So I’ve got Xt ten speed with a 36 /32 setup. I’ve just gone from a double to a single front ring. I’ve also removed 2. Chain links as it was too slack in the smallest cog.

When I move to the 36 gear the mech is under a lot of tension. When I change down rapidly then it gets stuck and won’t take up the slack. Sort of staying stuck forward. I’ve had this issue with a previous mech and it was the clutch. I’ve double checked this and it appears to be the pivot on the other side of the clutch.

Any ideas on how to fix it?

Strip, clean and rebuild? Sure you needed to remove 2 links?
What size front ring do you have now?

Not sure what you mean by “the pivot on the other side of the clutch” Andy.
I’ve seen the same “lazy” return of the cage on an XT 10sp clutch a couple of times. It was the clutch mechanism in my case too. Strip and clean sorted it the first time. Second time it wasn’t going to play and I had to swap the clutch assy with one from a broken “parts-bin” mech.

yes the links needed to be removed.

basically it works fine as if i would change on a 2x setup but because its going a little bit further now it sticks.

easy to rebuild (ie less than an hour) or just buy a new one?

You’re sure it’s not just hanging up on the cassette?

Go to step 2 to see how to strip the cage of your mech.
Clean up the pivot bolt that holds the cage on and reassemble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65WG6hkj5lY
Had this a few times easy to fix.

The other side of the clutch is basically the cage. The cage will pivot forwards and work OK 36 34 cog and if given a knock will work fine between 11 and 34 if I go to 36 then back down quickly it fails to return.

Yup think it’s step 5 many thanks.

There goes my excuse for a d2i setup

Just incase its goosed, Can anyone tell me if a medium or long cage would be best with a 32/42 setup?

or even more so if its worth spending the cash to get to 11sp?

Sorry no help but I took XT 10 speed off my 5 and put it on my 09 anthem.
Was never impressed with it on the 5, but on the Anthem it’s lovely.

Different frames give different results in my experience..

What bike have you put yours on?

liteville 301.

worked fine for the past year and previously on my five

an anyone tell me if a medium or long cage would be best with a 32/42 setup?

Medium will be fine.

Medium cage 10spd xt clutch working fine on my 301 with a 40t T-rex.
Haven’t tried 42t yet but I’d be very confident that it will be fine, as there’s still plenty of capacity for growth.

ok cool,

so if i need a new derailleur (hope not) worth it going for an 11 speed one?

Rebuilt it and it was rust soup. The pivot pin was solid. 100% better. Never realised it had holes in the back. All sorted