Shimano Cassette

Russ Reynolds said:

I just bought a used set of wheels which came with a 10 speed Shimano cassette. My bike has all 9 speed gear so I just want to know if the 10 speed cassette has the same total width as a 9 speed cassette. If this is the case, the teeth of the 10 speed must be closer together. Or is the total width of the 9 speed cassette narrower than the 10 speed therefore there would be the same gap between teeth. Appreciate some help.

The 10-speed Shimano cogs are closer together than the 9-speed Shimano cogs.

Russ Reynolds said:

I just bought a used set of wheels which came with a 10 speed Shimano cassette. My bike has all 9 speed gear so I just want to know if the 10 speed cassette has the same total width as a 9 speed cassette. If this is the case, the teeth of the 10 speed must be closer together. Or is the total width of the 9 speed cassette narrower than the 10 speed therefore there would be the same gap between teeth. Appreciate some help.

The total width of the Shimano 10s cassette is actually slightly narrower than the 10s. A small spacer (1 mm) is required between the freehub body and the large cog of the 10s.

For you to use your 9s gear, just remove the 10s cassette and spacer and put your 9s on and lock it down. Save the spacer with the 10s cassette for future use.

Russ Reynolds said:

I just bought a used set of wheels which came with a 10 speed Shimano cassette. My bike has all 9 speed gear so I just want to know if the 10 speed cassette has the same total width as a 9 speed cassette. If this is the case, the teeth of the 10 speed must be closer together. Or is the total width of the 9 speed cassette narrower than the 10 speed therefore there would be the same gap between teeth. Appreciate some help.

total 10 speed cassette width is 1 mm less than 9 speed. Most 10 speed cassettes come with a 1 mm spacer to care for the difference in width.
You will also need a 10 speed width chain and shifter to index properly.

I was hoping that I could just whip out a cog somewhere in the middle and save myself a few bob. That's what I was hoping, but deep down I knew the cassette would all be designed around buying another one.
Thanks for the reply mate.

John M said:

The total width of the Shimano 10s cassette is actually slightly narrower than the 10s. A small spacer (1 mm) is required between the freehub body and the large cog of the 10s.

For you to use your 9s gear, just remove the 10s cassette and spacer and put your 9s on and lock it down. Save the spacer with the 10s cassette for future use.

Russ Reynolds said:

I was hoping that I could just whip out a cog somewhere in the middle and save myself a few bob. That's what I was hoping, but deep down I knew the cassette would all be designed around buying another one.

I believe that someone (?) has observed that the cable pull rates on the 10-speed & 9-speed Shimano shifters are the same. I don't know if that is true.

If it is true AND if you are willing to use a 10-speed chain [which generally costs more than a 9-speed chain], then you should be able to use the hubbub.com cable attachment to re-index your 9-speed derailleur to index the same as a 10-speed derailleur ... of course, you will have to decide whether access to the smallest or largest cog will be sacrificed since your 9-speed shifter will only move across 9 of the cogs.

BTW. You can undoubtedly re-sell the 10-speed cassette on eBay for more than a 9-speed cassette will cost you; so, you could actually come out ahead!

alfeng said:

I believe that someone (?) has observed that the cable pull rates on the 10-speed & 9-speed Shimano shifters are the same. I don't know if that is true.

If it is true AND if you are willing to use a 10-speed chain [which generally costs more than a 9-speed chain], then you should be able to use the hubbub.com cable attachment to re-index your 9-speed derailleur to index the same as a 10-speed derailleur ... of course, you will have to decide whether access to the smallest or largest cog will be sacrificed since your 9-speed shifter will only move across 9 of the cogs.

BTW. You can undoubtedly re-sell the 10-speed cassette on eBay for more than a 9-speed cassette will cost you; so, you could actually come out ahead!

The rationale is not correct but the solution proposed is. Yes, the hubbub cable mod with a Shimano RD will allow a S9 shifter to index properly with a S10 cassette (use the RD cable stop to lock out the last cog for which the 9s shifter doesn't have a click.

The cable pull ratios are not the same. If they were then the 10s and 9s shifters would be interchangeable and a hubbub mod would not be necessary. Since both 9s and 10s Shimano rear derailleurs have the same actuation ratio, and the difference between 9s and 10s is dictated by the shifter. For those who care to know, the shimano 9s cable pulls 2.5mm/click and Shimano 10s pulls, 2.3mm/click.

All of this information can be found here at a webpage that is very useful for those inclined to mix and match different brands/speeds etc...:

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3946#Shimergo&foo=shimano%20+%20campagnolo%2011-24-2005