9spd SRAM vs Shimano cassette/chain

[RockiMtn]

Do I have to use SRAM specific chain for their cassettes?

Recently put a new KMC x9 9-spd chain to replace a SRAM chain on the bike for the missus, which had an SRAM cassette, but immediately had issues with skipping hard peddling. Peddling while cruising is fine though. Had no real issues with the prev chain on the cassette so find it odd.

Couldn't figure out what the issue was so swapped the SRAM cassette off for a Shimano HG50 and all is good again. :? SRAM cassette doesn't look to be too worn so it be a shame to just throw it out.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

Do I have to use SRAM specific chain for their cassettes?

No.

If the chain is worn, it will wear the cassette to fit, so that it skips when you fit a new, unworn chain. It's a particular problem on the smaller 11, 12 and 13 tooth sprockets which because they have so few teeth over which to spread the load, and fewer teeth to wear in the first place, can wear very quickly once the chain gets worn much beyond it's original length.

 

[RockiMtn]

my skipping seems to be in the middle of the cassette, so around the 4/5th sprocket.

i also had this issue on an XT m737 8spd cassette on another bike in the past.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

my skipping seems to be in the middle of the cassette, so around the 4/5th sprocket.

Is it the one you use the most?

If so, that will obviously be the one that gets the most wear and the most worn to the link length of a worn chain.

Have you got a chain wear checker? Something like this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/x-to ... -prod10219

I use one and replace chains when they get to 0.75% wear. Chains are generally cheaper than cassettes and chainrings.

 

[RockiMtn]

i bought the 8 spd XT cassette used, swapped for another and all was fine. although from looking at it, the cassette doesn't look too worn, hence why i bought it.

as for the 9spd, that came with the bike and the missus hasn't done too many miles on it, so it may have been worn out by prev owner. but it seemed fine till i put a fresh chain on it. again visually it doesn't look too worn.

wish there was a cassette/chainring wear tool. as you said, chains are cheaper so i'd think it be a more valuable tool to check the former.

 

[xerxes]

Re:

With ye olde plain toothed freewheels and chainrings it was quite easy to see tooth wear with the Mk1 eyeball, now with all the ramps and different profiled teeth to aid shifting it's more difficult. :?

Some reading: http://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/mainten ... t-one.html

 

[02gf74]

what he said. if chain is worn, the cassette is too desptie not looking worn.

invest £5 on a chain wear guide - if you catch the chain a 0.75% wear, then you can get 3 or 4 chains on the same cassette.

the other scholl of though is run both chain and cassette into the ground ans this is cheaper then replacing worn chains but wull take out the chainrings at the front which'll bump up the cost

 

[RockiMtn]

well I was trying to do my due diligence and changed the chain to reduce the wear on the cassette and chain rings. didn't work out that way it seems. i'll give the cassette another go just to see. shame if it's only one or two cogs worn and the rest of the set is fine.