52/36, 11-32, short cage mech, will it work?

[jamiebae]

As above, apparently it will and won't....

I'm fitting a bigger cassette to a friend's bike tomorrow, there's a long cage mech and new chain on standby too but is there a chance I can just swap the cassette and it'll work? I guess a longer chain is going to be a requirement as well?

Any actual experience of doing this? If I'm doing the chain I'll swap the mech anyway as I don't want to waste expensive 11 speed chain pins but I'd be interested to see other people's experiences of this.

[The_Jackal]

Well the Shimano 105 short cage has a max of 30T so I would say no?

[richardxjr]

B-screw wound right in / possibly a longer one worth a go.

Chain should be fine too, but always use a quick link not those soppy Shimano cheese pins.

[tuffer]

I just had the same issue, switching from an 11-28 to an 11-32 and been told I need to switch to a longer mech (Ultegra Di2). Managed to buy through Bike Discount DE for a decent price.

[Daveyraveygravey]

I also went to an 11-32 via Wiggle and they said it needed a medium cage mech. They were half price at the time so it wasn't a big deal.

[richardxjr]

Defo worth turning/changing B screw!

On MTBs, M675 mech is rated max 36t but will take a 40t easily and 42t with a longer screw.

Probably don't even have a b-screw on the expensive electrickery roadie ones though. Perhaps an app or something

[j00pY]

I have this combination and run a medium cage. The limit screw is wound all the way out.

[jamiebae]

Forgive my ignorance, but 'B Screw wound out' means in which direction?

All parts will be present including a long cage mean, I was just wondering if it was worth a try. When I did my bike I just switched the mech but I was also using it as an excuse to upgrade from 105 to Ultegra.

[astroarcadia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk5cNVSZGPs

[Barchettaman]

11-speed 105 is rated at 33 capacity for short cage

Your proposed combo is 37.

It might work if you have a long derailleur hanger.

Shimano's capacity specs are apparently v conservative - I have 50/34 and 12/30 on my commuter, works fine.

Edited by Barchettaman on Thursday 19th May 21:22

[nacnac]

I've never tried this on the road and I can't imagine it would ride that well / sounds that good but as that wheel was sat there with a 32 it was an easy swap. At least it means you wouldn't destroy your running gear going big, big.

[smifffymoto]

astroarcadia said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk5cNVSZGPs

CTFU,one I watch regularly.

[jamiebae]

So in the end I just swapped the mech, without extending the chain it wouldn't work at all so I decided if I was splitting the chain the new mech might as well go on at the same time as indexing it only takes a couple of minutes.

All running happily now, as per Shimano specs with the GS derailleur, 11-32 cassette and a new chain.