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rear deraileurs and chain length

jacksonpt

Turbo Monkey
Jul 22, 2002
6,791
59
Vestal, NY
I replaced my rear deraileur tonight... an 00 LX with an 03 LX, both long cage. When I got the new der bolted on, I noticed that my chain was waaaay to short. I could shift though all the cogs on my smallest ring no prob, but I couldn't get through them all on my middle ring. The big ring was a joke. I eyeballed everything, and the 2 der seem identical except for some aesthetics.

I have a spare chain, so the length isn't an issue, I just thought it was strange that there would be such a significant difference.

Is it normal for deraileurs to require different chain lengths? Or is this a signal that I might have done something wrong (even though it's shifting just fine)?
 

jacksonpt

Turbo Monkey
Jul 22, 2002
6,791
59
Vestal, NY
No... the other chain is in my pack in my truck. I was working on the bike in my kitchen. Maybe I'll throw the old der back on and do a quick compare.
 

Repack

Turbo Monkey
Nov 29, 2001
1,889
0
Boston Area
Does the new derr have larger jockey wheels? That would do it. When did LX go 9S? The 9s stuff has larger pullies than the 8s stuff.