Goat Link Use and Repair

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching! If you want to be a huge help to improve future content on this channel at no cost to you, it's very simple! Just click on the Amazon links in this description, or any of my video descriptions within 24 hours before you make a purchase on Amazon. It can be anything related or unrelated to this video. I will earn small commissions which helps to bring bigger and better videos in the future! Thanks so much in advance!

[@phil_d]

2yrs on, this video was recommended to me! Nice repair. I like the use of a Chess Head screw; another, more complicated repair, would be to counterbore a small depth and snug in that Socket Head.

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching Phil. It's still holding up to this day. I put at least three more derailleurs on since that video. I'm rough on that stuff.

[@phil_d]

@themostlymikeshow2582 Good going!! I'm adding a DM to a GRX 810 to get an 11-40 on my Slate. At least I know how to fix it if it breaks 👍🏻

[@bradleynorthcotte137]

Thanks for your service!

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching Bradley. I appreciate your appreciation! 😁

[@DavidSmith-og1oz]

I'd be super interested to see how you install a derailleur with a goatlink. Thanks for the videos!

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching David! I think that I have some older footage where I installed one. I will try to get something posted in the future showing a Goat link installation.

[@georgepepperman4584]

Nicely done, that's the spirit!

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching George!

[@rottanwelding]

nice rig and fix ,,,

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching and the kind words!

[@laszlobacs]

Great video with attention to details. Thanks for sharing. I was wondering if these derailleur hanger extenders were standard or a specific type is required depending on the RD. And or setup You have.

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for the kind words Laszlo. If you are running a large cassette greater than 42 tooth I believe, for your top cog, you will need a "long cage" derailleur. If you are running a short or medium cage derailleur you will need one of these goat links. It definitely pays to do some research to see what you need. Thanks for watching. I hope this helps.

[@laszlobacs]

@@themostlymikeshow I have a long cage deore RD and 50T largest sprocket on a 1x10 drive. I'm running out of clearance above 42T even with the B screw out maximum. It appears that a goat link or some kind of derailleur hanger extender would solve the problem. I just need to figure out the compatibility. Thanks for the quick reply.

[@themostlymikeshow]

You'll definitely also need a longer "B" screw to get you through that range of gears. It's iffy whether you'll need the goat link. I'm pretty sure that Amazon will take it back if you don't end up needing it.

[@themostlymikeshow]

I just looked and made sure that I had posted the Amazon links for the longer "B" screw in the video description. It's there.

[@laszlobacs]

@@themostlymikeshow Great. Thank you.

[@RunBikeMike]

Nice hack Mike. Goat links are a weak link as I have found out twice on the trail. This might be the solution to the problem. And yeah I would like to see the drivetrain change.

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks Mike! I'm not having the best of luck with the drivetrain department on that bike. Last night, a stick flew into the derailleur and shattered it. Had to convert it to single speed to get home. I will definitely put the drivetrain conversion video out in the future.

[@bP-yr3po]

hEY mIKE, Is that Rocky River you're riding in the video? The Baby Doll head rings a bell

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching BP. That is on one of my private trails that I built near my home. I found that head in the woods while I was building it, and decided to call that trail "Babyhead". I think that this is a pretty common namesake for bike trails when someone finds a doll head, LOL.

[@u_u9286]

Hello I was recommended to get a goat link based on my situation. I currently have a 9 speed cassette with a range of 11-32T my derailleur is rated at a capacity of 34T. I wanted to upgrade my cassette to an 11-40T cassette however I don’t have the budget for a new derailleur. Would the goat link make the derailleur work thanks and love the vids

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching and the kind words U_U. I'm not a hundred percent sure if you need a Goat link to clear a 40t derailleur. The derailleurs come in short, medium, and long cage. Depending on what you have, you can search forums to see if others have had success with or without goat links. Sometimes it's as simple as just getting a longer "B" screw to get the top jockey wheel away from the 40 tooth. The sure way to know if this will work is if you install the new cassette and pull the derailleur down to see if it clears. The gap ideally should be at least somewhere around the thickness of the chain between the top jockey wheel and the largest cog. I hope that this helps.

[@ayy_itsme1626]

So I got a new 9 speed box derailleur that is 12-42 tooth but my hanger is too short so it gets stuck and can’t go to the bigger gears. Worth this work? Do I need another size goatlink or could I use this one?

[@themostlymikeshow]

I wish that I could help you on this, but I am not familiar with box stuff. If you have anything with Shimano or a friend with a Shimano derailleur, you might be able to compare. I always wanted to try box stuff but never did. I am guessing that they are all similar in how they bolt up. If you save the packaging you could probably always return it if you get it from Amazon.

