New 2 x 9 setup not working out so well... (HollowTech II )

busby

Hello,

I'm a little stuck and was hoping that someone may be able to offer some help. I've recently been overhauling my 3 x 9 setup , moving to a 2 x 9. I'm now running a Shimano HG80 9 Speed Cassette "11 / 34" with the SLX M665 HollowTech II Double Chainset "36 / 22" and a Shimano XT M772 9 Speed RD. I really feel like I have missed something, I'm installing a new chain and cannot work out how you can ever have the chain at the right length so that it's not either pulling the rear derrailleur arm very far forward when on the big ring and big cog but okay on the smaller front ring, or just right on the big ring but crazily slack on the little ring and little cog. I appreciate that most of these gear combos you would be unlikely to use , but I don't like the idea that the chain will fall off with certain ratios.

I think the remedy would be not to have such a big jump from "36 / 22" replacing the 22 with a 26 , but I thought that I can't be the only person running this setup.

I used the following as a guide.

http://www.bike198.com/mountain-bike-se ... ivetrains/

Any advice would be greatfully recieved, I had planned to go to Cannock on Sunday , but I'm just not sure how to resolve this one.

I've got a link to the photos here: http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/josbu ... /Bikeradar

Thanks very much

francis666

Looking at the first photo
Is that the two biggest cogs?
If so then its no where near maxed out at the rear mech
assuming the mech is a long cage (I haven't checked), then you have too much chain.
Put the chain on the biggest cogs (32 rear and big wheel on front) outside of the rear mech.
Leave two links of slack and re-join via the rear mech.

Should be problem solved.

busby

Thanks for the input , it's a medium cage. I'll have another play with it and come back with the results.

The Rookie

Wrap the chain round big/big missing out the rear mech, overlap the chain by just one pair (one inner and one outer) of links, that is your length. Mech should be pulled right forward on big/big, that is how it is meant to be!

Your chain is far too long.

busby

I forgot that when I had taken the pictures I had already put the older smaller casette 11 / 32 on to try and address the problem, I've taken an few links out and it seems like a good setup. I'm not sure about the 11 / 34 Cassete, I think I will just sell it or try and send it back. I think this one is solved and probably I've made a mountain out of a mole hill. Thanks !

busby

I take it all back , I've put the bigger casette and it's just fine now that the chain has been shortenend. I'm not entirely sure how I ever got into this muddle, my first chain fitting! Thanks everyone.

The Rookie

It may be 'OK' but have you sized it properly?