Shimano XTR M950 Cage Change

[Matttymm]

Hello all.

I’ve got two XTR M950 rear derailleurs. One long cage and one medium cage.

I was hoping to swap the cages over to the respective bodies.

Having never done this before I was wondering how risky this is to do. I assume as there is an Allen key port it can be done…just didn’t want to knacker two of them if there is a risk of doing so.

Any views welcome please.

Thanks.

 

[integerspin]

I remove the cage when I clean a mech.

Only problem I have had with a mech was with a DX mech that the chain/jockey couldn't be kept away from
the big sprocket on the cassette. Turned out I had to much spring tension, you will see there are a couple of holes
you have the option of putting one of the springs in. It's reasonably obvious when you have it in bits.
I take it the extra holes are there to give different tension with different length cages.

 

[Matttymm]

Interesting. I bit the bullet and did it myself.

There are two holes though for sure.

I wonder whether now I put them back together OK. I changed over a long cage for a short cage and vice versa.

 

[FluffyChicken]

If you want to double check bits, there is an old but good teardown and cleanup

Shimano XTR RD-M950-GS overhaul

After almost 12 years of faithful service, the 1997 Shimano XTR RD-M950-GS rear derailleur (apologies to Sheldon Brown), procured in Novemb...

pedaldamnit.blogspot.com

 

[Matttymm]

That’s amazingly helpful. Thanks Fluffy.

The first notch is factory and the second is to increase tension at the expense of lag.

Can’t imagine anyone would be able to tell

Thanks

 

[FluffyChicken]

Quite often the second hole is legacy and you can't actually get a spring end in them properly (not sure with this mech).