Rear Derailleur Cage Lengths

[cosmicbike]

Is the difference between a long cage and a short cage just the cage length? I have a short cage Ultegra mech, if I want the capacity to run a 32T sprocket can I simply fit only the cage element of a long cage Sora for example?

 

[Yellow Saddle]

The difference within groups is just the cage length.
However, whether one from another group will fit, is another question. You will have to examine the mechanism.
I doubt Sora and Ultegra will be so similar that you can do a transplant.

 

[ozboz]

There is a part called Roadlink
18 Bikes Ltd claim you can fit this and you can use your Ultegra d'railer with a double crank with an 11-36 cassette , It's about £20

 

[Kajjal]

To be sure make sure the new derailleur is the same manufacturer, age and speed as the old one but with a longer cage.

 

[Ajax Bay]

make sure the new derailleur is the same manufacturer, age and speed as the old one but with a longer cage.

Why? Have you done this?

 

[alecstilleyedye]

kajjal is spot on. been there, done that…

 

[Ajax Bay]

make sure the new derailleur is the same manufacturer, age and speed as the old one but with a longer cage.

If these criteria are met it might be easier just to fit the RD with the longer cage . What the OP seeks to do is to use the long cage from a cheaper RD to 'longrade' his Ultegra model.

 

[Kajjal]

If these criteria are met it might be easier just to fit the RD with the longer cage . What the OP seeks to do is to use the long cage from a cheaper RD to 'longrade' his Ultegra model.

Its just about reducing the risk, no point trying to save money and ending up having to buy the correct part anyway.

 

[davidphilips]

Have a try if you have some derailleurs if does not work out at least you will have had a go, you can always reassemble derailleurs and with a bit of a clean and lube they should work as good if not better than before.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KWFhzIPoc

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYgRJOg4e5w

 

[antnee]

Now Hang on a Minuit there if cages can be swooped? ( that spelling doesn't look right) and I seem to think they can as after all someone assembled it. I could have done that with my tiagra RD and turned it in to a GS (medium cage) Though am doubtful that Buying the parts for the Tiagra 4400 would not be possible as probably obsolete now and only available as an old S/H one if you could source one, so I probably did the right thing anyway buying a Sora GS new.
Though it will be a learning exercise to strip the old Tiagra down and service the old one

 

[TheDoctor]

I somehow doubt that getting parts do do this will be easy. I'd personally wind the B screw all the way in and see if your current mech will cope. The cage length purely lets the mech wrap more chain, it doesn't change anything else.

 

[antnee]

Yes I've done that, I've even put a longer B screw in instead of the standard one and got away with it to gain a 30 tooth sprocket from a 28T one

 

[chriscross1966]

If it was Campagnolo then I'd say yes, there stuff retains remarkable bits compatibility during an era range for the smaller components, the bigger components will be finish and weight-saving for the better bits.... uless what you're looking at is Avanti, which seems to be a law unto itself (sigh)... but if you've got C-Record, or equivalent Croce D'Aune or whatever there was beneath them (Centaur?? Veloce? Mirage?) then the parts swapability is pretty high and I'd feel confident I could swap out in that way....

 

[buzzy-beans]

There is a part called Roadlink
18 Bikes Ltd claim you can fit this and you can use your Ultegra d'railer with a double crank with an 11-36 cassette , It's about £20

Here is a link to one company offering this interesting product https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/roadlink

 

[davidphilips]

Here is a link to one company offering this interesting product https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/products/roadlink

Just seen a cheaper perhaps copy on ebay for £2, looks interesting may buy one to try it out?http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bicycle-R...hash=item4b1c4056cb:m:mZI32HsS8Cge-BBR9Gvnrcg