I hate Shimano :cussing:

[powder11]

Ive always run SRAM not only for the ease of set up, but its super easy to dial in near perfection.

Im setting up a new shimano deraileur on my wifes bike which is like trying to dial in TV reception using rabbit ears. works nice on the stand and then turns to shit as soon as you ride it. WTF??

does anyone have any suggestions on fine tuning an XT derailleur other than messing with the barrel adjuster and limits?

[sfotex]

How worn are the cables? Also, dbl. check the derailler hanger and make sure it's straight..

[powder11]

How worn are the cables? Also, dbl. check the derailler hanger and make sure it's straight..

everything is brand new

[sfotex]

What happens when it screws up?

It's still worth dbl checking the derrailer hanger if it hasn't been checked, I've pulled new bikes and frames out of the box and the hanger has been tweaked.

[Andy_B]

2nd on the hanger. Built lots of bikes and lots of them have been tweaked.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Ive always run SRAM not only for the ease of set up, but its super easy to dial in near perfection.

Always? SRAM has only had a complete drivetrain for about five or six years...

Not a flame, just a little observation. Kinda made me chuckle a little.

But yeah, put a hanger alignment tool on there and I'm pretty sure you'll find the problem. Good luck mang.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Also doublecheck your cable housing and make sure all the ends are snipped clean under the ferrules. If there's a piece of bent wire under there somewhere you'll have the same problem you're describing.

[rideit]

Sram has had rear derailleurs for 9 years....but that certainly isn't 'always'.
Shimano should be just as simple to set up, they basically have the same functions. How is your 'b' tension?

1996
SRAM's 25-millionth shifter set produced (MY97). ESP-equipped racer Bart Brentjens wins the inaugural Mountain Bike Gold Medal at the Atlanta Summer Olympics. SRAM engineers Sam Patterson and John Cheever are honored by the Intellectual Property Owners Organization for three innovative patents, a first in the bicycle industry. European headquarters moves to Amersfoort, The Netherlands.

John Tomac wins NORBA XC title on an ESP derailleur system. Christophe Dupouey wins XC World Cup on an ESP derailleur system. Anne Caroline Chausson wins DH Worlds on an ESP derailleur system.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Sram has had rear derailleurs for 9 years....but that certainly isn't 'always'.
Shimano should be just as simple to set up, they basically have the same functions. How is your 'b' tension?

1996
SRAM's 25-millionth shifter set produced (MY97). ESP-equipped racer Bart Brentjens wins the inaugural Mountain Bike Gold Medal at the Atlanta Summer Olympics. SRAM engineers Sam Patterson and John Cheever are honored by the Intellectual Property Owners Organization for three innovative patents, a first in the bicycle industry. European headquarters moves to Amersfoort, The Netherlands.

John Tomac wins NORBA XC title on an ESP derailleur system. Christophe Dupouey wins XC World Cup on an ESP derailleur system. Anne Caroline Chausson wins DH Worlds on an ESP derailleur system.

I am very familiar. Anyways - my point is that up until just a couple years ago, a pure SRAM drivetrain [not just rear derailleur] wasn't an option. Hence my chuckle at "always." "I hate shimano," [implying non-use of Shimano components] and "always ran SRAM" takes us back to about 2001. Again, not a flame. A flame on myself for actually having bought the CX-1's when they were brand new - if anything.

[CantDog]

I am very familiar. Anyways - my point is that up until just a couple years ago, a pure SRAM drivetrain [not just rear derailleur] wasn't an option. Hence my chuckle at "always." "I hate shimano," [implying non-use of Shimano components] and "always ran SRAM" takes us back to about 2001. Again, not a flame. A flame on myself for actually having bought the CX-1's when they were brand new - if anything.

For the record, shimano wasnt the only one producing drivetrains before 2001.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

For the record, shimano wasnt the only one producing drivetrains before 2001.

Fair enough, but they were then only ones with both feet squarely in the door since the fall of Suntour. [about 1993ish- on.?]
[And I don't consider Campy or Sachs to have ever really been players in the MTB gruppo market.]

[kidwoo]

Things to check......especially since you say it works fine in the stand.

Is this a suspension bike? You may be getting some tension on the housing when you sit on the thing and get it sagged. Make sure all your housing pieces run clean bends and don't get squeezed or stretched. This also means have enough housing to account for suspension movement.

What bike is it?

[powder11]

Ive had SRAM gear since my 1st for real mtn bike. I dont know the models and what not, but thats symantics.

the 1:1 ratio of SRAM provides cleaner shifting over time and easier to tune than any shimano product Ive tried. that was my point.

I finally got the shifting insinct. thanks for the suggestions.

[shirk]

Time for some Suntour XC pro thumb shifters. Set in friction mode you never have to worry about "dialing" in the drivetrain. Every shift is it's own little mini dialing in session

[1wsguy]

Time for some Suntour XC pro thumb shifters. Set in friction mode you never have to worry about "dialing" in the drivetrain. Every shift is it's own little mini dialing in session

Yea... I call that "Find and Grind"

[El Chupacabra]

Just thinking about this the other day...

Sachs/Sedis chains are now Sram chains. I assume Sram bought them out. Are the Sram derailleurs (at least the early ones) based on the Sachs derailleurs?

BTW, 7-speed Shimano XT, with thumbshifters and short-cage rear derailleur, was the best mountain bike drivetrain ever.

[powder11]

Time for some Suntour XC pro thumb shifters. Set in friction mode you never have to worry about "dialing" in the drivetrain. Every shift is it's own little mini dialing in session

thats what Im talking about Id rather have that going on than have to play pro bike mechanic guy after every ride.

Im going to cruise the re-use-it center for some of those bad boys.

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Just thinking about this the other day...

Sachs/Sedis chains are now Sram chains. I assume Sram bought them out. Are the Sram derailleurs (at least the early ones) based on the Sachs derailleurs?

BTW, 7-speed Shimano XT, with thumbshifters and short-cage rear derailleur, was the best mountain bike drivetrain ever.

When Grip Shift bought Sachs , their R&D as well as production came under one roof. The next year is when the ESP derailleur came out, so I think it's safe to say that Sach's [former] engineers had a strong hand in its' design. I think that was the same year they killed the New Success group - which was actually a really impressive setup.

But yeah - those short cage XT & XTR derailleurs were the shit.

[p.blz]

BTW, 7-speed Shimano XT, with thumbshifters and short-cage rear derailleur, was the best mountain bike drivetrain ever.

Agreed,

I recently scored a mint condition Kona Kilauea at a garage sale (for $25) with this drivetrain on it and what a pleasure to ride compared to my other (far newer) bike.