phtomita

Yesterday while lubing the chain, I noticed the cable on my RD gets a good angle from the exit of housing holder.
Pics below are taken on the second small cog - somehow, even switching to the small cog, it doesn't move there because the cable kind of is side pulling.
From second pic, I see I can move the cable to the inside side of the screw that will give me a bit smaller angle.
It switches fine on all cogs, up and down, except the up to the smallest cog that I need to give a hand help.

Is this something normal? The wheel is dished right (I got from Velomine) and is centered on the bike.

HillRider

That cable angle in the smaller cogs looks pretty normal. The hesitation to go into the smallest cog my be due to excessive cable tension or a slightly tight high limit screw. Make either the cable tension adjustment barrel or limit screw changes one at a time and very small, say 1/4-turn at a time, and check after each change.

dsbrantjr

Or excessive cable friction, or possibly the cable is fraying somewhere, worst-case inside the shifter. Best to inspect and remedy before the head breaks off inside, which is difficult and time-consuming to remedy.

KCT1986

Is the model # 5800? These usually have the cable routed on the inside of the screw. Remove & see if there is a groove or an arrow mark indicating the normal routing position.

In the current position is the indexing working properly?

AnkleWork

I hope the OP gets more ride time soon.

DrIsotope

Just went and looked at my RD-6800. Cable looks exactly the same in the small cogs.

Could be the limit screw. Probably the limit screw.

Lastly, while I know the angle is bad in the 1st photo, the angle of the jockey wheels to the cogs makes me think the hanger might be a little tweaked (slightly rotated ccw). A shop with a hanger alignment tool could tell you in a matter of minutes.

phtomita

Model is 105-5800. I am thinking on moving the cable to inside the screw.
As for the hanger, I had my 'tool' to align it and did it when I build up the bike.

It shifts both directions. The only one the doesn't shift is from 12T to 11T, It seems due to the angle, the spring is getting resistance from the cable.

DrIsotope

Then it has to be the limit screw. As I said, the angle on my 6800 is identical, and it shifts just fine.

KCT1986

Standard routing for the 5800 SS/GS is inside of the bolt. 6800SS is inside also, 6800GS is outside.

If this doesn't help, disassemble the cable adjusting barrel and inspect. Notice that the x800 models have an additional piece, different from older Shimano's.

phtomita

Yesterday moved the cable to the inside of the bolt and although it is just some mm, the angle looks much better now when the chain is at the smallest cog.
And now I can shift without problem to the smallest cog - didn't adjust any of the limit screws.

Thanks for the tips!