XTR rd 952 CAPACITY AND COMPATIBILITY

[tonyf39]

hi, thought I'd venture onto the mtb section for some help.
I've accquired a nice XTR RD and would like to use it on my audax road bike.
I'll be running 50/36/26 c/set + 12-27 10 speed.
question is will the XTR be able to handle the 39T capacity as the arm looks a fair bit shorter than the road 105 long cage I have? Did they come in 2 lengths by perchance?
Will it be okay with a 10 speed road STI?
cheers

 

[Mobilecyclerepairs]

The XTR 952 came in 2 sizes, short and long, it will work with your 10spd STI's, I'm not so sure how well a short cage will perform with those ratios, more than likely it will be ok, you will need to check the chain on the jockey wheels, which should be ok
If its a 10spd 105 I would be incline to keep it on there

 

[tonyf39]

thanks, the 105 long cage doesn't have the capacity as the chain is very slack even when on the 5th sprocket.
Just found the tech sheet for the shorter of the two XTR's and it looks like it only has a 33T capacity

 

[taffy]

I'd like to say i'd eb able to help you as i have a mint RD 952 long cage (sounds like you ahve the mid/short version) and wnat a shorter cage

if the 105 wont wrap the slack in the chain effectively then i doubt my one will. A deore or so long cage rear mech will be a fair bit longer and handle the chain slack better.

 

[tonyf39]

the capacity of the XTR long cage is 43 same as the LX & Deore.
However both these have a max difference for the front chainrings of 22 whereas mine are 24, will I be able to get away with that?

 

[taffy]

Shimano say you shouldn't . But likely as not you will be able to get it to run pretty well.

I'm currently running a 24 34 46 chainrings and a 12 - 34 9 speed cassette with a M952 SGS mech. Your front ring difference should be fine as Shimano envisaged it being used with a wide ratio mountain bike cassette instead of your closer ratio road one.

 

[hamster]

It might be on the edge of Shimano's guidelines, but they have to guarantee what will work. I run a 22/36/46 with 11-28 and short cage XT rear mech (and XTR M951 before it) with no problems.

 

[tonyf39]

Cheers for that, have the LX fitted now and I'll probably pull a link out and as I'm not one for cross chaining it won't give me any issues. it's affecting the small small region rather than the big big.
Shame about the XTR as It runs bloody lovely