[jeti]

You are right I have a XT M771 9 speed direct mount and the slot is shorter than on the ten speed but it works perfectly. The reason I tried the ten speed is because the M771 has a very long cage and is very close to my tire in the granny gear. I'm going to try the nine speed SLX because it has a shorter cage. When you say, "....in granny ring the chain rubs the bottom of the FD.", is that with smaller cogs selected on the cassette? If you are on the granny ring and on the top half of the cassette (lower gears), does it touch? If not, I wouldn't worry about it. You should not be cross chaining from the 22T to the smallest cassette cogs.

Hi, when in granny ring the chain is high enough only on two largest cogs.
Hoped that maybe 9 speed XT would fit, but from what you said I assume it's very similar to SLX.
I also asked my local Trek dealer, but I guess he'll say that it's compatible only with 10 speed FD.
So I'll have to go with 10 speed FD. Or maybe I'll drill another hole into the frame

 

[Ronnie]

Hi, when in granny ring the chain is high enough only on two largest cogs.
Hoped that maybe 9 speed XT would fit, but from what you said I assume it's very similar to SLX.
I also asked my local Trek dealer, but I guess he'll say that it's compatible only with 10 speed FD.
So I'll have to go with 10 speed FD. Or maybe I'll drill another hole into the frame

The XT M771-D front derailleur seems to have a much longer/lower cage than the SLX. It works perfectly with my 22/32T setup and the chain does not touch the bottom of the cage at all. The reason it doesn't work for me is that it was on a Banshee Paradox which is a 29" bike with chain stays less than 17". There is very little space. The cage is long and is a few millimeters from the rear tire when on the granny ring. If you have more space on a 26" bike the XT should be fine.

 

[neninja]

Will this work?

Here is my current set up -
9 speed XT M770 Chainset
9 speed XT shadow rear
9 speed XT front mech
9 speed XTR shifters
9 speed XT 11-32 cassette
9 speed KMC X9L chain

I need to replace my front chainrings, chain and cassette as they are knackered. I have got hold of some pretty much new 10 speed XT M770 chainrings 42/32/24.

The 10 speed rings appear to fit to my 9 speed cranks. Can I replace the rings on my 9 speed cranks with the 10 speed ones and still keep all the 9 speed stuff the same?

Is the spacing difference on 10sp chainrings on the cranks or the rings?

 

[ACDC]

Today on my 2008 Anthem I replaced my XT M770 9 speed triple front mech with a XT M785 10 speed double mech, my current set up is:

XT 3x9 cranks with 26/38
9 speed dura ace chain
XT 9 speed 11-34 cassette
XT 9 speed shadow rear mech
XTR 9 speed shifters

Works perfect, I can now use the the full range of gears with no chain rub in any gear and shifts fantastic also looks better fitted than the tripple 9 speed mech, very happy.

Just for info, I today I had to raise the front mech about 5mm above its intended position as the clamp would have slightly come into contact with the lower linkage on the suspension (only during full compression of the shock). Also I was initially using positions 1-2 on the XTR shifter and found that the cable become very slack when on the small ring. I guess the geometry of the 10 speed mech requires less cable to move it horizontally

I measured the cable pull and it was 11mm for 1-2 and 8mm for 2-3, so I switched to using 2-3 on the shifter for my 2x9 setup and it works perfect, no chain rub, crisp quiet gear changes every time. :thumbsup:

 

[Ronnie]

Just for info, I today I had to raise the front mech about 5mm above its intended position as the clamp would have slightly come into contact with the lower linkage on the suspension (only during full compression of the shock). Also I was initially using positions 1-2 on the XTR shifter and found that the cable become very slack when on the small ring. I guess the geometry of the 10 speed mech requires less cable to move it horizontally

I measured the cable pull and it was 11mm for 1-2 and 8mm for 2-3, so I switched to using 2-3 on the shifter for my 2x9 setup and it works perfect, no chain rub, crisp quiet gear changes every time. :thumbsup:

I have got my 10speed direct mount just about perfect on my 9 speed M770 cranks. The chain barely touches the cage in the 32/34T combination and is quite acceptable. It sounds like you have a conventional clamp mounted derailleur which provides a bit more adjustment in that you can rotate the clamp. The direct mount doesn't have that option.

What I don't agree with you on is using the 2-3 positions for shifting. How do you prevent accidentally dropping into the first (lowest) position and not realizing? Then when you want to make that critical shift, you find that you are only taking up cable. With the 1-2 position, I can limit the derailleur from going into 3 with the "H" limit screw.

 

[ACDC]

What I don't agree with you on is using the 2-3 positions for shifting. How do you prevent accidentally dropping into the first (lowest) position and not realizing? Then when you want to make that critical shift, you find that you are only taking up cable. With the 1-2 position, I can limit the derailleur from going into 3 with the "H" limit screw.

