Does your waxed chain shift differently than your oiled chain?

[Veloo]

Using my first waxed chain. It's a new FSA 10 speed chain. RD is a new 10 speed SLX. Cassette is a barely used 11-32 FSA. Shifter is Deore XT 10 speed.

Previous set up was STX RC 7 speed rear derailleur with a 7 speed KMC chain and 7 speed SL-M310 shifter.

Feels like the waxed chain moves to a smaller cog slower than any of my oiled drivetrains.
In particular it struggles to go from the 13 to the 12. I have to go from 13 to 11 then back up to the 12.
I've adjusted the shifter barrel but not much, if any, improvement. At first I thought it was too much wax on the chain but I've taken a heat gun to it to remove any excess so I don't think it's that.

Haven't done a deeper dive than that but thought I'd throw it up here anyway before I try another chain, take apart cable and housing, etc. It's had a number of rides now so should be well broken in.

[Spdntrxi]

takes about 30min of ride time to break-in

[kramnnim]

My front shifting has been worse…

[jadmt]

I have been waxing for the last 8000 miles and my ultegra 11s has no issues shifting. one thing you might check is for wax build up between the smaller cogs that might be interfering with chain engagement. only happens on the smaller cogs.

[GregL]

Are you removing enough excess wax from the chain before installing it on the bike? I loop the chain around a ~3" diameter PVC pipe and pull it end-to-end several times. This frees up the links and sheds the excess wax (which I catch and reuse). With this regimen, my chains shift perfectly upon installation.

Greg

[bikerboy337]

Agree with the above, first ride or two to loosen it all up then it’s perfect. No issues… smooth and quiet and perfect shifting for me with sram flat top chains…. It takes a few spins to get the chain to not hop off the chainrings then I’m careful the first 5 miles with shifting and power but at that point it’s good to go an super quiet and smooth….

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by Veloo

Using my first waxed chain. It's a new FSA 10 speed chain. RD is a new 10 speed SLX. Cassette is a barely used 11-32 FSA. Shifter is Deore XT 10 speed.

Previous set up was STX RC 7 speed rear derailleur with a 7 speed KMC chain and 7 speed SL-M310 shifter.

Feels like the waxed chain moves to a smaller cog slower than any of my oiled drivetrains.
In particular it struggles to go from the 13 to the 12. I have to go from 13 to 11 then back up to the 12.
I've adjusted the shifter barrel but not much, if any, improvement. At first I thought it was too much wax on the chain but I've taken a heat gun to it to remove any excess so I don't think it's that.

Haven't done a deeper dive than that but thought I'd throw it up here anyway before I try another chain, take apart cable and housing, etc. It's had a number of rides now so should be well broken in.

Long shot - but make sure you have the chain and quick link oriented in the right direction. I made this mistake when I switched to shimano chains a little while ago and didn't realize they had to be facing a certain way...

[Kingson]

couple other things you might want to check.

- cable housing. are the ends squared off? does the cable travel freely through the housing?

- rear der. hanger alignment

[verbs4us]

Been riding wax for six months and only two differences: (1) overall runs quieter, regardless of gear choice. In instances where there is a lot a chain flexion (large ring, large cog) tends to shift and run smoother; (2) initially, the front der occasionally threw the chain to the outboard side. Fixed with 1 turn of the adjustment screw.

[dana_e]

shifts great, less dirty, I just wax it once every 2 weeks, cheap crock pot, boom

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by verbs4us

initially, the front der occasionally threw the chain to the outboard side. Fixed with 1 turn of the adjustment screw.

Your front derailleur has an adjustment screw?!?! In-line barrel adjuster near the shift lever?

[sjbraun]

No difference in shifting noted by me on a GRX 2x, Campy 11, Di2 2x and SRAM 1x on tandems

[makoti]

As others said, sloppy shifting for the first 10 miles or so, then no difference

I did not know quick links were directional

[marciero]

Originally Posted by makoti

I did not know quick links were directional

The ones with arrows are

[Wunder]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Your front derailleur has an adjustment screw?!?! In-line barrel adjuster near the shift lever?

2nd generation 11 speed Shimano (R9100, R8000, R7000) has a 2mm hex adjustment screw on the front derailleur for cable tension. No need for an in-line one.

As to the main question, as a long time waxer I can find it shifts stiff for maybe the first couple miles if you didn't get enough excess wax off when mounting. Then shifts great for hundreds of miles until I wax again.