gearing question

baldshaunieb

I'm having problems with a 2nd hand set of 9 speed shimano tiagra sti levers. Is it possible to use a set of 10 speed sti levers with a 9 speed cassette without too many problems? Being trying to find a set of 9 speed levers but to no avail (by not find, i mean find cheap!). But i have a set of microshift 10 speed levers, but before i try it just wanted to check what would be the obvious (and not so obvious) problems that may occur! Cheers in advance.

07Lapierre

No, won't work. must be 9 speed.

Beasty

If you think about it, 9 and 10 speed cassettes are pretty much the same width

A 9 speed shifter makes up to 8 clicks in each direction, each being 12.5% of the width

A 10 speed shifter makes up to 9 clicks, each being 11.1% of the width.

Hence each click takes the chain progressively further out of line with where it should be, meaning it will be skipping all over the place ...

petethedrummer

Can't you attach the cable to the rear derailler at a different angle to make it work? Or did I dream that.

Beasty

petethedrummer wrote: »

Can't you attach the cable to the rear derailler at a different angle to make it work? Or did I dream that.

Can't see how it could work - each "click" is a set cable length and you would have to find some way of increasing the "shift" by 12.5% or so if using 10 speed shifters on a 9 speed cassette. There may be some way to reduce the net movement (although I cannot think of anything at present), but I can't see how the amount of movement can be increased with each shift

petethedrummer

http://sheldonbrown.com/dura-ace.html

Scroll down to "Alternate Cable Routing". I test rode a bike I was thinking of buying that was set up like this and it shifted fine.

"This alternate cable routing will also let you use a 10-speed shifter with a 9-speed cassette. This provides a convenient upgrade path."

coastwatch

You could try this gadget - shiftmate model #2, and let us know if they work

victorcarrera

Cheapest option.
The section under Alternate Cable Routing in this link explains how to do it.
http://sheldonbrown.com/derailer-adjustment.html

And when you get a few bob together.
Since you already have the 10sp shifters all you need is a 10 speed chain and cassette.

Many diverse combinations of speeds and manufacturers parts can be made to work if not perfectly then acceptably with a little tinkering and adjustment.

baldshaunieb

Thanks for the quick replies! Its a bike i put together for someone on the cheap - only the 9 speed shimano levers are causing me grief, I have a cheap set of microshift levers 10 speed lying around that i was considering trying. I'm also watching a number of 9 speed sti levers on ebay in the hope of getting a bargain. Will have a look at that sheldonbrown site and see what i can make of it. As for shiftmate, it sounds interesting, but easier to sort out levers i reckon! Cheers all.