Can I convert XTR 10 speed shifter to 9 speed?

s2_bo

I'm putting together a bike out of mainly parts I have lying around.
The whole group set is XT with nine speed rear end but I have only got 10 speed XTR shifters.

I know the left one can switch between 10x2 and 10x3 but can I somehow manually adjust the right one to only shift 9 gears?

If not ill just sell it and get a 9 speed shifter but would be a shame as I think the 9 speed ones have different coloured knobs so would need to change them both really.


Thanks.

Chunkers1980

Nope

njee20

Chunkers1980 wrote:

Nope

This

dgunthor

different pull ratio for 10 speed, so shifters and mechs are different to 9 speed unfortunately

s2_bo

Thanks a shame,
Thanks guys!

dgunthor

for reference, you can use shifters that have too many shifts as long as the pull ratio is the same for what you need.

e.g. a triple front shifter will work fine with a double chainset as the max/min adjusting screws will mean you never get to use the extra click

The Rookie

Not quite, the pull ratio for 8 and 9 speed is the same (you can use an '8 speed' mech on a '9 speed' bike and vice versa) but you can't use a 9 speed shifter on an 8 speed as the sprockets are further apart on an 8 speed, each shift of the 9 speed shifter pulls less cable.

dgunthor

that's because it's a different pull ratio :-)

a quick search has yielded that it's unlikely to work for rear gears as ratio is always different

The Rookie

NO its the same pull ratio (ratio of cable pull to mech movement) which is why 8 and 9 speed parts can be used as stated.

Ratio is different to amount.

Instead of searching find out, in the OP's case it won't work, but other mixes and matches do work

njee20

Rookie's right, I get what you're saying, but you're coming at it wrong.

You can use 8 speed shifters on a 7 speed cassette (with a 9 speed mech if you want), but that's because the spacing is the same, nothing to do with the pull ratio (which is the same).

8 and 9 speed spacing isn't the same, so if you use a 9 speed shifter on an 8 speed cassette the mech will only move 0.89 of a gear each time, which will obviously accumulate to mean really shit shifting.

Chunkers1980

Or just.... Nope

s2_bo

Ok thanks for clearing that up.

So I had another thought and excuse if I'm being ignorant... I tried to search the forum but couldn't find anything on it.

Can I build a 10 speed back end, so using my existing 10 speed shifter and just adding a 10 speed mech, cassette and chain and use it together with my 9 speed XT front end?

Thanks....

The Rookie

Yes, no problem at all, the 9 speed front mech is a little wider than a 10, so a little fussier on setup, but many people use them just fine.

s2_bo