Campag & shimano compatibility

willy b
willy b Posts: 4,125
edited May 2012 in Workshop
Ok so I've bought a bike with full campagnolo groupset, however no wheels or rear cassette provided, as I already have these spare, but they are shimano...

Question is will a campagnolo chain and rear mech work with a shimano cassette?

Comments

  • Flexisurfer
    Flexisurfer Posts: 249
    Shimano cassette will work with Campag chain and mech. I needed a new rear wheel last summer and my local bike shop had a set of Askiums on a good deal only draw back was it had a Shimano cassette, it works fine.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,172
    If it is all 10 speed you might be ok with a shimano splined campagnolo spaced cassette or using a shiftmate
    left the forum March 2023
  • rpd_steve
    rpd_steve Posts: 361
    Basicly no. The gaps between the cogs are different.

    But for the Aksiums you can simply buy a Mavic freehub body for Campag, +- £25.
  • willy b
    willy b Posts: 4,125
    Thanks guys. I'll try it out when the bike arrives. Did think it might be a bit of an ask.
  • willy b
    willy b Posts: 4,125
    Does anybody have a link to the Aksium campag compatability "thing" Google isn't helping.
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Your shifters pull a certain amount of cable for every click. This moves the rear mech a certain distance sideways.
    Campag shifters pull the amount of cable which causes Campag derailleurs to move sideways the distance needed to move the chain between one cog and another on a Campag cassette.
    Shimano shifters pull the amount of cable which causes Shimano derailleurs to move sideways the distance needed to move the chain between one cog and another on a Shimano cassette.
    Mix Shimano and Campag and it won't work - the chain will move too far or not far enough.
    Same if you mix 8sp or 9sp or 10sp - here the shifters and cassette have to match (the mech is OK, just needs to be the right brand)

    So as you have Campag shifters and mech, you need a Campag-spaced cassette.
    A Campag cassette won't fit onto a Shimano-fit freehub body on the rear wheel - the splines are different.

    So you can either change the frehub body on your Aksiums : e.g. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... tedKingdom
    Currently you must have a Shimano-fit one but you can replace it with a Campag-fit one, you'll then be able to run a Campag cassette - so you'll need new freehub body and cassette

    Alternatively, you can keep the wheels as they are and run a Shimano-splined-but-Campag spaced cassette : e.g. http://www.probikekit.com/uk/components ... speed.html
    This fits on the Shimano splines, but is spaced between the cogs like a Campag cassette.
    Other makes are available http://clemenzo.com/index.php/content/v ... 7/lang,en/ http://www.totalcycling.com/a-z/cassett ... MAVIC.html
  • willy b
    willy b Posts: 4,125
    Very helpful indeed, thanks Andy! Think the best option is to get new wheels, or swap my Aksiums for a set of campag compatable ones.
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Yeah, but you can either change the freehub on your existing Aksiums so they become Campag compatible, or buy one of these Shimano-splined-but-Campag spaced cassettes - both will be cheaper than new wheels