e*thirteen TRS+ 12 Upgrade Kit bike-components

How to install the e*thirteen TRS+ 12-speed upgrade kit

Installing the upgrade kit takes a little finesse, but with our step-by-step guide, you’ll have it done quickly.

With the new e*thirteen TRS+ 12-speed upgrade kit it is now possible to take all SRAM 11-speed MTB groupsets and upgrade them to 12-speed!

The TRS+ 12-speed upgrade kit includes everything you need to upgrade your drivetrain and most of the tools. Even the necessary grease is provided, leaving nothing to chance when you upgrade. Below is a step by step guide on how to convert the trigger shifter and rear derailleur so that they can handle the range of e*thirteen’s TRS+ 12-speed cassette.

Rides: MTB
Bikes: Santa Cruz Hightower; Cinelli Superstar

Tools needed

e*thirteen has included almost everything you need for upgrade to a 12-speed drivetrain. This includes 2.5 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, and 5 mm Allen keys as well as a square drive and T25 bit chuck. 2000 mm of cable housing, grease, chain and the small parts necessary to completely convert are also in the box. The only extra tools you need are for removing/installing the cassette. These can be seen in the pictures below.

e*thirteen TRS+ 12-speed Upgrade Kit MTB bike-components

Additional tools.

The entire upgrade kit with tools.

Step 1: Converting the derailleur

Removing the derailleur

First, remove the rear wheel from the bike. Loosen the shifter cable and unscrew the derailleur from the derailleur hanger.
Now, remove the upper and lower jockey pulleys and clean them.

Tip: The pulleys are marked with L for the lower and U for upper. This will help you put them back in the right position.

After removing the derailleur, it makes sense to clean everything up.

Remove the upper and lower pulley wheels.

Make sure to clean the derailleur pulleys.

Removing the derailleur

First, remove the rear wheel from the bike. Loosen the shifter cable and unscrew the derailleur from the derailleur hanger.
Now, remove the upper and lower jockey pulleys and clean them.

Tip: The pulleys are marked with L for the lower and U for upper. This will help you put them back in the right position.

Converting and reinstalling the pulleys

Re-grease the cleaned pulleys
Add the e*thirteen spacers to the pulleys and reinstall them. Be careful to use the longer e*thirteen bolt for the lower pulley and the shorter e*thirteen bolt for the upper. Only tighten he pulleys to 2 Nm.
Now, the converted rear derailleur can be bolted back on to the frame

Note: Only the outer pulley spacers are exchanged with the e*thirteen spacers. These new spacers increase the distance from the derailleur cage from 8 mm to 9.5 mm. This allows the derailleur to get to the lowest sprocket.

The e*thirteen spacers replace the original outer spacers.

Make sure to grease the pulleys before reinstalling.

e*thirteen TRS+ 12-speed Upgrade Kit bike-component

Note that you are using the correct bolt for each pulley.

After reinstalling the pulleys, the spacers increase the distance by 1.5 mm.

Converting and reinstalling the pulleys

Re-grease the cleaned pulleys
Add the e*thirteen spacers to the pulleys and reinstall them. Be careful to use the longer e*thirteen bolt for the lower pulley and the shorter e*thirteen bolt for the upper. Only tighten he pulleys to 2 Nm.
Now, the converted rear derailleur can be bolted back on to the frame

Step 2: Converting the trigger shifter

Removing the shifter and shift spool assembly

Remove the shifter from the handlebars and click the smallest lever until it shifts into the most difficult gear. (Pull the cable while doing this.)
Remove the housing cover and the shifter cable.
Flip the shifter and unscrew the 3 mm bolt to remove the lever.
Remove the 3 bolts from the underside of the shifter. Make sure to hold everything in place.
Now, install the Claw with the 3 bolts that were removed from the underside of the shifter.

Note: When screwing in the 3 bolts, make sure to use the smallest one on the hole that is surrounded by metal.

Loosen the cover from the trigger shifter.

And remove it.

Remove the shifter cable.

Loosen the bolts holding the lever.

Put them to the side.

Install the Claw with the three bolts

Do this like so.