I don't think that will be too much of a problem, there are only two gears to shift between after all.

 

[Ronnie]

I don't think that will be too much of a problem, there are only two gears to shift between after all.

Yes, and that is how I want it to work.

 

[ACDC]

The problem I found when shifting 1-2 was that there was a lot of lever throw whilst the shifter was taking up the all the slack, now when using 2-3 on the shifter to move into the big ring I only need a small amount of pressure and there is far less travel because of this the gear change is very fast and smooth and requires a lot less hand movement. I know the xtr M980 LH shfter has a mode switch to change from x3 to x2 which when doing so limits the shifter to use only 2-3.

 

[Ronnie]

The problem I found when shifting 1-2 was that there was a lot of lever throw whilst the shifter was taking up the all the slack, now when using 2-3 on the shifter to move into the big ring I only need a small amount of pressure and there is far less travel because of this the gear change is very fast and smooth and requires a lot less hand movement. I know the xtr M980 LH shfter has a mode switch to change from x3 to x2 which when doing so limits the shifter to use only 2-3.

I've never really noticed but I'll give it a try. I've got XTR 970 shifters so it's a moot point. In any case, aren't XTR 980 ten speed?

 

[ACDC]

Yep you are right the M980 shifters are 10 speed but for a front mech I don't think it would make that much difference as long as it pulls a similar amount of cable as a LH M970.

 

[Stevoo]

So, just installed an M985 XTR Dyna-Sys 10-speed rear derailleur mated to a SRAM X9 9-speed trigger shifter.

Right out of the box this combo is close but not perfect. The travel of the derailleur does not match the cable pull of the shifter as it should. You can clearly see how it becomes progressively more off as it reaches the end of travel accross the cogs. It can be adjusted to just barely work. Certainly not perfect as you have to make some comproimises. Used in this manner it is very critical of adjustment. Get it just a tad off and life is not so good but it does work.

It is so close that you CAN get it to work better with some minor changes.

The problem is that the derailleur does not draw out enough cable during it's travel. It actually travels too much when all is said and done for this combo. I had to reduce the derailleur travel for a given amount of cable pull.

So, I machined a derailleur anchor extension to change the cable pull related to the derailleur movement. In testing I tried anchoring the cable on the far side of the bolt (too much change). Then I began spacing the cable anchor point away in small increments. I also played with the exit location around the anchor bolt. Viola! After some playing around and experimentation I arrived upon the magic location and proceeded to machine an anchor bolt extension.

The 10-speed XTR jockey wheel has a very small amount of float compared to the 9-speed XTR. I can swap them later on to see how that affects things if need be but for now it is good. My guess is that it will make it just that much better and more robust in terms of adjustment requirements.

So far very happy with this slightly modified combo.

Of course this is just my experience. Your results may vary.

 

[knottshore]

So, just installed an M985 XTR Dyna-Sys 10-speed rear derailleur mated to a SRAM X9 9-speed trigger shifter.

Right out of the box this combo is close but not perfect. The travel of the derailleur does not match the cable pull of the shifter as it should. You can clearly see how it becomes progressively more off as it reaches the end of travel accross the cogs. It can be adjusted to just barely work. Certainly not perfect as you have to make some comproimises. Used in this manner it is very critical of adjustment. Get it just a tad off and life is not so good but it does work.

It is so close that you CAN get it to work better with some minor changes.

The problem is that the derailleur does not draw out enough cable during it's travel. It actually travels too much when all is said and done for this combo. I had to reduce the derailleur travel for a given amount of cable pull.

So, I machined a derailleur anchor extension to change the cable pull related to the derailleur movement. In testing I tried anchoring the cable on the far side of the bolt (too much change). Then I began spacing the cable anchor point away in small increments. I also played with the exit location around the anchor bolt. Viola! After some playing around and experimentation I arrived upon the magic location and proceeded to machine an anchor bolt extension.

The 10-speed XTR jockey wheel has a very small amount of float compared to the 9-speed XTR. I can swap them later on to see how that affects things if need be but for now it is good. My guess is that it will make it just that much better and more robust in terms of adjustment requirements.

So far very happy with this slightly modified combo.

Of course this is just my experience. Your results may vary.

Soo..... things that make you go mmmm...

Why not just match the shifter with the rd? Not judging but curious.... lots of work to get what sounds like subpar performance?

