8-speed or 10-speed

biking_mongoose
Posts: 50
There is a lot of 9-speed kit in the sales. My question, can the likes of chainsets and front gears labelled as being for 9-speed be equally at home if used as part of a 10 speed setup?
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The key difference is the width of the chain. The external width, not the internal width. That means a 10 speed chain will run quite happily on a 9 speed chainset but may have a tendency to fall between the rings when you change gear and a 9 speed chain may rub on a 10 speed mech and chainrings.0
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Thanks - it was a nine-speed chainset I was looking at. As the chains internal diameter does not change, would I be right in thinking that there should be no problems in running a nine-speed chainset with a 10 speed lever,cassette ,front and rear setup?0
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As mentioned there is a possibility that a 10 speed chain will drop between the rings on a 9 speed chainset. I've seen it happen and the chain jams solid. The bloke spent quite a bit of time on the side of the road slackening off the chainring bolts to free the chain only to have the same thing happen a couple of miles later.0
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John.T wrote:I ran a 9sp Dura-ace chainset on 10sp Ultegra for 2 years with no problems at all.
My bike came supplied with a 105 10 speed chain, cassette and rear derailleur with Tiagra 9 speed chainset and front derailleur. All the gear changes are perfect.0 -
What's the story with 10spd chain on a 9 speed cassette? Are there likely to be problems?0
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10 speed chains are weaker and more expensive, so there's no point running one on a 9 speed setup.0
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Hi to all and just wanted to say I specifically registered with this forum for this post!
To cut a long story short I have a Boardman Comp (2nd hand) which I have had shifting problems from pertty much the day I got it. After replacing cables etc I took it to my local Halfords where the guy I saw had exactly the same bike. He whipped it on the stand, had a fiddle with the tension and realised it wasn't shifting the way it should.
He replaced the chain (SRAM PC951 9 speed) for a Shimano 105 10 speed chain, and hey presto, it shifts great!Chris James wrote:John.T wrote:I ran a 9sp Dura-ace chainset on 10sp Ultegra for 2 years with no problems at all.
My bike came supplied with a 105 10 speed chain, cassette and rear derailleur with Tiagra 9 speed chainset and front derailleur. All the gear changes are perfect.
You haven't got a Boardman Comp by any chance? You have the exact same set up as me and I was wondering if my newly aquired 10 speed chain would have any increased impact on the wear of the cassette and chain rings. Apart from that it shifts like I expected it to from Day 1. I was beginning to think that Tiagra was crap!0 -
FWIW 10 speed chains are no weaker than 9 speed - the thickness of the sideplates is the same - it is only the width of the rollers and pins which are narrower - the 'tensile' strength is the same. In my experience, a 10 speed chain will run on a 9 speed transmission no problems - gear shifts might not be as sharp and a little bit more noisy As for the chain dropping between the chainrings - the chain might 'ride' on the chainring teeth a bit more, but unless you were really brutal and your chainring teeth were really worn, the chances of it jamming are extremely slim.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Monty Dog wrote:FWIW 10 speed chains are no weaker than 9 speed - the thickness of the sideplates is the same - it is only the width of the rollers and pins which are narrower - the 'tensile' strength is the same. In my experience, a 10 speed chain will run on a 9 speed transmission no problems - gear shifts might not be as sharp and a little bit more noisy As for the chain dropping between the chainrings - the chain might 'ride' on the chainring teeth a bit more, but unless you were really brutal and your chainring teeth were really worn, the chances of it jamming are extremely slim.
How odd! My new 10 speed chain is quieter on my 9 speed cassette and it shifts a whole lot better too!
In terms of the reduced dimensions will this affect the wear rate on the relevant components?0 -
Monty Dog wrote:FWIW 10 speed chains are no weaker than 9 speed - the thickness of the sideplates is the same - it is only the width of the rollers and pins which are narrower - the 'tensile' strength is the same. In my experience, a 10 speed chain will run on a 9 speed transmission no problems - gear shifts might not be as sharp and a little bit more noisy As for the chain dropping between the chainrings - the chain might 'ride' on the chainring teeth a bit more, but unless you were really brutal and your chainring teeth were really worn, the chances of it jamming are extremely slim.
With Wippermann chains the tensile strength of their 10 speed chains is less than their 9 speed chains due to the thinner sideplates. Their 9-speed chains have the same tensile strength as their 8-speed chains due to the sideplates being the same thickness. Wippermann are very proud of their 9-speed chains!0