Putting a new groupset onto my bike. 10 speed cassette, brand new, 10 speed chain, brand new, and a used 10 speed dura ace rear mech. Cannot get the mech to shift into the 11, although it shifts fine everywhere else. Taken the limit screw completely out, undone the cable, still no. Can’t actually force it by hand to move to the 11. What’s going on?

Bent rear mech.

Is it a steel frame? Dropout thickness can stop things moving far enough.
Solution is to add a pedal washer (or two!) under the thread of the rear mech mounting bolt to space it out.

(Or bent hanger)

You are not in Spinal Tap?

Managed to get it in the 11 (limit screw and cable undone), while it stays there, it’s not seating very well (trying to jump down a gear). Taken it all apart and while the hanger seems nice and straight when lying on a flat surface, doesn’t look great in the pic? Or maybe that’s just me.

Mech hanger looks a bit wonky….

Strike 4 for bent hanger

Is the rear hub the correct spacing for the frame?

Hanger bent.

Dropout bent. Hanger looks straight but angle is off the vertical. Remove the hanger and use a large adjustable spanner and some very gentle persuasion.

The frame looks bent. Take the wheel out, mech hanger off, give the frame a good seeing to with a large adjustable spanner.

Go and invest in a Park DAG2 hanger alignment tool. The best £50 you will spend on your tool kit.

The put the mech hanger back on, wheel in, and align it all up with the DAG.

Gears are easy when the hanger and frame is aligned. Virtually impossible when not.

You’ve only bought 10 speed clobber, that’s why it won’t go into the 11th gear!

Something is bent on that pic. nice and clean though.

I agree…..bent back end!

Jimmy’ll fix it for you.