Shimano 9 speed cassette to 8 speed
01-10-22, 11:59 AM
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Shimano 9 speed cassette to 8 speed
My mountain bike has a Shimano 9 speed freehub and cassette. What would be involved to convert the cassette to 8 speed ?
I suppose the spacers are different thickness, so may be better off to just buy an 8 speed cassette ?
I suppose the spacers are different thickness, so may be better off to just buy an 8 speed cassette ?
01-10-22, 12:02 PM
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Probably not, but it depends. If you have indexed shifting, it will not work because the spacing between cogs is different. However, some shifters of that vintage have a way to change to friction. If so, that will work.
01-10-22, 12:06 PM
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You would pay more for the 8 speed spacers than you would for a cassette, and likely still have sub par shifting. 8 Speed cassettes can be found easily, and low cost with a bit of searching. Is the 8 speed for a different bike, or are you for some reason going to 8 speed shifters? As stated above, with friction shifting, it will work no problem.
Last edited by delbiker1; 01-10-22 at 12:07 PM. Reason: add more info
01-10-22, 12:42 PM
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It is friction shifting. Sounds like I would be better off to get an 8 speed cassette and be done with it. I really don't need
9 speeds on my mountainbike. I am thinking it might be a little smoother going to 8 speeds, maybe not but I will find out...................
9 speeds on my mountainbike. I am thinking it might be a little smoother going to 8 speeds, maybe not but I will find out...................
01-10-22, 02:54 PM
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I run 9 sp w/friction shifters on my touring bike. It works great. I wouldn't bother downgrading to 8 speed, maybe search for some 9sp shifters, provided your rear derailleur is a modernish index-shifting compatible model.
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01-10-22, 03:16 PM
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I don't know if you could tell much difference friction shifting 8 or 9, though in theory the fewer gears the better. Seems as if a set of indexed shifters would be a good choice for a mtb. Pretty sure all 8 and 9 speed mtbs came that way.
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01-10-22, 03:18 PM
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Nothing gained. As long as the system is correctly tuned, 9 spd. shifts as well as 8 and as 7 and 10 and 11, etc......If you really wanted, you could dial in the low gear limit screw on the rear derailer, that would lock out the largest cog, or do the same on the other end, but why ?..
01-10-22, 04:49 PM
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As far as friction shifting a greater number of cogs-
My friction shifting got better from 7 to 8 to 9.
It was simply a matter of ergonomics between my thumb and the shift lever, not cog spacing. YMMV.
01-10-22, 05:33 PM
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9 speed cassettes are available with more cog combinations than 8.
As far as friction shifting a greater number of cogs-
My friction shifting got better from 7 to 8 to 9.
It was simply a matter of ergonomics between my thumb and the shift lever, not cog spacing. YMMV.
As far as friction shifting a greater number of cogs-
My friction shifting got better from 7 to 8 to 9.
It was simply a matter of ergonomics between my thumb and the shift lever, not cog spacing. YMMV.
Thats interesting. Maybe I should just leave well enough alone. I see what you are saying about the ergonomics. Not neccessarily smoother but a tad more distance the thumb has to push the shift lever for each shift.
01-10-22, 05:36 PM
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Sometimes simply rotating the shifter a "few" degrees on the bar can change the ergonomics for better/worse.
01-11-22, 07:06 AM
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Bill knows what he is talking about. I only discovered this recently after missing the final tightening of the shifters in a major overhaul and finding the shifters which were slightly loose settled in at a bit of an angle. I am now working through my other bikes.
