6600 long cage RD with an 11/32 combo on my century build.
However, people have reported that they have successfully used both a mid cage and long cage Ultegra RD with an 11/32 cassette. Mid cage may require installation of a longer B screw (or removing it and reinstalling from the hanger side to get more length), long cage seems to handle it just fine.
Hope they are correct, as I'm planning to use a 6600 long cage RD with an 11/32 combo on my century build.
#8
ot.net slave
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Canberra, Australia
Bikes: Salsa mtb * 3, Intense mtb * 1, Abeni SS rd * 1, Salsa road/touring * 2, Trek Damn one * 1, Vintage/projects * many
The cage length makes no difference to the maximum sprocket size. I would hazard a guess that the cages are not interchangeable anyway.
- Joel
- Joel
#9
^^ Agreed, as well as whether it's a horizontal or vertical dropout- horizontal typically gives you more room to play with.
Read an interesting post recently talking about body (as opposed to cage) geometry and how much it contributes to proper shifting on larger cassette cogs. Pretty cool analysis.
Read an interesting post recently talking about body (as opposed to cage) geometry and how much it contributes to proper shifting on larger cassette cogs. Pretty cool analysis.
__________________
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
#10
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
I OTOH, bought a Campag Euclid/Olympus RD from the era when Campag was trying to compete
in the MTB sector. then dropped the idea.. late 80's they were moving into close outs ..
Those were able to replace the pulley cage, and so found another one Medium cage ,
bought the long cage pieces from the shop's vendors .. Its on my touring bike, still ..
have the medium one to sell.. [inner and outer plate]
NB Shimano really makes just putting a whole new RD on, the More efficient use of the shop time ,
as their parts supply chain, through wholesale distributors, is whole boxed RD's .
in the MTB sector. then dropped the idea.. late 80's they were moving into close outs ..
Those were able to replace the pulley cage, and so found another one Medium cage ,
bought the long cage pieces from the shop's vendors .. Its on my touring bike, still ..
have the medium one to sell.. [inner and outer plate]
NB Shimano really makes just putting a whole new RD on, the More efficient use of the shop time ,
as their parts supply chain, through wholesale distributors, is whole boxed RD's .
Last edited by fietsbob; 07-13-13 at 04:06 PM.
#11
Shimano derailleur parts are surprisingly interchangable, even between the mountain (not the latest 10-speed stuff) and their road lines. I have created long-cage road derailleurs by merging mountain cages to road bodies.
However, when it comes to the derailleur parts, XTR and Dura-Ace units are quite different. The cage attachment is incompatible with Ultegra/XT and the lower lines. I suggest you use the Ultegra as-is.
#12
自転車整備士
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 885
Likes: 4
From: Denver, Colorado USA
Bikes: '86 Moots Mountaineer, '94 Salsa Ala Carte, '94 S-Works FSR, 1983 Trek 600 & 620
Bottom line? Buy the right derailleur for the right application.
You don't want that DR to blow up 40k from home on a rainy Sunday afternoon...
You don't want that DR to blow up 40k from home on a rainy Sunday afternoon...
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 2
From: Colorado Springs
Bikes: Borealis Echo, Ground Up Designs Ti Cross bike, Xtracycle, GT mod trials bike, pixie race machine
That is not something "true LBS bike mechanics" would deal with. More like folks who live bikes and spend their boss' time on the interweb thinking up such nonsense. If you don't believe me go in on the next really nice Saturday (I'm thinking 10 or 11 AM) and ask, see what he says...
With that being said, there is more to how big of a cog a derailleur can handle than simply cage length. Try it if you are bored but I personally think it will be a waste of time and not really be any improvement.
#14
^^ Agreed, as well as whether it's a horizontal or vertical dropout- horizontal typically gives you more room to play with.
Read an interesting post recently talking about body (as opposed to cage) geometry and how much it contributes to proper shifting on larger cassette cogs. Pretty cool analysis.
Read an interesting post recently talking about body (as opposed to cage) geometry and how much it contributes to proper shifting on larger cassette cogs. Pretty cool analysis.
Thanks.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
tarwheel
Bicycle Mechanics
11
02-05-15 03:25 AM







