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Made a few upgrades to my bike. Cassette is XT 11-32 10 speed (1 yr old soon), Chain ring Raceface 40T narrow-wide.
1. Saint replaced Zee derailleur (Saint in 11-28 mode), got one used. Had to shorten the chain one par of links to take out excessive slack and screw the b-screw nearly all the way in to tension the chain.
2. Cleaned the Connex 10s8 chain, not sure I put it on the same direction (it's not directional) but did put the link on the right way.
Shifting got worse and more sensitive after this "upgrade" even after making the proper adjustments, but didn't get any chain skips (skips as in the chain skipping over the cassette, not changing gears).
Today I
1. Moved the BB 2.5 mm spacer to the drive side, making the high gear chain line straighter, which presumable should be good.
2. Changed the jockey wheels to rose bikes ceramics, making sure to put the thicc one on top (the ones that came with was damaged).
Then riding in the rain I experienced several chain skips on the 3 smallest cassette cogs under power, which really sucks all the fun out of riding.
Should I try to go back to the Zee is zee if the problem goes away?
Or is it time to replace the 4 smallest cogs on the cassette and get a new chain? Could it even be the chainring? All are around 1 year old, chain wear around 0.5%.
I suspect it's time to replace the chain and cassette.
You could eliminate the jockey wheels from the equation by popping the old ones back on and seeing if you can replicate the problem.
Oh actually check the rear mech alignment. I wonder if the new mech is bent and you just didn't notice the skipping previously.
Thanks! Could try the old jockey wheels, but it's a bit hard to trigger the skipping.
Seems like I've screwed the b-screw too far in moving the upper jockey wheel too far from the cassette, will also try to check if the mech is bent.
One more thing to note, chain is a bit dry, waiting for new lube..
Happened once when I somehow reinstalled the rear of the mech cage upside down. Worked on the stand but slipped badly on the road.
Different mech but worth a check.
Unscrewed the b screw and turns out the chain was simply too loose (short cage mechs sensitive to this), coupled with the b screw moving the top jockey wheel too far from the cassette - increasing risk of chain skip.
Shortened the chain two links and screwed the b screw most of the way out which moved the top jockey wheel much closer to the chain, improving shifting and eliminating skipping (although chain and cassette will need replacing in not too long most likely).
Rookie mistake!
I was going to suggest it might be the B tension screw being wound in too far.
Glad to see I've still go the touch.