Pro tips needed

[kk6gan]

So I'm hoping someone has a pro tip that can help me out.

 

Here's the story, quite some time ago I bought a used X9 long cage rear derailleur from a fellow hubber and along with the deal came a chain with good life left as well as an XO medium cage rear derailleur that had got sucked into a wheel which bent the body but the cage and pulley wheels were still perfect which could be used as spares.

 

When I fitted the X9 I already had a brand new chain so I thought what the hell and I slapped that on instead of the lightly used one that came with it. It's now some time down the line (just over 1500km according to STRAVA, yeah I figured I'd shout it as I do when trying to pass the dirt roadies on the downs at the local trails) and that chain has sadly come to the end of its life.

 

But I have an easy fix right? Just slap on the still good chain I got with the X9, that's what I thought anyway… Turns out the guy I got it from had extra short chainstays compared to mine and the chain isn't long enough to accommodate the 42t expander on my cassette (yes, the same expander I need to help me drag my unfit ass up the trails while strategically blocking any dirt roadies trying to pass me on the ups).

 

So then I had a second easyish fix, remove the long cage from the X9 and replace it with the medium cage that came with the XO I got for spares which would allow my 1 link too short chain to magically be long enough to accommodate my 42t expander. Ha, brilliant…or so I thought.

 

Turns out the allan head screw that is holding the cage in place on the X9 was completely stripped somehow by the previous owner to the point that it is now perfectly rounded and nothing I have tried has been able to remove it.

 

So in the end, after wasting your time reading this whole long story, what I'd like to know is does anyone have a pro tip to remove a completely stripped out screw from the X9? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as at this point I don't have cash for a new chain and I sure as hell don't want to run the old one and stuff my cassette putting me further in the red.

[Butterbean]

Yes. Use a torx head that is slightly larger than the smoothed out hole. Then hammer it in and loosen, then replace. Take the necessary precautions.

[kk6gan]

Yes. Use a torx head that is slightly larger than the smoothed out hole. Then hammer it in and loosen, then replace. Take the necessary precautions.

 

Firstly, thanks for your reply.

 

I did give that a bash, literally, but I am pretty nervous about hammering too hard on the mech so the torx bit didn't go too far in and ended up just stripping the screw further.

 

Do you think I'm being a bit of a woes and should just give it a proper hammering? Also, what precautions could I take to prevent damages?

[Bonus]

As an aside, I saw a guy riding with two power-links in his chain the other day. His chain had been too short, though only just.

[kk6gan]

As an aside, I saw a guy riding with two power-links in his chain the other day. His chain had been too short, though only just.

Now that's an idea I never thought of. Think I might even have a spare lying around somewhere. Thanks Bonus, if I can't come right with removing the screw I will definitely give that route a go

[Butterbean]

Firstly, thanks for your reply.

 

I did give that a bash, literally, but I am pretty nervous about hammering too hard on the mech so the torx bit didn't go too far in and ended up just stripping the screw further.

 

Do you think I'm being a bit of a woes and should just give it a proper hammering? Also, what precautions could I take to prevent damages?

I Think As Long As You Have The Right Support below Whatever The contact Point Will Be You Should Be Fine

 

You Can Always Take It To An Engineering Shop And Have TheM Drill Out The Screw, but Theyre Tiny So It Wont Be Hard

 

Also, i Dont Know WhY The Words Are Now capiralized Sorry

[JXV]

So I'm hoping someone has a pro tip that can help me out.

 

Here's the story, quite some time ago I bought a used X9 long cage rear derailleur from a fellow hubber and along with the deal came a chain with good life left as well as an XO medium cage rear derailleur that had got sucked into a wheel which bent the body but the cage and pulley wheels were still perfect which could be used as spares.

 

When I fitted the X9 I already had a brand new chain so I thought what the hell and I slapped that on instead of the lightly used one that came with it. It's now some time down the line (just over 1500km according to STRAVA, yeah I figured I'd shout it as I do when trying to pass the dirt roadies on the downs at the local trails) and that chain has sadly come to the end of its life.

 

But I have an easy fix right? Just slap on the still good chain I got with the X9, that's what I thought anyway… Turns out the guy I got it from had extra short chainstays compared to mine and the chain isn't long enough to accommodate the 42t expander on my cassette (yes, the same expander I need to help me drag my unfit ass up the trails while strategically blocking any dirt roadies trying to pass me on the ups).

 

So then I had a second easyish fix, remove the long cage from the X9 and replace it with the medium cage that came with the XO I got for spares which would allow my 1 link too short chain to magically be long enough to accommodate my 42t expander. Ha, brilliant…or so I thought.

 

Turns out the allan head screw that is holding the cage in place on the X9 was completely stripped somehow by the previous owner to the point that it is now perfectly rounded and nothing I have tried has been able to remove it.

 

So in the end, after wasting your time reading this whole long story, what I'd like to know is does anyone have a pro tip to remove a completely stripped out screw from the X9? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as at this point I don't have cash for a new chain and I sure as hell don't want to run the old one and stuff my cassette putting me further in the red.

It wont help to change from a long cage to a med cage RD ....if your chain is too short its too short and you need to add a link or two.

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[kk6gan]

I Think As Long As You Have The Right Support below Whatever The contact Point Will Be You Should Be Fine

 

You Can Always Take It To An Engineering Shop And Have TheM Drill Out The Screw, but Theyre Tiny So It Wont Be Hard

 

Also, i Dont Know WhY The Words Are Now capiralized Sorry

No worries, each word starting with a capital is like you shouting at me, but not in an angry way but more of an excited to help way!

 

I think an engineering shop will be my best hope, every time I lift a hammer and aim it towards the RD I shudder.

 

Thanks again for the tips

[kk6gan]

It wont help to change from a long cage to a med cage RD ....if your chain is too short its too short and you need to add a link or two.

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

That makes me a bit sad to hear, thought it might make up for the one link I'm short…guess I will be going Bonus' route of adding the extra power link then. Now I just have to find the little bugger.

 

Thanks JXV

[droo]

It wont help to change from a long cage to a med cage RD ....if your chain is too short its too short and you need to add a link or two.

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

This.

 

If you need the stripped screw removed, I have a set of EZ-Outs and Grabits that will remove pretty much anything. Won't help with your chain issue, but at least you'll have one more functional RD.