XT rear derailleur

Hi

I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.

Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?

Thanx, Constant J. NL

Constant wrote:
> Hi
>
> I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
>
> Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
>
> Thanx, Constant J. NL
>
in general go with the long one, it you have a very narrow gear range, or are content to loose a few
gears on the small ring, the short cage is good, it is a little less susceptible to damage.

"James Connell" <jconnell@gci.net> wrote in message news:vc03bpgk6kds0f@corp.supernews.com...
> Constant wrote:
> > Hi
> >
> > I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> > XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> >
> > Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> >
> > Thanx, Constant J. NL
> >
> in general go with the long one, it you have a very narrow gear range, or are content to loose a
> few gears on the small ring, the short cage is good, it is a little less susceptible to damage.
>

To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Connell is correct, but let me add. I think the long cage is the
"normal" one. On my first ever trip to the Fruita Fat Tire Festival 5 years ago, I had my never been
ridden, brand new Ellsworth Truth, with long cage XT rear. We arrived Thursday and rode Eagles Nest,
the first 8-10 miles on my new bike. The next day, after much rain, we started out on Mary's loop.
Within 1 mile of the start, on a short but fast fire road decent, I tore the derailleur off the
bike, broke the hanger and 2 spokes. That mud in Fruita can be brutal. The derailleur was shot, no
other hangers for an Ellsworth in sight. When I replaced the rear derailleur I was nervous about the
problem and got a short cage. It has not been a problem since and I have a 34 tooth pie plate in the
back (though I almost never use it anymore Perhaps I am missing out on better shifting which
would be available on a long cage, but my shifting is fine by me.

I don't know if all that means anything, but it is my story.
--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado (remove .nospam. if replying)

On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
<constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl> wrote:

>Hi
>
>I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
>XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
>
>Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
>
>Thanx, Constant J. NL

No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.

Bob

In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
> On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> <constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl> wrote:
>
> >Hi
> >
> >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> >XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> >
> >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> >
> >Thanx, Constant J. NL
>
> No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
>
> Bob
>

unless he has 9-speed cogs...

the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he should
upgrade to 9-speed.
--
~Travis

travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/

"Technician" <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1929fe98c86be82c9899e8@news.megalink.net...
| In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
| > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant <constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl>
| > wrote:
| >
| > >Hi
| > >
| > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
| > >XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
| > >
| > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
| > >
| > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
| >
| > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
| >
| > Bob
| >
|
| unless he has 9-speed cogs...
|
| the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
| should upgrade to 9-speed.

That is true, according to Shimano, however, I have a **7** speed XT derailleur shifting a 9 speed
system perfectly.

---
__o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
http://intergalax.com

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.480 / Virus Database: 276 -
Release Date: 5/12/2003

"Technician" <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1929fe98c86be82c9899e8@news.megalink.net...
> In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
> > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant <constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl>
> > wrote:
> >
> > >Hi
> > >
> > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
> > >XT-9s rear derailleur: one
with a
> > >shorter and one with a longer cage.
> > >
> > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
one
> > >the 'normal one?
> > >
> > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
> >
> > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
fine.
> >
> > Bob
> >
>
> unless he has 9-speed cogs...
>
> the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
better,
> not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
> --
> ~Travis
>
> travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/

The point was that to upgrade to 9-speed he doesn't have to change his 8 speed rear derailleur at
all. Possible downside: there may be some rub with 8-speed derailleur and 34 tooth cog.

But an 8 speed derailleur /will/ work with 9 speed cog-set.

- Chris.

On Mon, 12 May 2003 20:34:33 -0400, Technician <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote:

>In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
>> On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
>> <constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi
>> >
>> >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
>> >XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
>> >
>> >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
>> >
>> >Thanx, Constant J. NL
>>
>> No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
>>
>> Bob
>>
>
>unless he has 9-speed cogs...
>
>the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
>should upgrade to 9-speed.
Actually my point was an 8 speed derailer will work fine with 9 speed cogs. As Sheldon often points
out, there really is no such thing as a
7/8/9 speed derailer.

Bob

In article <b9pgc8$lpe42$1@ID-175756.news.dfncis.de>, intergalax@prodigy.net says...
> "Technician" <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1929fe98c86be82c9899e8@news.megalink.net...
> | In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
> | > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> | > <constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl> wrote:
> | >
> | > >Hi
> | > >
> | > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
> | > >one XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> | > >
> | > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> | > >
> | > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
> | >
> | > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
> | >
> | > Bob
> | >
> |
> | unless he has 9-speed cogs...
> |
> | the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
> | should upgrade to 9-speed.
>
> That is true, according to Shimano, however, I have a **7** speed XT derailleur shifting a 9 speed
> system perfectly.
>

Interesting, so is the opposite true? will a 7-speed derailer shift a 9 speed system?

