Giant Yukon FX2 - cassette type?

[C-J]

Firstly apologies for the daft question....

I have kept my original mountain bike going for 21years - but have just bought a 'new' one (possibly around 2009) from a mate - which has reminded me how little I know about bikes!

Daft question - does anyone know what number of speeds and cassette type this Giant should have at the rear? It currently has an 8-speed cassette (or perhaps freewheel set-up) - but the thumb operated index only actually gives 6 shifts (so at 2 points it jumps 2 cogs), the shifter only seems to be labelled 2/4/6, and the red band on the shift seems to visually only toggle between 4-ish and 6.
Top and bottom cogs and some of the ones inbetween are selectable - but not all!

Internet searches suggest the Yukon range at some point was 3x8 - but I don't understand why the shift only has 6 shifts. It seems unlikely to me that previous owners would have changed both the thumb shift and derailleur to a 6 gear set-up.

What am I missing?
Or is something not set-up correctly?
What set-up should it be?
And more importantly, what configuration should I pursue so that I can use all gears!

Please excuse my bike ignorance - answers to the above much appreciated.

[Stophe]

The Giant Yukon FX2 from 2009 ran a Sram drive train, cassette was 8 speed PG830. It should have sram X4 shifters, but they are labelled 1 —— 8, so it sounds like they have been changed at some point. The Sram stuff of this era was 1:1 cable pull, so a Shimano shifter wouldn’t shift properly if that’s what’s on there now and could be the problem. If the derailleur is still a Sram x4 and the shifter isn’t then that would be where I’d start.

[C-J]

Stophe said:

The Giant Yukon FX2 from 2009 ran a Sram drive train, cassette was 8 speed PG830. It should have sram X4 shifters, but they are labelled 1 —— 8, so it sounds like they have been changed at some point. The Sram stuff of this era was 1:1 cable pull, so a Shimano shifter wouldn’t shift properly if that’s what’s on there now and could be the problem. If the derailleur is still a Sram x4 and the shifter isn’t then that would be where I’d start.

Thanks Stophe. Great info, cheers.

Part of the numbering on the shifter has rubbed off - it looks like the LHS says "1.2.3" and the RHS says "1 . 4 . 8" (on reflection the latter number looks more like the base half of an 8 than a 6, and then gap from 1-4 is smaller than 4-8).

On a test ride yesterday I noticed that changing 1 way (up I think) they were 6 set positions (and no way of selecting any in-between gears). However the other way (down I think), by putting less than a full push on the shifter I could move through 7 or sometimes all 8 gears.

I may have mislead with the 2009 as I don't know the age of the bike - is there any way to tell?

Both shifters are "Sram X-5" - no idea if original but not frame marks obviously suggesting that they have been changed.
Front derailleur is "Shimano Alivio Hyperdrive".
Rear deraileur is "Shimano Deore XT" - and sits only a few mm from the cassette teeth (although I have no idea what good looks like! could be a weak spring?)

The lingo is all new to me - but some searching suggests that Deore XT are for 10-11 speed. Could that be part of the issue? Still doesn't (to me) explain the only 6 clicks on the shifter though - unless a side effect of the wrong derailleur?

Edited by C-J on Monday 22 November 17:34

[C-J]

Just found a link - photo looks like the bike (size L) that I have! I am on a laptop today, as opposed to the old ipad yesterday, and have just found way better links!

You were right about the cassette - no idea how I check what is on there now?
However looks like the original Sram X-5 rear derailleur has been changed - might need to find a reasonably priced replacement/near equivalent?


https://www.thebikelist.co.uk/giant/yukon-fx-2-200...


rear derailleur shifters SRAM X5
brakeset Shimano Shimano 485 hydraulic disc, 160mm rotors
chainset TruVativ ISOFlow 3.0 22/32/44

front derailleur Shimano Alivio
cassette SRAM PG850 11-32

cassette (rear cogs) SRAM PG850 11-32
chain KMC Z7
crank TruVativ ISOFlow 3.0 22/32/44

derailleur front Shimano Alivio
derailleur rear SRAM X.5
gears 24
shifter(s) SRAM X.5 24 speed triggers

[Stophe]

Strangely the internal Giant info lists that as X4, but there are a few variations, I’m sure if I spent enough time going through them all I’d find it. Either way, if you can find a Sram 1:1 derailleur of some sort that would most likely sort it. The XT just won’t work properly with the Sram shifters.

[shouldbworking]

It's probably just a rusty cable dragging. Undo it at the derailleur, give it a gentle pull whilst clicking the shifter, see if you get all 8 clicks. If you don't, it's probably a duff shifter.

Either way, new cable inners and outers will be a huge improvement for a couple of quid

[C-J]

Thanks both.

When I bought it the gear shift was super tight/hard and copious application of oil at key points of the cable seemed to help a lot initially.

Your other suggestions gives me some ideas to play with - appreciated.