What is the difference between a Short and Long cage...

[stosh]

rear deraillure?

I realise one is longer then the other but why?

[sub6]

longer cage takes up more chain slack, in other words, you can run a larger spread of gears.

On a triple-ring setup with a normal MTB cassette, you probably will need a long cage (but not necessarily). If you only use one or two chainrings, you can usually use a short cage.

[stosh]

Originally posted by sub6
longer cage takes up more chain slack, in other words, you can run a larger spread of gears.

On a triple-ring setup with a normal MTB cassette, you probably will need a long cage (but not necessarily). If you only use one or two chainrings, you can usually use a short cage.


thanks man!

I figured it had something to do with that. I have a triple ring and I bought a short cage rear deraillure, I guess I have to make my chain lenght perfect now...

[Morryjg]

I'm using a short cage on my XC rig. It's a 9 speed and don't have any problems. I heard a "theory" that short cage made for quicker shifting, but I never noticed a difference. That makes me think that theory is just sales hype.

[jonassterling]

I've run both short and long cage der on my bikes with triples. Here is what I found. with short cages.

If you run the chain long enough according to Shimano standards(big cog to big ring w/o going through either der, plus 2 links) the chain is too slack when in small ring/smaller cog combos.

If you shorten the chain to correct this you have to be carful not to cross chain in the big ring(big ring/big cob). You can get stuck in this gear or at worst rip off your deraileur.

If you are carefull and never cross chain, the short cage works fine. But if you get forgetful you may be out a deraileur if you shift to the wrong gear.

I tried running a short cage on my cyclocross/road/touring bike. It has a 53/39/30 up front and an 11-28 in the rear. No worky, worky.

[stosh]

Originally posted by jonassterling
I've run both short and long cage der on my bikes with triples. Here is what I found. with short cages.

If you run the chain long enough according to Shimano standards(big cog to big ring w/o going through either der, plus 2 links) the chain is too slack when in small ring/smaller cog combos.

If you shorten the chain to correct this you have to be carful not to cross chain in the big ring(big ring/big cob). You can get stuck in this gear or at worst rip off your deraileur.

If you are carefull and never cross chain, the short cage works fine. But if you get forgetful you may be out a deraileur if you shift to the wrong gear.

I tried running a short cage on my cyclocross/road/touring bike. It has a 53/39/30 up front and an 11-28 in the rear. No worky, worky.

I usually don't run Big Ring Big Cog to much slack usually.

So to set the chain length with the short cage I put the chain on the big ring in front and big cog in back and don't run it though the deraillure and pull it tight?

[jonassterling]

Originally posted by stosh
I usually don't run Big Ring Big Cog to much slack usually.

So to set the chain length with the short cage I put the chain on the big ring in front and big cog in back and don't run it though the deraillure and pull it tight?

Yeah if this is a HT we are talking about that is the official Shimano way of doing it. Pull tight, and add 2 links. Since you are running the short cage you could probably leave the 2 links out and be fine. But I'd start long and cut to fit.

I you are running a fully the chain should be measured at the point where the chain stays are longest, or the distance between bb and rear axle is longest.

Good luck

[stosh]

Originally posted by jonassterling
Yeah if this is a HT we are talking about that is the official Shimano way of doing it. Pull tight, and add 2 links. Since you are running the short cage you could probably leave the 2 links out and be fine. But I'd start long and cut to fit.

I you are running a fully the chain should be measured at the point where the chain stays are longest, or the distance between bb and rear axle is longest.

Good luck


It's a hard tail. Thanks!

[Matt D]

Originally posted by stosh
I usually don't run Big Ring Big Cog to much slack usually.

So to set the chain length with the short cage I put the chain on the big ring in front and big cog in back and don't run it though the deraillure and pull it tight?

Or you can use the method that will give you the longest possible chain; small ring small cog, and at the point that the chain stops rubbing on itself on the upper pulley cut it.

And it's derailleur my friend, not deraillure!:D

[stosh]

Originally posted by Matt D
Or you can use the method that will give you the longest possible chain; small ring small cog, and at the point that the chain stops rubbing on itself on the upper pulley cut it.

And it's derailleur my friend, not deraillure!:D

Spelling was never my best subject.

[fonseca]

You should adjust chain length the same regardless of whether you use a long cage or short cage derailleur. Big/big plus two links. That's the safest method, and leaving those links out, or removing more in order to use a short cage derailleur and not have too much chain slack is a bad idea imo, and could lead to major damage. Long cages are available for a reason, and if you are running an 11-34 cassette and triple ring crankset you probably need one.

I don't think long cages shift much faster than short, it's barely noticeable. But they do give ground clearance, enough to make a difference on many trails.