Xt thumbies and 8-9speed...

[Will Palmer]

Question... will my much loved early 90's XT Thumbshifters have enough cable movement to shift across an 8-9 speed cassette in friction mode...

I have an opportunity to get a very tasty rear wheel but it's built on a 9spd hub and I don't wanna ditch my trusty thumbies!!

 

[Dave_H]

You can buy a spacer to allow you to fit a 7 speed cassette on a 9 speed hub. Your LBS should have one.

 

[JeRkY]

thumbies work in idex mode on 8 speed.

 

[Will Palmer]

Wonderful - thanks for those two solutions - I shall pursue said opportunity

 

[Raumer]

Thumbies work fine in friction mode and a 9 spd block. My cannondale runs with this setup and an old 7 spd derailleur as well. The only thing that you should change is the chain. I'm still running an 8spd chain and it doesn't shift between the cogs as well as it should.

HTH
Ed