5600 and 5700 compatibility

bendertherobot

Rear mech just went bang. Caused, it seems, by misalingned front mech taking chain off. Both now gone bye bye.

So, I have a 5600 drivetrain.

Am I ok with 5700 front and rear mech replacements?

(Double chainset)

Evil Laugh

Shimano say the new front mechs are incompatible with the old series stuff I think.

In practice I don't know.

Dunno if it works for you but I'd suggest thinking about a nearly new set of 7800 mechs. I found mine for £80 and they've been flawless. After cable stretch I've not had to touch either for a year. The new 5700 105 I also have is agricultural and temperamental in comparison.

bendertherobot

Thanks mate,

Have to say, my 5600 has been rather clunky.

Had a quick search on ebay for 7800, not a lot there. But a few 6600 Ultegra knocking around, I assume that would be a good substitute?

domhopson

Evil Laugh wrote:

Shimano say the new front mechs are incompatible with the old series stuff I think.

In practice I don't know.

Dunno if it works for you but I'd suggest thinking about a nearly new set of 7800 mechs. I found mine for £80 and they've been flawless. After cable stretch I've not had to touch either for a year. The new 5700 105 I also have is agricultural and temperamental in comparison.

I've got a 5700 Front Mech happily working with a 7800 chainset, and have a 7800 front mech working with a 5700 chainset.

Evil Laugh

I think the incompatibility is supposed to come between the front mech and the stis.

Bender, I have no prolonged experience of 6600 to give a reliable comparison, sorry.

Have sent you a pm though.

bendertherobot

Thanks guys, yes, apparently the 5600 STI's don't work with (at least) the 5700 front mech. So I'll play it safe and go 6600 I think.

Evil LAugh, no PM showing?

Evil Laugh

Yeah I actually started writing it after my post, sorry. You should have it now.

itsnotarace

Evil Laugh wrote:

Shimano say the new front mechs are incompatible with the old series stuff I think.

Link to back that up? 5600 and 5700 have no difference between cable pull ratios, it will work fine together.

avoidingmyphd

itsnotarace wrote:

Evil Laugh wrote:

Shimano say the new front mechs are incompatible with the old series stuff I think.

Link to back that up? 5600 and 5700 have no difference between cable pull ratios, it will work fine together.

http://www.shimano.com/publish/content/ ... le.html/01)%20Drivetrain%20Compatability%20Chart.pdf

you need to cut and paste the whole link. the forum is killing it at the bracket for some reason.
no line between ST5700 and FD5600
it might not be true in practice but it is true that shimano say they're not compatible.

beancounter

Evil Laugh wrote:

The new 5700 105 I also have is agricultural and temperamental in comparison.

I'm glad to find it's not just me.

I have 6 different groupsets and the new 105 is by far the worst.

bc

Chris James

The rear mech will definitely work.

As far as the front mech / STI combo is concerned, it just comes down to how much cable is pulled. As far as I am aware the triple chainring spacings are the same between 5600 and 5700.

The double chainsets had the gaps between chainrings changed (I can't remember if made bigger or reduced) between 5600 and 5700. I THINK the pull ratio is achieved in the shifter ratehr than the mech (the brake lever pull is also altered)

So, in summary, I would IMAGINE that a 5700 mech would work okay on 5600 as long as the STIs and chainset are matched. After all front mechs arent exactly precision instruments.

Why not email Madison and ask? Mind you, the only time they answered a question of mine they were totally wrong!

bendertherobot

I find Madison never answer! Besides, it's just a front mech. £20 at Merlin for 5600 Ultegra will do the job!

markos1963

I got 5600 shifters, 6700 front mech, 5600 rea mech,6600 cassette and a KMC chain, all work perfectly fine and smoothly
I'm finding that 6700 stuff is coming up quite cheaply on Ebay atm, in fact it's more available than 6600. The 6700 front mech was brand new and cost me just £19!!

c0ugars

Ive got the 5700 groupset on my bike and i find it miles better than the older 105 once setup correctly.