New longer derailleur or more links?

[Tricky1977]

Hi, I’m need of some help, does the below look wrong and if so, am I trying to fit too much through my XT rear mech, and require a long cage? Or is my chain too short? Pic is of worst case…
Big ring is 46 rear cassette a 13-30 I think..
Ignore the dog and snazzy slider-sock combo please

 

[mdvineng]

Looks OK as long as small small isn't compromised. https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/chain-length-calculator/

 

[Dr Dremel]

I mean besides you ought not to shift to the big chainring/big sprocket combo (or small/small for that matter) this looks ok. Longer cage would only help to take up the slack on the small/small combo and not help here. Nothing longer available anyway.

Longer chain as said is not necessary IMHO.

 

[Tricky1977]

Ok thanks for the advice.
I seem to recall I did do a quick chain length call, but maybe the distance was wrong bb to rear drop out?
I only tend to ride in the big ring, not sure why…I only go short distances and like to feel like I’m working my legs. I want to keep it as original as possibly in terms of adding a bigger front ring (I do max out with a 13 sprocket)
Seems to ride ok
(Edits)

 

[Dr Dremel]

Regardless of chain length the chainline on the big/big combo will still be bad. The more diagonal the chain runs, the more wear. You can probably even feel it in the pedals that the chain does not run smoothly in this gear.

 

[grantoury]

It does look a bit tight. Is the chain under a lot of tension? Then you are putting force on the chain and it might break. Otherwise using big chainring with big cog will work, if not ideal.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Put it in top gear jockey cage should be at 90 degrees to the floor, or chain wrap big on big plus 2 links usually. Hope this helps.

 

[hamster]

Looks perfect to me, setup like Shimano say with tight chain on big-big plus two links.
Big-big has to be reachable even if you never plan to use it, as it saves a too-short chain stuffing the mech into the wheel.

 

[Gtpulse]

Have I been doing mine wrong all these years? I always set mine up on the longest I can get away with on small/small without the chain rubbing on the cage. I figure that then if it doesn’t work in large/large it was never meant to be!

Helps using a bit of bent old spoke to hold it all together while measuring.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Have I been doing mine wrong all these years? I always set mine up on the longest I can get away with on small/small without the chain rubbing on the cage. I figure that then if it doesn’t work in large/large it was never meant to be!

Helps using a bit of bent old spoke to hold it all together while measuring.

Yes