Should SLX derailleur arm be dead straight, or a little curved?

[danncam]

My shifting was terrible last week.
Not sure if I need a new cluster (I don't think I've replaced it since the bike was new, 3500kms).
However, I get a weird thing where the chain wraps and jams in the derailleur jockey wheels, and looking at the SLX derailleur the arm looks slightly bent, but maybe it's meant to be curved a little?
Any sage advice?

 

[beeb]

12sp? Shimano 12sp derailleurs do have a twist in the derailleur arm. It looks weird, but unless there's signs of battle damage on it it's probably normal.

 

[danncam]

12sp? Shimano 12sp derailleurs do have a twist in the derailleur arm. It looks weird, but unless there's signs of battle damage on it it's probably normal.

Yep, 12 speed. Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[oldcorollas]

Got some tight chain links?

 

[danncam]

Got some tight chain links?

Measured my chain with the thingie, yep, replaced that and the cluster at the same time. Comparing the old cluster to the new one was like a tad of a shock too, definitely time was up.

 

[oldcorollas]

Measured my chain with the thingie, yep, replaced that and the cluster at the same time. Comparing the old cluster to the new one was like a tad of a shock too, definitely time was up.

XT 12sp.. looks weird...

 

[danncam]

XT 12sp.. looks weird...
View attachment 412189

Yeah, it looks bent, but must for for a good reason

 

[oldcorollas]

Yeah, it looks bent, but must for for a good reason

someone in the Shimano Dev team accidentally bent one.. and it worked better

 

[DougalStrachan]

Catches me out every time I look at them, when in reality it's not shifting great because I need new cables and it wouldn't hurt me to, you know, do minimal maintenance on the damn thing.