10 speed to 9 speed

PeterMolloy
PeterMolloy Posts: 121
edited March 2008 in Workshop
Any views on how easy or difficult it would be to fit a 9 speed block to a 10 speed wheel. Reason is, that I have a spare set of road wheels with a 10 speed block, and want to use them on a winter bike, which is currently set up with much heavier wheels that have a 9 speed block. I am hoping that either the blocks can be swapped over without any trouble, or that a suitable spacer would be available. Any ideas? Thanks
PeteM

Comments

  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    What make of wheels or hubs? What type of cassette?

    Assuming Shimano, you'll have to leave out the spacer that fits behind the cassette, apart from that most combinations will be fine.
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Sheldon says 8, 9 & 10 speed Shimano are the same width.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    If it's Campag, hubs are 9/10 speed, so you can fit a 9 speed block (assuming it's the "new" 9 speed rather than the "old" - they might be different)
    I like bikes...

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  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    Shimano 10 speed cassettes are recessed at the back - dependent on the hub you need a little spacer - Mavic wheels are an example.
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Assuming your 10sp is Shimano not Campag...

    Shimano 8sp or 9sp speed cassettes are the same width, 10sp are narrower.

    If the wheel is 'Shimano 8/9/10sp', you can fit 8sp or 9sp cassette to it, or 10sp with a spacer (aka big washer approx 1mil thick) which pads it it to the same width.
    - a Shimano 10sp cassette comes with this spacer

    If the wheel is 'Shimano 10sp only' (which roughly means Dura Ace or some Ultegra with alloy hubs, but check), then only a 10sp cassette will fit (without the spacer) and 8sp or 9sp is too wide, won't fit.

    If it's Mavic M10, it's probably better described as a Mavic hub which accepts Shimano, rather than a Shimano hub, and all 8/9/10sp need a Mavic-to-Shimano spacer ( a thicker big washer). If you're fitting 8 or 9sp, you just use this. If you're fitting 10sp, you use this plus the Shimano 10sp spacer.



    So, answering your question, if it's Shimano 10sp
    - if it's not Mavic, take the cassette off and if there's a 1mil thick spacer behind it, remove that and fit your 9sp cassette
    - if there's no spacer, looks like it's a 10sp-only hub and you can't fit 9sp to it
    - if it's Mavic, take the cassette off and remove the thinner spacer but keep the thicker one
  • PeterMolloy
    PeterMolloy Posts: 121
    Guys

    Thanks for the quick responses. The wheels are Bontrager Select and only appear to take a 10 speed cassette as there is no spacer. So it may not be the solution I was hoping for!
    PeteM
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    and your current gears are?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    PeterMolloy wrote:
    Guys

    Thanks for the quick responses. The wheels are Bontrager Select and only appear to take a 10 speed cassette as there is no spacer. So it may not be the solution I was hoping for!
    Fairly sure that's not a 10-speed only wheel (there are few enough of those). If you've taken it apart enough to know there's no spacer, then isn't it quite easy to simply take a 9-speed cassette off your other wheels and try it?
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    I've had a Google around for Bonty Selects and people seem to be selling them as Shimano 8/9/10-fit so I'm puzzled why (well, how) you don't have a spacer.

    (maybe too obvious, but it's not just stuck with grime either onto the cassette or the hub is it...?)

    As aracer says, try the 9sp cassette off your existing wheels.
    I'd expect, without the spacer, that you wouldn't be able to tighten the the locknut enough with the 10sp and it would have been loose on the hub.
    If it fitted (dunno how, without spacer), then the 9sp will be too wide and you won't be able to get the locknut to thread

    But if it goes on, and works on your 9sp bike (might need a bit of adjustment of the rear mech top & bottom stop screws), then who cares ?!?!
  • PeterMolloy
    PeterMolloy Posts: 121
    Ok guys. Once again thanks for the responses. Tomorrow's job is to do exactly what you have all suggested i.e take the 9 spd cassette off, and see if it fits onto the rear wheel that currently has the 10spd on it. By the way, the cassettes and gears are Shimano 105 on both bikes.
    PeteM
  • PeterMolloy
    PeterMolloy Posts: 121
    Thanks again for all the advice. Took the cassettes off both wheels today (both are Bontrager hubs, and both Shimano cassettes) and whoops!! Aracer and Andy WRX were both right in so much as there was a spacer at the back of the 10 speed cassette, but it was "stuck" into the back of the cassette with a blob of grease. It was only when I took the cassette off, and looked closely for the spacer that I found it on the back of the cassette, not loose on the hub splines, which was where I was expecting it to be.
    So having tried both cassettes, I now know that they are inter changeable, and everything looks good. Many thanks once again
    PeteM

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