SRAM x9 problem

[emcgough]

Hey,

Just bought a second hand x9 derailleur and there is horizontal play/movement just where the derailleur bolts onto the hanger. (ie: If you were to push right on the allen bolt hole where it bolts to the hanger, the whole derailleur would move a couple of mm's inwards)

I've never used SRAM before, so maybe this is supposed to happen? Somehow I don't think so.

Can somebody tell me whether this is normal, or have I bought a lemon? Any other info needed, just ask.

Cheers,

Eddie

[wombat]

Its supposed to do that. The bolts are in place of shimanos little twist knob. It is to tune the deralliuer. SRAM mechs are what they call "rapid rise". Some shimano's are like that but not all.
If you try to push it up, it won't move will it? Thats because its rapid rise, they go side to side, not down. Don't worry that is normal. That is how SRAM minimizes the noise of the mech, have you noticed Shimano mechs make a lot of noise?
But if you have played with the screws you might want to realign it or if you dont know how, get a bike shop to do it. Won't take long or cost much. Some shops might even do it for nothing
Mate, I'm trying to figure out exactly how much of what you said is wrong, but my brain is simply imploding after the effort.

[|Matt|]

Whatever....i did that to mine when it was out of whack and it got fixed up....

[DEMONATION]

umm isnt rapid ride a feature purely of shimano so that the shifter is switched around so that it is easier to shift as climbing hills? and i think whe u talk about your derailer not going up that is a sram feature that makes it so that the derailer doesnt hit the chainstay. but other than all your wrong advice id say good informative post stpzeroridah.

[emcgough]

I'm talking about the singular bolt that bolts the derailleur onto the hanger. This bolt is secured as it should be, but the derailleur itself can be moved inwards, outwards and sideways, while the bolt remains rigid inside the hanger.

My question is, is this fair game, as it was designed, or is it simply buggered?

Stpzeroridah: The derailleur isn't "out of whack" as such, as I haven't even gone past bolting it onto the hanger in the installation process. My only problem is that I have never worked with an SRAM derailleur, so I just don't know if the movement described is normal. I don't need a bike shop to do it, it's installing a derailleur for god's sake, I just want some confirmation from other SRAM users on whether it's good to go or a throw away job.

[spinner]

I have an old 9.0 (pretty beaten up too) and an '06 XO and both of them have a tiny amount of movement there. Nothing like you are describing but.

Sounds like your X9 is definately worn. I reckon set it up and see how it shifts. If it works ok ,then squeeze the remaining life out of it and ride it to the death.

[shmity]

Can you get a pic? Sounds to me like you might be missing the B screw tension plate thinga.

[emcgough]

Backplate is intact, but is absolutely loose, you can spin it around. My understanding is that it is supposed to be really tight and act as a tensioning device as said above...

[jamit]

I had a similar problem with my x.9,but it shifted all right.

I have just pulled the chain off and cleaned that and the derailleur and now its near perfect no movement at all. When I pulled the chain off I did notice the movement increase and the derailleur was quiet sloppy but I put that down to the fact that the tensioner spring did not have anything to pulling against it.

One thing I will say is I love the SRAM shifter and derailleur this is my first one and I am a convert.

[Joly Joe Rider]

Why Are We Yelling!

[MUGEN]

Is there like a c-clip holding that black plate to the bolt? It may be bent out of shape? How old is the thing? Have u hit it hard before?
lmao stpzeroridah lmfao...:D

[miko]

Mine does this. I don't know if I'd say it were a couple of mil though. It's definitely more than I would have expected though. Despite this, my setup shifts sweet ez bro!

[wombat]

Backplate is intact, but is absolutely loose, you can spin it around. My understanding is that it is supposed to be really tight and act as a tensioning device as said above...
The plate is oriented wrong. You're right that it's part of the tensioning setup, but on the SRAM mechs it can also float around when it isn't mounted (and come off if you pull it).
By the look of this picture (http://forums.farkin.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=23471) you need to rotate the plate clockwise (as if you were looking at the mounted dearilluer side on) when you go to mount it.

The B tension screw (the longish screw near the hanger mount) should have it's end pushing against the "prong" on the plate, and the tab on the plate should hook over the little seat in the hanger.
(forgive me if you already know all this and I'm just rambling).

Of course, this still probably won't solve the issue of play in the mount. The most float I've seen in a new SRAM mech is about 1mm. I can't see anything missing or out of place from those photos so personally, I'd try setting up the mech and seeing how it goes. If the play seems to be stopping it from shifting properly have a look at making up some spacers to limit the play, or piss the thing right off.

Hope all that has been of some help.




PS: stpzeroridah: "Rapid-rise" has nothing to do with any of this, I think you may have your terms muddled up. I'm also not too sure what "the knobs" are, but if you're referring to the derailluer limit screws, then that also has very little to do with this.

[emcgough]

Thanks Wombat. Yeah that photo was for illustrative purposes only, I realise the notch should sit against the bolt. There is still play, but it's all fitted and shifts well.. so there's nothing to worry about.

Cheers for all the advice.

[4heckssake]

yeah my old X9 der has a mm or 2 play in it when the chain is not on but firms up a little with the chain tension and still shifts superbly. the c clip thingo at the back of the plate on mine is stretched or not fixed on like it should be (it falls off when i remove the der from the bike)
whack it together and give it a burl...it should still be better than a new shimano der

[Rider]

My X-9 derailleur did the same thing when I got it. I thought that it was a lot of movement for a brand new part and there was some thing wrong with it. But when I put the chain on the tension from the chain was enough to stop it moving and it shifted fine. Even after I bent the derailleur body and hanger it kept shifting pretty well. I've got an X-0 one now that has no play in it at all so maybe the X-9 was a bit dodgy but still worked fine.