Making the Leonardi Racing Kit General Lee 11/40 SRAM cassette kit shift properly!

For my previous comments on the General Lee (GL) adapter see - http://perthmtb.asn.au/node/43354

After much adjusting, tinkering, swearing, cursing and using objectionable language, I've finally fixed the shifting of the GL adapter to be close to my SRAM and XT systems. Initially I could get the system to shift to a higher gear (smaller sprocket) but hang changing to a lower gear (to larger sprocket) or shift to a lower gear ok, but hang shifting to a higher gear (to a smaller sprocket). I've now got it shifting both ways with no hangups.

The problem: Comparing the ramps of the General Lee to other makes, it seems the ramps were a tad shorter, that is they don't lift the chain as high as other makes. Secondly the top wheel of the derailleur is closer the GL 40T sprocket than the other 3. Thirdly, the tooth profile of the ramped tooth (the tooth the chain is mean't to pushed/pulled over) seems higher than other makes. Result is that the chain can hang when changing to a larger sprocket (lower gear) and if adjust the derailleur so it doesn't hang, it can then hang changing to a smaller sprocket. Watching the chain when shifting on a stand, you could see the chain struggling to get over the ramped tooth on each GL ramped tooth.

Solution. So simple it is almost criminal! Simply lower/remove the top of the ramped teeth on the three smallest GL sprockets. Simply file the top of the ramped tooth off so, if you placed a ruler across the top of the adjacent teeth, the ramped tooth just touched the straight edge. There are three ramped teeth on each GL cog, remove the top of each.

Result. The chain now clears the ramped tooth and changes to the next largest sprocket easily. As the derailleur doesn't need to to be adjusted as far across its range to change, changing to the next smallest sprocket is also good. Now ridden with the above mod for a few weeks or so and it now has acceptable shifting even under 'heavy' load.

So if you are having problems with the GL changing then simply reduce the height of each ramped tooth on the GL sprockets.

PS Leonardi - if you read this you can send me a consulting fee - contact me here for the address