 

[Stevoo]

Kind of a long story but I broke my older 9-speed XTR and I found SRAM X9 at a deal. Had ridden the Dyna-sys 10 and liked it, also heard a lot about the 1:1 SRAM stuff. Shimano does not make Dyna-Sys in 9-speed that I am aware of (I may be wrong). Wanted to stay 9-speed so I went for the full SRAM X9 9-speed. It was great except the rear derailleur. For me it was sub par in a number of ways. Heard 10-speed Shimano Dyna-Sys would work with the SRAM triggers. I really ended up liking the 1:1 cable pull deal. Found a deal on a 10-speed Shimano rear derailluer so figure why not see what I can do with it. Best of both worlds for my needs.

I am kind of a tinkerer as well so it also has some entertainment value there as well.

I really ended up liking the SRAM triggers as much as I like Shimano derailluers so when I read this thread indicating I could have my cake and eat it too I figured why not give it a try.

Last but not least the performance is actually better than stock SRAM so I would not say it is sub par. I am sorry if I may have given that impression. I have pretty high standards for drivetrain performance and I struggle with things I know can be better.

I may have also missed that Shimano possibly makes Dyna-Sys in 9-speed but I am unaware if they do.

 

[ashas]

hey there. sorry if this question I'm about to ask someone already posted, there's just zillions of posts and didn't get thru all of them...

I basically want to get XTR 980 38-26t crankset. it's ten-speeder, of course, and I would just replace the old 9 speed crankset with it. everything else is 9 speed set-up.

I read around the net that it'll work great, even better than the 9 speed crankset and that I don't have to change anything..
anyone else done that? would be really cool if you did to share the experience with that kind of set-up.

also - I read that 38-26t version is the only version that has cranks made the way it can hold a bash guard. I really hope that is the case as I need to have a bash.

once again, sorry if somebody else made the same post before...
thanx!

 

[NielsJ]

So, just installed an M985 XTR Dyna-Sys 10-speed rear derailleur mated to a SRAM X9 9-speed trigger shifter.
So far very happy with this slightly modified combo.

Of course this is just my experience. Your results may vary.

Pictures!

 

[Goose127]

Hi. Read through a lot of this and not sure I can find a answer. I am looking to use the following. Shimano xtr 10 speed shifters, front and rear. 10 speed rear derailuer, 9 speed xtr front dr, xt cranks with 44-36-22 9 speed rings and a 10 speed chain and 10 cassette. I know that the fd dereailuer and crank must match due to the change in chainrings spacing an number of teeth. Will this combo work, can you use the 9 speed chainrings with the 10 speed chain?

 

[4Crawler]

I think that is OK. I just tried my new 10-sp chain on 9-sp rings on my new crankset and they fit fine. I even tried the chain out on an old Campy double crank set (from the old 2x5 days) and if physically fits, but might be a little snug for shifting as you can feel the slightest drag of the teeth inside the chain links.

 

[J. Random Psycho]

Pictures!

+1 on that.

 

[doismellbacon]

Hi. Read through a lot of this and not sure I can find a answer. I am looking to use the following. Shimano xtr 10 speed shifters, front and rear. 10 speed rear derailuer, 9 speed xtr front dr, xt cranks with 44-36-22 9 speed rings and a 10 speed chain and 10 cassette. I know that the fd dereailuer and crank must match due to the change in chainrings spacing an number of teeth. Will this combo work, can you use the 9 speed chainrings with the 10 speed chain?

In my experience setting up a couple of bikes with hybrid 9sp / dynasys 10sp, mixing a 9sp ft der w/ a 10sp ft shifter did not work well, while keeping everything for the back end + chain 10 sp (r der, r shifter, cassette, chain), with everything for the front end 9sp ( der, shifter, crank & rings) worked great. I'm not sure what you should expect with the weird choice of chainring sizes. My double (XT 770 3x crank, run with bash and XT rings in 36/26, 36/24, 36/22) worked great with the SLX 9sp ft derailleur that was designed for 2x Bash running the 36 big ring. Shimano's ft der's have some pretty complex shaping intended to move the chain when/where you want it without excess rub in cross gears. I'm no absolute authority on this, but I think you're going to end up with sub-par front shifting..... try it, but I think you may end up needing to put an older 9sp ft shifter into the mix.
EDIT: I looked through some of the earlier posts that claim a 10sp front shifter works fine with 9sp ft derailleur and rings.... that was not my experience, but in that case I was stepping into the middle of a setup my buddy was struggling with on his bike, so maybe I missed something not doing it from scratch... or maybe those earlier posts were wrong. My setup works great, so you'll have to read through all the pages of posts, not me Good luck.

 

[Stevoo]

Someone wanted pictures. Here is the spacer needed to allow Shimano 10-speed rear derailleur to play nice with SRAM 9-speed trigger shifter.
Not sure how to post an image so here is a link to them if you want to see.
https://picasaweb.google.com/GooselawAndGray/Deraillleur?authkey=Gv1sRgCMuH1KG5tuykhAE#[/