Can i use a 9-speed shifter with an 8-speed cassette?
- Thread starter LordOpie
- Start date
Short answer - no.
Long answer - probably not.
The increments between each gear are smaller on the 9 speed, there's not just one more gear in there. The spacing in between the cogs is a little tighter on 9spd hence the finer increment.
This means if you dial it just so you might get a few gears in the middle of the cogset to shift ok, but the bigger and smaller gears will get jumps and misses.
Get a cheaper 9spd cassette or an old set of shifters, you'll save yourself some headaches.
Long answer - probably not.
The increments between each gear are smaller on the 9 speed, there's not just one more gear in there. The spacing in between the cogs is a little tighter on 9spd hence the finer increment.
This means if you dial it just so you might get a few gears in the middle of the cogset to shift ok, but the bigger and smaller gears will get jumps and misses.
Get a cheaper 9spd cassette or an old set of shifters, you'll save yourself some headaches.
yes!
I run a 9spd XT shifter on my 8 spd setup (since I prefer 8spd and my 8spd XTR shifters are shot).
As long as the rear der limit stop (on the tall low gear) is set properly, the 9 spd shifter will work just fine. The properly setup r der limit stop will lock out the extra gear shift on the 9 spd shifter.
I have been running on this setup since Nov 02....no prob or compromise...
I run a 9spd XT shifter on my 8 spd setup (since I prefer 8spd and my 8spd XTR shifters are shot).
As long as the rear der limit stop (on the tall low gear) is set properly, the 9 spd shifter will work just fine. The properly setup r der limit stop will lock out the extra gear shift on the 9 spd shifter.
I have been running on this setup since Nov 02....no prob or compromise...
worked/works for me.... even on my 9spd Sram Rocket shifter on an 8 spd XTR 12-28 cassette... I must be doing something illegal:devil:
Yes you are...and the Shimano Gustapo will be at your door soon. RUN!!!
it's never too late for opinions 
i've bought nothing yet, but I decided to go the ebay route...
question: Does the following response answer my question about custom gears sufficiently?
Q for the seller was about chain stretch and how that could alter the gears enough that another chain won't work.
A: "it all worked before i took it off and upgraded to 9 speed. the teeth on the cassette are in pretty good shape and not chipped, bent or broken in any way. the shifters/deraileur all work too"
....
I was under the impression that if a chain stretched enough -- more than 1/8"? -- that it could alter the teeth to the point where another chain won't work. Is my understanding correct?
I'm still learning this stuff, so is it possible for the teeth to be in good shape while still being altered enough that I couldn't use another chain?
Thanks y'all!
i've bought nothing yet, but I decided to go the ebay route...
question: Does the following response answer my question about custom gears sufficiently?
Q for the seller was about chain stretch and how that could alter the gears enough that another chain won't work.
A: "it all worked before i took it off and upgraded to 9 speed. the teeth on the cassette are in pretty good shape and not chipped, bent or broken in any way. the shifters/deraileur all work too"
....
I was under the impression that if a chain stretched enough -- more than 1/8"? -- that it could alter the teeth to the point where another chain won't work. Is my understanding correct?
I'm still learning this stuff, so is it possible for the teeth to be in good shape while still being altered enough that I couldn't use another chain?
Thanks y'all!
I've seen it work before numerous times. I've had friends, back in the day when everyone was upgrading to 9 speed, that couldnt' afford to go all the way up, and ran 9 speed pods with 8 spd cassettes. Never was a big deal, just one extra click on one end.
I'd say go for it.
I'd say go for it.