Anyone "Hacked" a AXS short cage rear derailleur

[MelbourneWoody]

My current AXS derailleur has a 33T limit. I've got some silly rides coming up and wanted to see if I could change my rear cassette to give me a 36T rear cog to help with the climbing.

Has anyone got any experience putting on an OSPW to allow a larger gear? a Couple of friends have said it will work but none of them have actually done it. I also don't want to buy the Red medium cage AXS derailleur if I can get away with an OSPW.

Any help would be appreciated

[frisbee]

Can you just wind in the B-tension screw a little? I set up a derailleur from scratch recently and I was surprised how much a effect just a few turns had.

[andyeds1234]

I have used a 36t cassette with the standard 33t rear mech. No issues in the small chainring, and let’s face it big ring, biggest sprocket is a no no in most circumstances anyway.

Edited by andyeds1234 on Saturday 9th December 15:27

[OutInTheShed]

andyeds1234 said:

I have used a 36t cassette with the standard 33t rear mech. No issues in the small chainring, and let’s face it big ring, biggest sprocket is a no no in most circumstances anyway.

Edited by andyeds1234 on Saturday 9th December 15:27

But if you accidentally go too far, it's nasty!
Mate of mine broke the chain, bent the derailleur cage and bent two sprockets due to 'running out of chain'.
I guess you might program electronic shifters to stop this happening.

[MelbourneWoody]

andyeds1234 said:

I have used a 36t cassette with the standard 33t rear mech. No issues in the small chainring, and let’s face it big ring, biggest sprocket is a no no in most circumstances anyway.

Edited by andyeds1234 on Saturday 9th December 15:27

Ye, I want to try and avoid crunching the mech up one day by forgetting not to go big big. I did it before on an older bike and only just got away with not breaking everything!

I took the punt on the OSPW but will size it up on the 33T cassette before even ordering the 36T I think :/

[gazza285]

You could use a drop link?

[WPA]

Just run a mech extender: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/gear-spares/sunrace-re...

[OutInTheShed]

Are drop links and mech extenders the same thing?
AKA Goat Link or Wolf Tooth?

These things let you use a big sprocket, but they don't increase the chain capacity of the rear mech, and they may mean the chain only runs on a small arc of the top gear sprocket. That's ugly, noisy and eats chains and sprockets IMHO.
Effect varies according to the geometry of the rear mech, where it puts the centre-on pulley in high gear.
I played with one and didn't use it in the end.
My gravel/cross/bitsa is 2 x 10, I reduced the big chainwheel by a few teeth to keep the rear mech happy with a 36T biggest sprocket.
It's a while since I fiddled with it, but I think it's something like 11-36 on the back and 32/46 on the front, with a Shimano 105 medium cage road mech on the back.
It works for me, I can go fast enough to scare myself or trudge up fairly stupid hills. All with fairly 'affordable' chains and cassettes.
Actual cyclists may prefer something else, fair enough!

I was looking for a longer cage that would fit to enable a bigger range on the front.
A long cage is the proper thing, but spending real money is cheating!

[MelbourneWoody]

I do have a "Drop link" that I ran on my 11 speed Sram for one event. I was always a little nervous as it just didn't feel as solid. Was hoping to avoid but I guess it's a good backup