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  1. Each Jab derailleur is backed by our Stoke Guarantee!

Jab Cage Installation Guide

1. Preparation

Safety

  • Safety glasses
  • Leather gloves

Tools

  • Bench with good lighting
  • Metric hex tools

Torque and Threadlocker

All fasteners require threadlocker and proper torque.

Torque and threadlocker specs are on this page.

Supplies

  • Rags
  • Threadlocker (such as blue Loctite 242)
  • Small brush
  • Citrus degreaser
  • Marine grease

2. Remove Cage

Remove Derailleur

Remove the derailleur from the bike.

Tip: You don't need to break the chain to remove the derailleur from the bike.

Set the cage lock with a tool (such as a 4mm hex key or T25 Torx).

Then remove the upper pulley and lower cage spacer, and remove the chain from the cage.

Clean Derailleur

Clean the derailleur.

This prevents grit from getting in during the rebuild, and makes it easier to notice parts that need service.

Set Cage Lock

Set the cage in the locked position with a tool (such as a 4mm hex key or T25 Torx).

Remove Cage Stop Screw

Remove the M4 socket head cage stop screw (it's near the cage lock hole).

Release Preload

Hold the cage and derailleur securely, then remove the cage lock tool.

Slowly let the cage unwind the preload.

Remove M5 Screw

Remove the M5 flat head screw.

Remove Cage Parts

Note: There are 2 versions of cages. New cages have fewer parts, so if you are removing or installing a new cage, there will not be as many parts as shown in the following steps (which show the older cage design).

New Cage

Remove these 2 parts:

  1. Cage
  2. O-ring

Old Cage

Remove these 5 parts:

  1. Cage
  2. O-ring
  3. Stainless steel star-shaped part
  4. Dark grey plastic ring that fits into the star-shaped part
  5. 0.5mm thick shim

Torsion Spring

If you pull the torsion spring out, make sure it has no grit and plenty of grease (we recommend marine grease) when it goes back in.

Important:

One end of the spring may have a straighter section of wire near the 90-degree tip. This end goes into the clutch housing (not the cage). This end may have a red dot on it.

Make sure that tip of the spring is fully seated in the hole on the inside of the clutch housing.

3. Install Cage

Install Small Parts

The installation order of parts (for the old cage) is:

  • 0.5mm thick shim over the bearing.
  • Stainless steel star and plastic ring:
  • Fits over the square shape on the spindle.
  • Dark grey plastic ring is installed in the star-shaped part, with the ring inside the housing (not facing outside).
  • Tip of torsion spring through the slot.

New cages: Do not have the small parts above, so you won't need them.

No need to install the O-ring yet.

Prepare M5 Screw

Apply blue Loctite to the M5 flat head screw so it's ready.

Choose Cage Hole

Old cages: Use the most clockwise hole. We do not recommend the middle or most counterclockwise hole.

New cages: Have only 1 hole.

Place Spring In Cage

With your fingertips, hold the stainless steel star down so the square shape is engaged with the spindle.

New and old cage types: Place the tip of the spring into the hole. Then center the cage hole on the spindle.

New cage only: Rotate the cage until the square drive lines up and snaps onto the spindle.

With one hand, hold the cage and derailleur so the stack stays compressed and the square shapes stay engaged.

Install M5 Screw

Thread in the M5 flat head screw.

Make sure the square shapes are engaged.

Make sure the spring tip is in the middle hole.

Check that the gap between the cage and the housing (where the O-ring goes) is parallel.

If it does not line up properly, go back a few steps and start over. The key is getting used to holding the derailleur and cage in place with one hand.

Install O-Ring

Gently stretch the O-ring over the cage (don't stretch it too far) and get it in the groove.

To minimize O-ring stretch, make sure the upper pulley is removed.

4. Set Preload

Wind Preload

Have a cage lock tool ready.

Carefully wind preload into the cage by rotating it counterclockwise about 1.5 rotations.

Set the cage lock with a tool.

Install Cage Stop Screw

Apply blue Loctite to the M4 socket head screw, and thread it into the hole on the cage.

5. Install Pulleys

Grease Pulleys

Apply grease liberally to all 4 bearing seals (of 2 pulleys), then install the dust shields.

Wipe off all excess grease from the pulleys, including the inside hole through the center of the bearings.

Top & Bottom Pulleys

CNC Machined Pulleys
  • The pulleys look identical, but there is one important difference if you look closely.
  • Inspect the narrow/short teeth. One pulley will have chamfers on the teeth, and one will not.
  • The pulley without the chamfers is the TOP pulley.
  • The pulley WITH the chamfers is the BOTTOM pulley.

Injection Molded Pulleys
  • Newer Jab derailleurs have 2 identical injection molded pulleys, so the location does not matter.

Install Lower Pulley & Upper Spacer

Apply blue Loctite to the two M3 flat head screws (for the two cage spacers).

Apply blue Loctite to the two M4 flat head screws (for the two pulleys).

Install the lower pulley and upper cage spacer.

You can leave the upper pulley and lower cage spacer out, and install them after the derailleur is on the bike and the chain is routed through the cage.

Done!