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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    North Van
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    3,757

    Franken-XTR: XTR rear mech with XT cage

    About 2 weeks ago, I bent the upper part of my XT M786 Shadow+ rear derailleur. I replaced it with an XTR M986 Shadow+ (that's all the shop had so they gave me a deal) which lasted exactly 4 rides before I managed to snap the carbon cage.

    Since the cage on the old XT derailleur was fine, I installed it on the XTR derailleur and it seems to be working on the bike stand.

    Is there any reason the XTR derailleur won't work with the XT cage installed?

    This could end up being a good mod since the carbon on the XTR seemed far too fragile given how easily it broke.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    Down In A Hole, Up in the Sky
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    It'll be way too heavy, and your bike will be too unbalanced to ride.
    Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    North Van
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    3,757
    Quote Originally Posted by rideit View Post
    It'll be way too heavy, and your bike will be too unbalanced to ride.
    Other than that... any issues? It seems fine, but an old post on mtbr suggested incompatibility. I'm calling BS.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    Down In A Hole, Up in the Sky
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    it's a pretty simple interface. Use loctite blue, and spacers if you need them.

    If it works, it works, IMO.
    Take it for a ride!
    Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Powder Mountain
    Posts
    841
    There are a lot of bike modifications that work that are not manufacturer recommended. do it and see if it works. report back

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
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    Down In A Hole, Up in the Sky
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    I have to ask, though, why the consistent rear derailleur breakages? Those are usually fairly rare, all things considered. Crashes or transportation mishaps?
    Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    North Van
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    3,757
    Quote Originally Posted by rideit View Post
    I have to ask, though, why the consistent rear derailleur breakages? Those are usually fairly rare, all things considered. Crashes or transportation mishaps?
    Both were bonks on big rocks just off the side of the trail to the inside of sharp corners at high speed. I guess I need to give corners a wider berth.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    2,648
    Extension of this question.... Anybody know if the XT/SLX/Deore/Zee/Saint cage assemblies are the same? My LBS say Shimano is backordered on the cage assemblies, and am considering just buying a cheaper Rear mech for the Medium cage(s) I need vs just buying a cheaper cage. I know XTR is different as mentioned above.

    I've had 2 cages bent/mangled in 2 months, both of which were very new. One was sucking a huge stick up during a race, the other was banging it off some rocks on a poor line choice. Normally get years out of rear d's, but bad luck recently. Don't really want to buy brand new derailleurs when only the cages are bent (one much more-so than the other)

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