[@ayy_itsme1626]

@@themostlymikeshow I figured it out. I messaged support. Thank you a lot man for getting back to me and box stuff is really nice in my opinion. Just got it though so don’t know long term

[@themostlymikeshow]

@@ayy_itsme1626 no problem. Glad that they got you fixed up. Box used to sponsor Seth on the Berm Peak channel. He always liked their stuff. I'll have to try some box stuff when I do an upgrade to one of my bikes. I appreciate the comments and questions. I like to help if I am able to.

[@ayy_itsme1626]

@@themostlymikeshow that is the exact reason I got box and heard of it. I was wery interested in prime 9 but ended up going with the slightly cheaper option, the box four 8 speed with 12-42 tooth. Seth has definitely been my favorite MTB youtuber for years

[@Rickydbaby]

Was the cog still making contact with the 46t after you fixed it? I have what looks like the same derailleur. I'm installing a mid drive ebike kit up front and converting my 2x to 1x. I stumbled onto the goat link as a solution to allow me a larger cassette. I'm thinking a 10speed 11-46t but yours looks very close. Did it work? I'm thinking the goat link might be a weak link with the ebike if I go this route. Hmm curious on your thoughts

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching Rick. I'm not very familiar with ebikes, and if it would cause a weak link or not, but as far as I know, it is the only way to go with a larger cassette unless you want to go with the long cage derailleur. I hope that this helps.

[@positivelynegative3260]

Hi, im pretty much stuck here. Is there anywhere I can get a goatlink for 8-speed cassette? Bought the same goatlink as in this video just to figure out it was for 10-speed.

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching Positively Negative. I'll see if I can steer you in the right direction. How many teeth are on the largest cog in your 8-speed cassette?

[@positivelynegative3260]

​@@themostlymikeshow Hi Mike, 11-40T cassette and i got a 1996 or 1997 xtr derailleur (if it matters).

[@themostlymikeshow]

For a 40 tooth, I don't believe that you will need a Goat link. As long as your "B" screw will adjust your top jockey wheel to create a small space between the top jockey wheel and the largest cog, it should be fine without. Usually 46 tooth and above with a short or medium cage derailleur is when the need for a Goatlink comes into play.

[@positivelynegative3260]

@@themostlymikeshow That really cleared things up for me. Thank you so much!

[@themostlymikeshow]

@@positivelynegative3260 No problem. Glad to help!

[@Cristian-dr7lh]

Hey mate! nice video, greetings from Argentina came a little late to the party. Caught my attention your RD, it's almost as same as mine, but I have the m-781, the clutchless one. So, a call to the comunity, hoping if you or anybody have passed for something similar: I'm trying to add a goatlink to my drivetrain. I've read wolftooth's web info, and they don't explain why it wouldn't be possible to install it in derailleurs that don't have a clutch. Any experiences out there? Any guesses?

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching and the kind words Cristian! I can't say I have experience using a clutchless derailleur with a goat link, but not so sure why it would really make a difference. Have you tried contacting Shimano? It might be worth a try, but sometimes these companies tend to give an answer saying to just buy a long cage derailleur. It might be worth just giving it a try.

[@mr1pearl]

By looking at the comment below I think there will be a part 2 🤞 Haven't had much luck making adjustments on those derailers.

[@themostlymikeshow]

Yes Bill. I have one or two ahead of it, but it's definitely in the works! Thanks for watching!

[@JuniorTechnologyCorner]

Hi Mike Mostly

[@themostlymikeshow]

Hiii!

[@JuniorTechnologyCorner]

Do You know Dickie Bradford

[@themostlymikeshow]

@@JuniorTechnologyCorner Yes I do!

[@JuniorTechnologyCorner]

@@themostlymikeshow He tould me about your channel

[@JuniorTechnologyCorner]

He's my uncle

[@rodrodriguez5847]

Looks more better design

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for watching Rodriguez. It's still holding up after a couple years since I made this video, despite me buying a brand new one of the originals just in case this one failed.

[@TadzioPies]

Here's the dilemma: a great video but one which I hope I never have to utilise! The explanation (including that of slang terms) and camera-work were both excellent. One BIG takeaway from this: how shocking under-engineered this tab is on the Goatlink - they really ought to be replicating the screw-in stop bolt that are on derailleurs, as you effectively replicated with you fix. Have you thought or raasing this with Wolf Tooth?

[@themostlymikeshow]

Thanks for the nice comment Tadzio. I try to add humor and clarity with the camera wherever I can. I haven't spoke to Wolf Tooth about this fix, but I am certain that it's much stronger than the cast (or machined) part in my opinion. A month or so after this fix, I took a stick in the spokes, which tore the derailleur in half, so I had to convert my bike to single speed to get home. I ordered a long cage derailleur, which doesn't require a Goat Link. Still nice to have spare parts around though. I save all of my used bike parts within reason for emergency and supply chain shortages. Same thing happened to me this past weekend, where I tore the derailleur off and broke it. Just my luck, I thought that I recorded it, but didn't. I am going to make a video soon showing how it happened, how I fixed it in the field, and then probably a sequel showing the setup of the new derailleur.