SRAM X.0 Rear Derailleurs Plastic Guide Cant Survive A Spill?. SRAM Is A Hefty Company.
Two SRAM X.0 rear derailleurs were broken, where the plastic cable guide attaches the aluminum parallelogram body. One third was damaged in shipping. This is because the derailleurs prime mover is actually the black plastic guide. It acts as a large lever and swings the derailleur along the cassette cogs, taking in each shift. The guide can’t do its job if it is cracked because the cable cannot be attached to both its fixing points.
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SRAMs X.0 rear derailleur up close. Attached to the lower parallel link is the black plastic guide that extends behind the derailleur body. The cable is pulled and the guide pulls the derailleur inwards and downwards. R. Cunningham photo
The last one that I broke bent the aluminum backing plate for derailleurs and cracked the pivot shaft. To keep the guide on the pivot shaftaMacGyverfix, I bent the plate with a tire lever.
A single rivet attaches the guide to the derailleur parallelogram shaft, where the plastic cracks and fails. The Zip-tie not only held the guide in place, but also the derailleur in its largest cogs. R. Cunningham photo
This potential problem has become a concern because the SRAM X.0 rear derailleur, which is my favorite, is now a concern. I had never thought about the survival of X.0 components until recently. But now I am concerned because the derailleur is large and slightly constructed, so it is likely that there will be no other problems.
SRAM GETS IN ON THE PROBLEM I Talked with SRAMs Eric Schutt spoke about the issue today. Schutt is an absolute straight shooter, so I can take his word without running it throughmy new Fluffy-Marketing-Guy-Doing-Damage-Control-Filter (Radio Shack, PC compatible only).
Schutt claims that he called SRAMs warranty people, BlackBox program managers, and bike rental guys in Whistler, where there are afleets of bikes with similar X.9 derailleurs. Nobody has ever heard of a cable guide faillike mine. Eric, and I will wholeheartedly agree, says that the X.0 rear deailleur has been in use for nine years with no problems. He was surprised that I would have such problems so far down the road. Three failures in three months is enough to raise concern so I decided to write.
As embarrassing as it may be, I’ll just have to accept my three derailments and eat crow. If you have had a similar experience or would like to talk about it further, please log on to Ask RC at the homepage and I’ll get back to you. Thanks Eric.
RC
The buckle of the Zip tie conceals the rivet that holds the guide to the lower paralelogram.
R Cunningham photo
