Mix and Match (Shifters)

[Tayside]

Hello folks.
Is there any place where someone has compiled/listed the combinations of Shifter and Mechs that will play nice .
For example, would an XT mech (9 speed) work with 8Sp Shimano 600 STIs or 10Sp SLX shifters work with a 105 rear mech?
That kinda thing.
Thanks

 

[legrandefromage]

Ok dokes

Any Shimano slant parallelogram mech from around 1986 onward will work up to 9spd with any Shimano 6/7/8 9spd shifter just remember to use narrower chains with the newer mechs.

Road / MTB 10 spd is different. many 10spd road systems work with 9 but then a 10spd chain is needed as things are slimmer than 7 or 8spd.

What wont work is mixing front mechs as the reach and cable pull can be different within model years and groupsets. It can be very difficult to match even MTB mechs with MTB front shifters and get them shifting over the chainset properly. One years Sora STI may not then shift a previous years' Sora front mech.

Its a mess for the front end.

I am currently running a 1986 RD-532 mech with 9spd barcons without issue.

 

[legrandefromage]

would an XT mech (9 speed) work with 8Sp Shimano 600 STIs

yes

1. Road 10 speed dérailleurs and shifters are completely incompatible with mountain (dyna sys) 10 speed dérailleurs and shifters. The cable pull by the shifters is different for both front and rear.

2. Nine speed rear dérailleurs will not work with 10 speed mountain rear shifters. They will however work with road “flat bar” 10 speed rear shifters. Dyna speed shifters pull twice as much cable per shift as 9 speed shifters, so if you use a 9 speed dérailleur it shifts two gears for every one push.

3. Dyna sys 10 speed rear dérailleurs cannot be used with 9 speed shifters. Road 10 speed dérailleurs can be used with 9 speed shifters.

4. Nine speed front dérailleurs can be used with 10 speed front shifters, but do not work optimally if used with a 10 speed crankset. Nine speed front dérailleurs and cranksets can be used with 10 speed chains and front shifters. A nine speed shifter can be used to shift a 10 speed dyna sys front dérailleur.

5. 10 speed road chains are different from 10 speed mountain (dyna sys) chains. The dyna sys chain is a directional chain that is made to shift better with 10 speed mountain drivetrains.

6. 10 speed road cassettes and 10 speed mountain cassette use the same sprocket spacing

 

[RadNomad]

Re:

I followed LGF’s advice and fitted a 9 speed XTR mech to a bike with 7 speed cassette and 7 speed LX shifters. Works perfectly.

 

[Tayside]

Thanks for that list LGF

It's good to have a handy checklist when planning some winter bodges,sorry quality builds .