Rear Derailluer ?

[VFDRider]

Wondered what you all think....

I have two used Shimano Deore LX rear derailleurs that can theoretically be assembled into one working derailleur. They've both been used kind of heavily and for one reason or another had to be replaced. Am I better off trying to make a mutt derailleur or just spring for a new one and save myself the trouble?

[jabberwocky]

I don't know how easy they are to disassemble, nor do I know which parts would need to be swapped. Most mid-range derailleurs I've seen are pinned together, so swapping some parts would be kinda difficult. A Deore LX isn't a particularly expensive derailleur to replace, so I'd probably just buy a new one. But if you think you can do the swap, give it a shot. Worst case, you destroy them and need to buy a new one anyway.

[VFDRider]

The cage and everything is good its really the pulleys that need replaced and to bend the arms back to a more perfect alignment. But I guess I'll give it a go at first and just see what happens.

[rciracing]

SLX replaced LX for 2009 so you should be able to find LX cheap....like $20 cheap.

[VFDRider]

I guess with that though, you conceivably mix/match out of model (ex. don't get another deore LX but go w/ another like Hone) instead?

[jabberwocky]

I guess with that though, you conceivably mix/match out of model (ex. don't get another deore LX but go w/ another like Hone) instead?Yup, you could use pretty much any 9 speed Shimano derailleur (XT, XTR, Hone, Saint, whatever). Beware that SRAM derailleurs won't work with Shimano shifters though.

[VFDRider]

On that note, I've ridden w/ Long cage derailleurs for the last 7 years, what would be the benefit/difference in taking up a medium cage derailleur? On that note, if I'm only planning to run a 22t/32t up front, would that help dictate one use over the other as far as medium v. long goes because of the lack of the big ring and the additional 8 gears that would otherwise need to be accommodated?

[jabberwocky]

On that note, I've ridden w/ Long cage derailleurs for the last 7 years, what would be the benefit/difference in taking up a medium cage derailleur? On that note, if I'm only planning to run a 22t/32t up front, would that help dictate one use over the other as far as medium v. long goes because of the lack of the big ring and the additional 8 gears that would otherwise need to be accommodated?I posted a quick guide to derailleur cage selection recently in this thread (http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showpost.php?p=141389&postcount=3). Basically, if you are doing away with the big ring you should probably run a medium cage. A long cage will work, but the medium will shift a bit better and have less chainslap.

[VFDRider]

Thanks for the help; if it isn't already apparent I'm building up a bike out of [largely] used parts for the first time so it seems with every step there are a number of questions that can only be answered so much with research on the internet....