I only ask because should i wish to upgrade to 9-speed, it would be a lot cheaper to only have to
swap out the front shifter and rear wheel (and cogset of course).
--
~Travis

travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/

In article <MPG.192a12a93f3ca5eb9899eb@news.megalink.net>, travis57 @nospam.megalink.net says...
> In article <b9pgc8$lpe42$1@ID-175756.news.dfncis.de>, intergalax@prodigy.net says...
> > "Technician" <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote in message
> > news:MPG.1929fe98c86be82c9899e8@news.megalink.net...
> > | In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
> > | > On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> > | > <constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl> wrote:
> > | >
> > | > >Hi
> > | > >
> > | > >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
> > | > >one XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
> > | > >
> > | > >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
> > | > >
> > | > >Thanx, Constant J. NL
> > | >
> > | > No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
> > | >
> > | > Bob
> > | >
> > |
> > | unless he has 9-speed cogs...
> > |
> > | the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
> > | should upgrade to 9-speed.
> >
> > That is true, according to Shimano, however, I have a **7** speed XT derailleur shifting a 9
> > speed system perfectly.
> >
>
> Interesting, so is the opposite true? will a 7-speed derailer shift a 9 speed system?
>
> I only ask because should i wish to upgrade to 9-speed, it would be a lot cheaper to only have to
> swap out the front shifter and rear wheel (and cogset of course).
>

Ok, so this is a true brain fart. could it get any more redundant.
--
~Travis

travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/

Chris Snell wrote:

> "Technician" <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1929fe98c86be82c9899e8@news.megalink.net...
>
>>In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
>>
>>>On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
>>><constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi
>>>>
>>>>I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than one
>>>>XT-9s rear derailleur: one
>
> with a
>
>>>>shorter and one with a longer cage.
>>>>
>>>>Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
>
> one
>
>>>>the 'normal one?
>>>>
>>>>Thanx, Constant J. NL
>>>
>>>No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
>
> fine.
>
>>>Bob
>>>
>>
>>unless he has 9-speed cogs...
>>
>>the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
>
> better,
>
>>not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
>>--
>>~Travis
>>
>>travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/
>
>
> The point was that to upgrade to 9-speed he doesn't have to change his 8 speed rear derailleur at
> all. Possible downside: there may be some rub with 8-speed derailleur and 34 tooth cog.
>
> But an 8 speed derailleur /will/ work with 9 speed cog-set.
>
> - Chris.
>
exactly an 8 won't like 34 teeth much.

"James Connell" <jconnell@gci.net> wrote in message news:vc0ikc1thkndbd@corp.supernews.com...
| Chris Snell wrote:
|
| > "Technician" <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote in message
| > news:MPG.1929fe98c86be82c9899e8@news.megalink.net...
| >
| >>In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
| >>
| >>>On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant <constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl>
| >>>wrote:
| >>>
| >>>
| >>>>Hi
| >>>>
| >>>>I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
| >>>>one XT-9s rear derailleur: one
| >
| > with a
| >
| >>>>shorter and one with a longer cage.
| >>>>
| >>>>Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
| >
| > one
| >
| >>>>the 'normal one?
| >>>>
| >>>>Thanx, Constant J. NL
| >>>
| >>>No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
| >
| > fine.
| >
| >>>Bob
| >>>
| >>
| >>unless he has 9-speed cogs...
| >>
| >>the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
| >
| > better,
| >
| >>not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
| >>--
| >>~Travis
| >>
| >>travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/
| >
| >
| > The point was that to upgrade to 9-speed he doesn't have to change his 8 speed rear derailleur
| > at all. Possible downside: there may be some rub with 8-speed derailleur and 34 tooth cog.
| >
| > But an 8 speed derailleur /will/ work with 9 speed cog-set.
| >
| > - Chris.
| >
| exactly an 8 won't like 34 teeth much.
|

The 8 speed XT derailleur IMHO marked a low point in the quality of that line. I don't see too many
of them around any more, while you can still find many 7s era units.

The 8s had weaker springs and a shorter pivot bolt. Various sources claim this was to combat SRAM
(making their shifters perform terribly with the Shimano derailleurs - prompting the development of
ESP and giving SRAM a better toehold)

The 9s went back to the strong springs and burlier construction. I absolutely love 'em (though If I
had my druthers, I'd take the old 7s if it's in good shape.)

