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Ultegra 6700 10speed shifting inconsistency

by tom_tom
Thu, Mar 26, 2015 10:56
8

Hi All
As a perfectionist this issue is driving me mad. I have always been able to fine tune different drivetrains but not this one.
My setup it ultegra 6700 all the way through to chains (3 sets) and cassette (11-28) and the problem is the gears don't work identically through all the cogs.
If I fine tune the high gears, the low ones will be out of tune and vice versa. It's not that they won't upshift or downshift but the upper jockey wheel will not be ideally central to all the cogs throughout the cassette and there will be a slight noise if it's not. It's not really a big issue but as I said, I'm a perfectionist and thought this groupset should work really smoothly.
I've eliminated possible causes as the hanger and have changed cables twice now which seems to help but only for a 1000km or so.
I was wondering if someone has had similar experiences and if upgrading the rear mech would actually help. I've read somewhere that apparently both ultegra and duraace 10spd have got some issues in the shifters having too much pressure within the shifting mechanism.
I'm inclined to think it's just the way it is with 10speed setups but I'm still curious of your experiences.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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8 comments

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tom_tom | 9 years ago
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will be checking all the points suggested again and will see.

thanks for all the ideas

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hampstead_bandit | 9 years ago
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new derailleur hangers are often not straight! never assume fitting a new hanger will cure shifting problems - you need to put a tool like this on it and actually check it:

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from your comments it sounds like the derailleur pulley wheels are not running parallel to the cassette which is atypical of a bent hanger

even getting the hanger straight with the tool may not help as the stock OE hangers are usually cast aluminium alloy which is soft and easily bends with normal use.

I'd recommend getting a wheels manufacturing hanger for your bike, these are CNC machined from aluminium alloy billet and actually tend to be very straight out of the packet (compared to most) and hold their shape over a long time, giving better shifting response

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2 Wheeled Idiot | 9 years ago
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I would say completely strip and relube all the cables, I've had this issue with several group sets several times and cleaning seems to solve it
Alsonis your der hanger aligned properly? This can cause the same issues.

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mike the bike | 9 years ago
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Just a thought.
Have you at any time serviced your derailleur and removed the jockey wheels? If you have, did you replace them correctly? The upper wheel has much more lateral movement than the lower.
Hoping that helps.

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tom_tom replied to mike the bike | 9 years ago
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mike the bike wrote:

Just a thought.
Have you at any time serviced your derailleur and removed the jockey wheels? If you have, did you replace them correctly? The upper wheel has much more lateral movement than the lower.
Hoping that helps.

I did, several times but they always go to its original places.
what is actually interesting is that with the increased number of gears this movement is smaller and almost gone in ultegra 6800 upper jockey wheel

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crikey | 9 years ago
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Top three things to check:

1.) Cables. Any stickiness in the cables will cause problems.
2.) Derailleur hanger not straight. This will lead to inconsistency as the derailleur moves across the block.
3.) Not a big enough loop of cable from the frame to the derailleur. Again this will cause inconsistent indexing.

Avatar
joemmo | 9 years ago
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Have you checked if the jockey wheel has full freedom of movement laterally? Or if it is worn so it's a bit 'floppy'?
Also, try adjusting the screw on the hanger plate to change the clearance of the jockey wheel to the sprockets. It can make a difference.

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FullGas | 9 years ago
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I have a 5700 on my winter bike and it had the same issue. Now I replaced the cables and fine tuned the indexing, and it's working alright. However, not as good as the 6800 I have on my road bike. I guess it really is an issue of the Shimano 10 speed system. Anyway, I wonder if you greased the cables with a good teflon grease last time you've replaced them as that can make a huge difference.

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