Should I repalce the chain?

[Johan Bornman]

Just checked: both 8 and 9 speed shimano use 1.8 thk sprockets' date=' so 8 speed cluster with 9 speed chain shouldn't be a problem. I does concern me that your derailleur wheels needed to be replace so soon. Have you had a crash that your derailleur or hanger are bent? [/quote']

 

Yes, but the spacing between the sprockets get less as you go up the ladder of sprockets. A 9-speed has less space in between and a 10 even less. Hence, the chains go narrower and narrower as you go up from 8.

 

5/6/7/8 all use the same chain whereas 9 uses a certain width and then yet another width.

 

An 8 -speed chain on a 9 cluster will make a hell of a racket and eat something away, probably your nerves.

 

[greatwhite]

Just checked: both 8 and 9 speed shimano use 1.8 thk sprockets' date=' so 8 speed cluster with 9 speed chain shouldn't be a problem. I does concern me that your derailleur wheels needed to be replace so soon. Have you had a crash that your derailleur or hanger are bent? [/quote']

 

Yes, but the spacing between the sprockets get less as you go up the ladder of sprockets. A 9-speed has less space in between and a 10 even less. Hence, the chains go narrower and narrower as you go up from 8.

 

5/6/7/8 all use the same chain whereas 9 uses a certain width and then yet another width.

 

An 8 -speed chain on a 9 cluster will make a hell of a racket and eat something away, probably your nerves.

 

 

Thanks Johan, I'm aware of that. The centre to centre distance between sprockets largely determines the maximum outside width of the chain - what I was addressing was that some sprockets are themselves different thicknesses - this would determine the inside width required of the chain - as it would happen, shimano 8 and 9 speed sprockets are 1.8mm and 1.78mm thk respectively - 0.02mm is unlikely the cause of the problem.

 

e.g. an extreme situation: an old suntour 8 speed has 2mm thk sprockets and new shimano 10 speed is only made to accomodate a 1.6thk sprockets - problem....