XTR M952 Short Cage - Maximum Rear tooth capacity

[Christoph2.8i]

Hi,

I have an XTR Mega 9 speed short cage rear mech.

Does anyone know if there is a maximum sized rear gear that it can cope with?

I have a cassette with a 36T largest gear and i am struggling to adjust it without the mech rubbing on the cassette.

Thanks
Chris

 

[Twozaskars]

There's been a recent thread similar to this with some good info;

What is the maximum tooth sprocket you could fit on the back using a Deore DX rear derailleur?

I have seen quite a few threads relating to newer road bikes and how they are clearing 40-42t back cogs, some with the help of road links. As I have read, generally the derailleurs are small to medium on road bikes. For mtb, even the old ones, due to having 3x, I read that long cage is...

www.retrobike.co.uk

It may or may not be helpful in your situation, some more information on front chainring size etc would help.

 

[Christoph2.8i]

There's been a recent thread similar to this with some good info;

What is the maximum tooth sprocket you could fit on the back using a Deore DX rear derailleur?

I have seen quite a few threads relating to newer road bikes and how they are clearing 40-42t back cogs, some with the help of road links. As I have read, generally the derailleurs are small to medium on road bikes. For mtb, even the old ones, due to having 3x, I read that long cage is...

www.retrobike.co.uk

It may or may not be helpful in your situation, some more information on front chainring size etc would help.

Thanks i’ll have a read through this.

Currently I have a Deore LX tripple chainset which I think has 42-32-22 rings

 

[minor_LEGEND]

The maximum tooth is usually stamped or embossed into the cage somewhere on shimano mechs.
FWIW you can usually exceed this limit by 2 teeth, Many of my bikes are setup with a short cage r/mech & cassettes rated beyond their suggested size limit.

 

[Twozaskars]

I believe that is the tooth difference. For instance here there is a difference of 45 teeth.

 

[scant]

theres a multitude of factors to consider. are you running it with a single, double, or triple chainset? shimano always bordered on the conservative, if you pay around with BOTH chain length & b-tension adjust its normally possible to exceed shimanos recommendations by easily a few cassette cogs bigger.

 

[Christoph2.8i]

theres a multitude of factors to consider. are you running it with a single, double, or triple chainset? shimano always bordered on the conservative, if you pay around with BOTH chain length & b-tension adjust its normally possible to exceed shimanos recommendations by easily a few cassette cogs bigger.

Running a triple chainset up front. I tried the b tension and it helped marginally. chain length sounds like the next adjustment. Thanks.

 

[scant]

I run a double 50/34 x 11/32t via a properly short cage dura ace. Max cassette size should be 27t. I made it work purely with a slightly longer chain. Keep at it. For your combo long sounds like you,d benefit from a long cage rear derailleur

 

[minor_LEGEND]

Running a triple chainset up front. I tried the b tension and it helped marginally. chain length sounds like the next adjustment. Thanks.

Set it up to run Big-Big safely & see how the chain length/tension is at small-small. Make adjustments from there.
Whilst some mechs state a max teeth difference, some deffo have a MAX32T type stamping on them.

Seeing the first post again, 36t is quite an ask for a short cage mech.

 

[Dogboy]

Biggest I can fit on those is usually a 34t rear cog, the 36t 10sp cogs rub badly for me. I run a 44-32-22x11-34 on my 29er. The first iteration on the build had a short cage Xtr rear derailleur. Not enough chain length in big chainring ring/larger cogs, and slack chain in small chainring/mid cassette.

Short cage Xtr would work fine with a 2x front and 11-34 cassette, or a triple with a smaller range cassette.