DA 9spd/10spd compatability? Can I do this?

Triathlon Forum
1

The scenario:

I have a DA 9spd drivetrain. The DA front derailleur needs to be replaced(31.8 clamp-on). I also have a spare DA 10spd front derailleur(braze-on).

My initial thought was I would get a new 31.8 clamp and use that to mount the brazeon DA 10 front on the bike. But given the narrower DA 10 cage I am worried that the 9spd chain will rub.

So, I could:

  1. buy a new DA 9 front derailleur
  2. run a 10 spd chain on the drivetrain w/ the 10spd front derailleur (plus a new clamp)

If I just throw on the DA 10 front and replace my chain w/ a 10spd chain, will my 9 spd cassettes work OK w/ a 10 spd chain?? Will the 9spd rear derailleur be OK w/ a 10spd chain?

What would you do?? It looks like the cost to do both would be about the same…

Thanks,
HC

2

Best option would be to find someone with DA9 that wants to upgrade to DA10, which shouldn’t be too difficult, and swap with them…

3

If you want to use your 10-speed front der., use a 10-speed chain and everything will work fine.

A 10-speed chain is completely compatible with a 9-speed drivetrain (shimano), except the front der. (where a 10-speed front der. will work more optimally).

does that answer your question?

4

I take your message to say that 9 speed chainrings will work fine with a 10 speed chain. Do you say that from published compatibility specs or personal experience?

5

2 reasons:

10-speed “upgrade” kits typically do not have cranksets included in them, and they work quite well.

As far as I know, the 9-spd. and 10 spd. chains have the same interior dimensions, it is the exterior dimensions that are different.

6

Cool. After five years, my Dura Ace system is just not shifting well. I was thinking of just upgrading to 10 speed, but I really didn’t want to buy new cranks. According to you, that should be fine.