BoozyMcliverRot

I am curious if I removed the largest cog and last spacer of a 10sp cassette if i could use it as a 9sp setup on a 7sp freehub? I understand i will need a new chain.I will also be using 105 downtube shifters in friction mode instead of indexed.

I am only asking because i dont want to buy a new wheel,cassette and chain if i can get away with just a cassette and chain.

Also,i plan on using this as a 1x9 setup. If not possible iI would like to know if there are any better alternatives with a relatively low cost. Thank you in advance.

10 Wheels

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...=c&cagpspn=pla

dabac

8-of-9 will fit straight off on a 7-speed body, but I don't know about 9-of-10. The remaining stack will be a tad longer.

9-speed and friction shifting is generally considered a bit so-so, or a bit of an acquired taste. The spacing is quite fine, so it's trickier to get it right.

Why not try to source an 8/9 speed donor wheel, and pull the body from there and swap it out?

BoozyMcliverRot

I am trying to do a 1x9 setup without buying a new wheelset,a 7sp cassette wont help with that.

mconlonx

The largest cog on many/most 10sp cassettes is part of a 2 or three cog assembly on a cast or machined spider. Pretty much, you'll have to drop a couple other gears/spacers instead, from the tallest gears, but not the tallest gear because it actually doesn't even slide onto the freehub, but caps it. More likely, you'd want to drop either the 2nd cog from the smallest, or the one just before cog sizing in the cass jumps from 1t difference to 2t difference.

Friction shifting a cassette with 10sp spacing might not work out as well as you think it will...

BoozyMcliverRot

I am considering this since i have a 8/9 speed freehub laying around,problem being it is a cheaper shimano brand freehub and wont mount to the 105 hub i already have. Although i do have the longer axle and cones from that hub too.i might try to put the cheaper outer freehub shell on the 105 freehub inside with the longer axle,but i dont know if that will work.

BoozyMcliverRot

I did not realize the last 2 or three were 1 piece,thank you for that info.

fietsbob

done the ratio math to know the extra teeth +/- 1 or a 11t top
instead of a 13t will matter?

Or this 10 is more than 7 and so you assume its better?

you already got a 10 speed Brifter ?

BoozyMcliverRot

No brifters,DT shifters only.Right now its a 7sp 12-28.I just replaced the 42t ring I was using with a 48t and it seems to work well.Ill ride it a few days and se how it works.

shelbyfv

As mentioned above, the 8 of 9 on 7 works well but requires the purchase of 2 cassettes. I have used it but only because I wanted to switch from the downtube 7 speed shifters to barcons which were 9 speed. I think you could find the gear range you want with a 7 speed and save yourself money and keep your index shifting.

surreal

It can be done; I have a 9/10 on 7 set up and it works fine, with some tricky downshifts straddling the ommitted cog. Many cassettes have some permanently attached cogs, but some come apart fully, and any 1 cog can be removed.

Whether or not your plan is advisable, it absolutely can be done. Now, have fun trying to keep the chain on your single ring.

TiBikeGuy

You can buy a 8-10 speed Shimano freehub body and transfer it on to the rear wheel.

ThermionicScott 

Here's the link to Sheldon's take: https://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html#897

Sixty Fiver

I have run quite a few 1 by x setups and have never had a hard time keeping the chain on... making sure your chain line is centred is important.

Why does the OP want to change the 7speed to a 9 speed ?

blamester

You may find 10 spd spacing very finicky if you are using friction dts.
I have tried 9 spd and I didn't like it even after giving it a good chance
7 spd spacing in friction was brilliant so maye a good compromise might be
a 8 spd cassette with a 9/10 freehub if what you are looking for is max cogs.
If you are using 10 spd index dts you will have no issues and it's easy to setup.

Bill Kapaun

A lot of it is simple ergonomics.
My 86 Rockhopper was more precise as I went from 7 to 8 to 9. The throw per shift was "more natural" for my hand/thumb.
When I got my 2nd bike with trigger shifters, my friction shifting went down the tube, so I put them on the Rockhopper too.
Sometimes N+1 causes unforeseen issues.

Drew Eckhardt 

7 cogs only allows reasonable spacing with a 19 tooth big cog. 8 gets you a 21, 9 23, and 10 25/26.

fietsbob

was wanting to hear the OP thinking the need through.. Drew.

[ not sure of the Logic on that statement, mechanically. ]

Myself, I got off the More is better thing, at 7 [then got an IGH] ..)

.. when at work I cope with what people bring in to Fix.

BoozyMcliverRot

I was assuming that a 9sp spread would be better for me with my 42t ring,but after going through parts I had,I found a 48t ring I had forgotten about.After riding for a bit last night it seams this will work for what I want with my 7sp cassette.

Thanks for the info and advice though,it helped me understand that what I originally wanted wasnt really worth the work I would put into it.

ThermionicScott 

I dunno -- the 13-14-15-16-17-19-21 "J" cassette seems like it would be nice enough. Even my 13-14-15-17-19-21-23 "I" cassette feels luxurious if I've been riding the fixed-gear for a while.

BoozyMcliverRot

this is going on my 1991 Diamondback Master TG with risers,I wanted to use 11t and 12t cogs for better top end with my 42t ring.I found the 13t and 14t will work with my 48t ring just fine though. If I would of realised I still had the 48t ring this thread would never have been started.

ThermionicScott 

There was a time when I was seriously considering a 1x7 setup and thought a 42t chainring with 12-28t "E" cassette would serve my needs well. Many roads to Dublin...

blamester

Apologies but i was mistaken in post 15 when i said 9spd friction was finicky.I was using a 10 spd chain on a 9 spd cassette and for some reason this was throwing of the shifting and i couldn't hit the sweet spot.
I have since installed an ultegra 9spd cassette and chain and they have transformed the shifting it's as easy as 7pd and slots into gear perfect with no noisy chain.I am back using friction exclusively.
I can't vouch for 10 spd friction but i would be willing to try it with the right combo.
I hope my misinformation hasn't put any one off friction because it really is a pleasure.

Reynolds 

+1. That cassette with a 42/52 is perfect for my all-in-the-flats rides.