In article <[email hidden]>,
Quoted message said:Wondering about mixing Shimano 8 and 9 speed parts, or mixing with stuff from 3rd parties, like
extra large chainrings (60 teeth and more).
Rear derailleur indexing is said to be the trickiest part when you do 8/9 mixing,
Actually Shimano (non-Dura Ace) 8 and 9 speed rear derailleurs interchange quite well. The main
thing you want if you wish to avoid trouble is:
1. 9s shifters
2. 9s chain
3. 9s cog set
The rest is optional.
Quoted message said:but how about chain, sprockets and chainwheels? What if you have a crankset designed for 8 speed
chain, or just a single chainring measured for 8 (with others for 9 speed) in an otherwise 9 speed
system (chain, rear deraileur)?
No problem.
Quoted message said:Some people claim it fits just fine, can you expect any problems because the fit is not perfect
(too wide chainrings for the chain etc) - increased wear, chain slippage, or something else?
No, nothing so awful as that. The 9s chainrings when ramped & pinned to match each other, can make
the front shifting a little smoother. But if you don't use 9s chainrings, it will still shift quite
adequately - front derailleurs already worked quite well before ramped rings came around.
60-tooth chainrings do present challenges to front shifting and chain line, but that has nothing to
do with whether they are 9s or not.
I think a 56-tooth ring is about as big as you can go without considerable tinkering necessary to
get good shifting, often that means taking the front derailleur to the bench grinder. Even with a
56 there are some bikes it won't work well on due to chain line problems or braze-on front
derailleur mounts.
Of course if you have only one ring then it gets a lot easier, and if you have only one ring then
the issue of ramped and pinned 9s chainrings is completely irrelevant.
--Paul
