Ultegra 6600 Rear Derailleur Cable Installation

The Japanese company Shimano produces a variety of cycling components and clothing. One of their higher-end component groups is named Ultegra. A component group consists of brakes, levers, derailleurs, hubs and gears. The Ultegra model number RD-6600 is one of the rear derailleurs in the Ultegra line. Once you've mounted the rear derailleur onto your bike, you need to install the cable that runs from the derailleur to the right-hand shifter.

Things You'll Need

  • Bicycle with Ultegra RD-6600 rear derailleur installed
  • Bicycle work stand
  • Derailleur cable
  • Wire cutters
  • Cable housing
  • Cable grease
  • 5mm Allen wrench
  • Cable end caps
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mount your bike into the work stand so the side of the bike with the rear derailleur faces out.

    • 2

      Measure the amount of cable you need. This can be done by either cutting the new cable to the same length as the old cable or you can run the new cable from the right-hand shifter, along the bike frame and down to the rear derailleur. Allow an extra couple of inches in either case to make the cable easier to work with. Cut the cable with the wire cutters.

    • 3

      Measure the housing for your cable. This can be done by cutting it to the same length as the old housing or cutting one piece that is long enough to extend from your shifter to the first derailleur frame guide on your bike and another piece that is long enough to house the cable from the derailleur cable frame guide on your chain stay to your rear derailleur. Use the wire cutters to cut the housing.

    • 4

      Pull back your hood cover on your right-hand shifter to expose the hole for the derailleur cable. Insert the cut end of your cable into the hole and feed the cable completely through to the round ball at the other end of your cable. Replace the hood cover.

    • 5

      Apply a thin layer of the cable grease onto the cable.

    • 6

      Thread the piece of housing that goes from the shifter to the first frame guide onto the cable all the way up to the shifter. Thread the cable through the frame guide, along the down tube of your bike, through any other frame guides and through the frame guide for the chain stay. Thread the other piece of housing onto the cable.

    • 7

      Move your chain onto the smallest cog on your cassette (your rear gears).

    • 8

      Feed the cable through the barrel adjuster on your rear derailleur and then fit it in the groove under the bolt that attaches the cable to the derailleur.

    • 9

      Pull the cable tight and tighten the bolt with a 5mm Allen wrench.

    • 10

      Cut the cable leaving an inch of cable sticking out of the bolt. This allows room for adjustment later, if needed. Put an end cap on the cable and crimp it closed with the crimper.