9 speed dérailleur - 8 speed bike

chatlow

Just about to buy a cheap Sora 3500 9 speed RD to go on my bike which is currently using a shimano 2300 8 speed RD. Will this work ok? Also changing from a 13-26 cassette to 11-28.

thanks

ugo.santalucia

Should work

chatlow

Okay, I read there might be an issue with chain width - the deraiileur is designed for thinner 9 speed chains not 8 speed. Or is that bull....

drlodge

chatlow wrote:

Okay, I read there might be an issue with chain width - the deraiileur is designed for thinner 9 speed chains not 8 speed. Or is that bull....

I can't see it being an issue, per Sheldon Brown - this stuff is compatible + or - 1 speed. So 8 and 9 speed will work together. The only thing that may be "9 speed" on the derailleur are the jockey wheels. I run a 9 speed chain on a "10 speed" Ultegra chainset without issues.

chatlow

Would it perhaps help to buy a 9-speed chain to go on instead of an 8 speed? Then again, the shimano hg51 11-28 cassette i am getting is 8 speed anyway.

halfround

I have a bike that came with 8 speed shifters gears etc but a 9 speed Derailleur. Have run both 9 and 8 speed chains with no problems. Max gear size depends on cage length.

chatlow

Thanks. I selected the medium cage (only had the option of small or medium). May have return it as got a feeling max gear is 27

drlodge

Max gear is 32T from what I can see, you should be fine.