[Closed] Medium cage Shimano rear Der. 36t max?

on shimano site it gives the same max and min sizes of biggest cog for both medium and long cage versions of the same derailleur, so not much use...

Not set in stone.
I’ve happily run 11-42 with standard 10s mechs without issue. 11-46 tends to need a goat link though

thanks docrobster, but you don't say if medium or long cage.

would expect long cage to be a problem, but i have a medium.

or perhaps you're implying that cage length isn't the issue? only physical clearance in the 'goat link' area?

Cage length affects total capacity, parallelogram geometry and upper pulley offset affect max sprocket compatibility.

You often have flexibility beyond Shimano’s stated maximum, as they only state comparability where they are happy with the shift quality across the whole cassette. Screwing in b-tension and/or using a goat link allows use of bigger sprockets, but potentially compromises shift quality in higher gears (smaller sprockets). Replacement cages with bigger upper pulley offset can get better results as the jockey wheel can maintain a better sized gap across all ratios.

As put better than I can above…
But I think the long cage 10s mechs still have a published 36t max capacity. Mine would probably be long cage.
I ran a zee mech with 11-42 for a while though. Was never great and used to be really dependent on chain length. Very thin line between too short for 42 and too long for 11t. That would be the fr version which has a capacity of 25 teeth due to the short cage. So it can reach the big cog easily but not wrap all the chain. Supposedly 32t max cassette.
Gs mech has a published capacity of 36 so won’t have these problems.

so you're saying an SS = short cage kust about coped with 11-42 yes?
so medium cage shouldn't be a problem for chain length. i guess not surprising as songle ring front.

and as for clearance, might be worth a shot with b screw right in, or possibly swapped for a longer one

Yes although it was a few years back and I may have forgotten the details!
I ran a zee mech initially with 11-40 (extender cog hack) then with a sunrace 11-42 cassette. Fitted a goat link as well but the issue was chain length not clearance. Have run 10 speed sgs mechs with 11-42 no issues at all. Have currently got a 10s m786 sgs mech on a bike with 11-46 cassette using a goat link. Shifts pretty good. As well as 11-46 11s with m7000 or m8000 mech.

What cassette are you wanting to use?

I'm running a 10sp Deore shadow+ medium cage derailleur with a Sunrace 11-42 cassette, I tried it with the b-tension screw adjusted all the way but ended up using a goat-link as it shifts much better. Perhaps a slight position/angle difference in the tab on the hanger that the b-tension screw pushes against means on some frames it works some it doesn't?

sounds about right yes.

want to get a sinrace 11-42 doc as you used

I ran a medium cage 10 speed SLX mech on a 11-42 cassette with a longer b screw and it worked fine, it only just ran out of b adjustment with the standard screw

It’ll be fine I reckon.
If I was buying a new mech to run with that casssette I’d get an 11s one but you may as well give it a go.

an 11sp to run with a 10 speed shifter (assuming actuation ratio works?), cause it'll have better clearance?

thanks everyone. i'll give it a go like that then.

Yes shimano 11s mechs run great with 10a cassette and shifters. Same cable pull bigger range