this post was submitted on 11 May 2026
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How fast can you adjust an SRAM SX derailleur? (leminal.space)
submitted 1 month ago by MrWrinkles@leminal.space to c/bicycling@lemmy.world
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I repair cars for a living, so I'm fairly handy with tools and mechanical things. After years and years with Shimano 3x7 and 2x8 groupsets, my new favorite bike (a pristine Surly Wednesday) came with a 12spd SRAM SX rear derailleur. Even worse 😁 it was so far out of adjustment that it only worked in 4, or 5 speeds maybe.

I've only recently learned to adjust derailleurs and I'm okay with old Shimano stuff. But this SRAM thing. Goodness! I finally dialed it in after 3 hours. At one point, I was fairly certain I broke the shifter, but it's fine.

I know I'm new to 12 speed, but is it really that much harder to dial in? Totally worth it, now that I've had a few rides. But damn.

Anyone have to adjust SRAM parts regularly? Any horror stories?

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[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

In theory it should be exactly the same as a Shimano derailleur, you have the same things to adjust:

  1. Cable tension
  2. Derailleur distance from cassette
  3. Limit screws

However 12sp functions in the same width cassette as 7sp, there's just almost double the number of cogs there, and a narrower chain, so the shifting must be adjusted a lot more accurately

[–] MrWrinkles@leminal.space 2 points 1 month ago

I watched some videos later which reinforced what I had learned the hard way; the B screw setting is critical for SRAM. There's a template, even. I don't think the B screw setting matters much to my old 7 and 8sp Shimano derailleurs.