Removing the shifter and shift spool assembly

Remove the shifter from the handlebars and click the smallest lever until it shifts into the most difficult gear. (Pull the cable while doing this.)
Remove the housing cover and the shifter cable.
Flip the shifter and unscrew the 3 mm bolt to remove the lever.
Remove the 3 bolts from the underside of the shifter. Make sure to hold everything in place.
Now, install the Claw with the 3 bolts that were removed from the underside of the shifter.

Note: When screwing in the 3 bolts, make sure to use the smallest one on the hole that is surrounded by metal.

Exchanging the ratchet and shift spool

First, remove the spring. Be careful not to bend it.
The Claw is only used to help you remove the ratchet.
Using a 3 mm key and a Torx T25, replace the red spool and ratchet with the black e*thirteen version. (Don’t forget the washer if necessary.) Make sure everything lines up and then screw the assembly back together.

Carefully remove the spring.

Loosen the original bolt of the shift spool assembly.

Remove the original red ratchet.

Install the e*thirteen shift spool assembly with washer if necessary.

Next, the spring can be reinstalled.

Exchanging the ratchet and shift spool

First, remove the spring. Be careful not to bend it.
The Claw is only used to help you remove the ratchet.
Using a 3 mm key and a Torx T25, replace the red spool and ratchet with the black e*thirteen version. (Don’t forget the washer if necessary.) Make sure everything lines up and then screw the assembly back together.

Now, remove the Claw and screw the 3 bolts back into their original positions.
Reinstall the spring, lever and shifter cable.
Screw on the cover and the shifter is finished!

Tip: Do not use grease on the bolts. Instead use liquid screw lock.

First remove the Claw.

Reinstall the spring.

Reattach the trigger.

Add the shifter cable and pull it through.

The cover can now be reattached and the shifter can be put back on the bars.

Don't use grease, but instead screw lock.

Now, remove the Claw and screw the 3 bolts back into their original positions.
Reinstall the spring, lever and shifter cable.
Screw on the cover and the shifter is finished!

Tip: Do not use grease on the bolts. Instead use liquid screw lock.

Step 3: Installing the TRS+ 12-speed cassette

First, remove the old cassette and clean the freehub body.
Grease the freehub body with the included e*thirteen grease.
Now, the 12-speed cassette can be installed.
First, place largest two sprockets over the XD freehub body
After, tighten the clamp to 3 Nm.
Grease the contact points between the two sprocket clusters.
Place the second sprocket cluster over the freehub body so that the arrow lined up with the open lock symbol.
Now, with the help of a chain whip, tighten the second sprocket cluster in a clockwise direction until the arrow lines up with the closed lock symbol.
Both clusters are then connected with a small bolt that needs to be tightened to 3 Nm.

The cassette comes in two parts.

The larger sprockets are installed first.

Tighten the clamp to 3 Nm.

Greae the second sprocket cluster before installing.

Also grease the freehub body.

Slide the second sprocket cluster over the freehub.

Tighten the last bolt to 3 Nm.

First, remove the old cassette and clean the freehub body.
Grease the freehub body with the included e*thirteen grease.
Now, the 12-speed cassette can be installed.
First, place largest two sprockets over the XD freehub body
After, tighten the clamp to 3 Nm.
Grease the contact points between the two sprocket clusters.
Place the second sprocket cluster over the freehub body so that the arrow lined up with the open lock symbol.
Now, with the help of a chain whip, tighten the second sprocket cluster in a clockwise direction until the arrow lines up with the closed lock symbol.
Both clusters are then connected with a small bolt that needs to be tightened to 3 Nm.

Step 4: Final touches

Now, reinstall the rear wheel on the bike and install the chain.
As the final step, the rear derailleur needs to be properly adjusted. See how to do that here: How to adjust your rear derailleur.

Replace the rear wheel.

Adjust the derailleur.

Check the chain length before installing.

Make the final adjustments and then you can ride!

Now, reinstall the rear wheel on the bike and install the chain.
As the final step, the rear derailleur needs to be properly adjusted. See how to do that here: How to adjust your rear derailleur.