10 Speed Crankset 9 speed chain?

[Azonic]

I'm about to order some stuff from CRC, amongst others, some new cranksets.

 

CRC sells two XT cranksets, a 9 speed one and a 10 speed one. I use 180mm cranks, that's what I've always had for the last 12 years, so I'm not going to risk going 175mm.

 

Anyways, I'm using 9 speed on my bikes (will probably order two cranksets), so saving some cash will be welcomed.

 

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=52322 <--- 10 Speed 180mm @ R1491

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20679 <--- 9 Speed 180mm @ R1616

 

That's a R125 saving (R250 for two), which isn't peanuts.

 

Question now is, can you use a 10 speed crankset on with a 9 speed chain? In theory I'd say yes, but I've heard that because 10 speed chains are slightly narrower, 10 speed cranksets have their rings slightly closer together. That might mean that a 9 speed chain will rub between rings.

 

Anyone else tried this before?

[jannosmit]

yes you can do it like that

[dirtrider]

Did it on my bike . Works perfect . Even used the old front derailure . So got two blade from 10 speed setup front , 9 speed chain and casette .

[Tiny K]

Yes it'll work. only worry is 'x' speed chain on 'y' speed cassette. that won't work. blades and their spacings all stay the same AFAIK.

[Tankman]

I wish the would stop calling it a 9 or 10 speed crank. It is a double or triple crank, that is it.

 

The difference between 9 & 10 and 10 & 11 speed is so minuscule.

 

Lets think about it from a business perspective if you were Shimano or any other crank/chain ring manufacturer:

 

(the following is my personal opinion and I take no responsibility for it )

 

Lets say you had hundreds of thousands of so called "9 speed" cranks already in production and lying around warehoused full. Would you completely re-design & manufacture the exact same thing but only move the blades 0.002mm closer .... or would you print "10 Speed" stickers and slap that on them and then charge the unsuspecting punters more?

 

 

We have been using 9 with 10 and 10 with 9 on the road forever without issues. When you buy road replacement chain rings the are sold by number of teeth and not speed. Unless you go way back to 8 speed or something stupid.

[David Marshall]

It will work in most cases. I did once have problems on a road bike with an FSA crank with 9 speed rings and a 10 speed chain. Managed to get the chain to skate on the small ring when shifting to the small ring while in a high gear at the back. As Tankman says the differences are so small that a minor tweak can solve the compatibility issues. In my case a different brand of chain sorted it out.