---
__o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
http://intergalax.com

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.480 / Virus Database: 276 -
Release Date: 5/12/2003

"Robert Quindazzi" <bobqzzi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8jh0cvci37l47f3ik86vhm7qqg7k250ekt@4ax.com...
| On Mon, 12 May 2003 20:34:33 -0400, Technician <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote:
|
| >In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
| >> On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant <constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl>
| >> wrote:
| >>
| >> >Hi
| >> >
| >> >I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
| >> >one XT-9s rear derailleur: one with a shorter and one with a longer cage.
| >> >
| >> >Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter one the 'normal one?
| >> >
| >> >Thanx, Constant J. NL
| >>
| >> No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work fine.
| >>
| >> Bob
| >>
| >
| >unless he has 9-speed cogs...
| >
| >the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is better, not weather or not he
| >should upgrade to 9-speed.
| Actually my point was an 8 speed derailer will work fine with 9 speed cogs. As Sheldon often
| points out, there really is no such thing as a
| 7/8/9 speed derailer.

Yes. Almost all indexing capable Shimano derailleurs move through the same arc. The difference is
in the shifter itself by how much the cable actually moves per click. 7s and 8s were very close,
letting you get away with some funny business like using 7s XT thumbshifters to shift 8s because
it had a "ghost click" in it. 9s has a drastically (relatively speaking) smaller spacing, so all
bets are off as far as shifter compatibility, but like I said the most important difference is in
the shifter.

---
__o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
http://intergalax.com

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.480 / Virus Database: 276 -
Release Date: 5/12/2003

Nelson Binch wrote:
> "James Connell" <jconnell@gci.net> wrote in message news:vc0ikc1thkndbd@corp.supernews.com...
> | Chris Snell wrote:
> |
> | > "Technician" <travis57@nospam.megalink.net> wrote in message
> | > news:MPG.1929fe98c86be82c9899e8@news.megalink.net...
> | >
> | >>In article <uib0cvkeh0i3dicpe4scqkboitehu3vu02@4ax.com>, bobqzzi@hotmail.com says...
> | >>
> | >>>On Mon, 12 May 2003 23:03:29 +0200, Constant
> | >>><constantnews@XS4ALLisproviderthatsewsspammers.nl> wrote:
> | >>>
> | >>>
> | >>>>Hi
> | >>>>
> | >>>>I'm thinking about changing my 8speed XT-LX 'gears' to 9-XT. I've heart there are more than
> | >>>>one XT-9s rear derailleur: one
> | >
> | > with a
> | >
> | >>>>shorter and one with a longer cage.
> | >>>>
> | >>>>Can anyone tell me when to mount the long version? Is the shorter
> | >
> | > one
> | >
> | >>>>the 'normal one?
> | >>>>
> | >>>>Thanx, Constant J. NL
> | >>>
> | >>>No need to change the rear derailer. your 8 speed one will work
> | >
> | > fine.
> | >
> | >>>Bob
> | >>>
> | >>
> | >>unless he has 9-speed cogs...
> | >>
> | >>the point was he was wondering if the longer or shorter cage is
> | >
> | > better,
> | >
> | >>not weather or not he should upgrade to 9-speed.
> | >>--
> | >>~Travis
> | >>
> | >>travis57 at megalink dot net http://www.megalink.net/~farmers/
> | >
> | >
> | > The point was that to upgrade to 9-speed he doesn't have to change his 8 speed rear derailleur
> | > at all. Possible downside: there may be some rub with 8-speed derailleur and 34 tooth cog.
> | >
> | > But an 8 speed derailleur /will/ work with 9 speed cog-set.
> | >
> | > - Chris.
> | >
> | exactly an 8 won't like 34 teeth much.
> |
>
> The 8 speed XT derailleur IMHO marked a low point in the quality of that line. I don't see too
> many of them around any more, while you can still find many 7s era units.
>
> The 8s had weaker springs and a shorter pivot bolt. Various sources claim this was to combat SRAM
> (making their shifters perform terribly with the Shimano derailleurs - prompting the development
> of ESP and giving SRAM a better toehold)
>
> The 9s went back to the strong springs and burlier construction. I absolutely love 'em (though If
> I had my druthers, I'd take the old 7s if it's in good shape.)
>
>
> ---
> __o _`\(,_ Cycling is life, (_)/ (_) all the rest, just details. Nelson Binch =^o.o^=
> http://intergalax.com
>
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.480 / Virus Database: 276
> - Release Date: 5/12/2003
>
>

like the 7sp myself. it took 3 years of solid mud to kill one. i've heard that about the 8, seems
likely ****mano was loseing a lot of ground to sram in shifters particularly in the low to mid range
stuff. thing about the 7sp stuff - it was pre XTR. when XTR came out the quality of XT dropped
dramaticly

> exactly an 8 won't like 34 teeth much.

I use the 28-tooth mouth I have. Works fine for any derailleur.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training