instructions

Is there any problems with using a campagnolo 10 speed brifter with a 9 speed rear derailleur and a 10 speed cassette? I know you probably can w shimano, I'm not that experienced w campy components to know.

Drew Eckhardt 

Sometimes. 10 speed shifters require a derailleur with the tension adjustment via a rack on the lower pulley, not the older conventional B-tension screw.

Campagnolo 9 speed freehubs are 1mm wider than 8 speed, and 10 speed cassettes are even wider due to an offset largest cog between the spline ends and spokes. To get more travel without making bigger cable drums which would require new shifter bodies they changed the actuation ratio.

In 2001 they updated 9 speed derailleurs to use the 10 speed geometry so they wouldn't have two different configurations to manufacture.

So 2001 and newer 9 speed derailleurs with lower pivot tension adjustment are OK; 2000 and older with conventional B-tension are not.

instructions

wow thanks for the info.

I checked and it'd appear I have the pre 2001 one.

I guess one more question: I have on hand a 10 speed record crank and the rest are 9 speed (mix of record and chorus brifters, FD, RD, cassette) will It be okay or should I look on ebay for an older 9 speed crank?

dtrain

I'd wager you'll be fine. The 'speed' of chainrings/cranksets is far more forgiving in mix-match situations than things like shifters and cassettes.

gfk_velo

If you are looking to run a 9s chain, I'd see if at a minimum you can get a 9s inner ring. The ring spacing difference in Campag 9, 10 and 11s cranksets is actually set with the tooth offset on the inner ring.

The potential problem with running a 9s chain on a 10s crank is usually that the chain brushes the back of the big ring when you are on small to small or small to next-to-small on a short wheelbase frame, and the chain can "pick up" on the lift pins, giving a symptom like chain suck, occasionally. The longer the rear triangle, the less of a probem this is, though.

Getting the ring spacing correct and taking care with correct FD set-up and especially cable tension can also improve front shift performance night and day ... our customers are often surprised (in all manufacturers groups) how much front shift can be improved just by paying attention to these factors. 9s is less sensitive than 10 or 11s but it's still worth taking a bit of time.

Drew is spot on with his RD comments ... it's also worth being careful about cassette lockring tightness and with rear hanger attachment and straightness (in both planes) to get good performance - remember you are likely dealing with levers and maybe mechs with a bit of wear and tear on them so you need to make sure that all the other variables are well within spec ...

Drew Eckhardt 

LeTour, Wheels Manufacturing, and Origin8 all make 0.6mm spacers which give you 9-speed spacing on 10 speed cranksets.

I had to do that to have usable overlap between rings (IIRC the three smallest cogs all had problems) when I ran a "9 and 10 speed compatible" FSA Carbon Pro Compact crank with a C9 chain on a bike with 40.6cm chain stays.

instructions

Thank you so much for the info....
Now I'm going to think about ordering spacers or maybe even see about selling the 10speed crankset on ebay and getting a 9 speed instead.