Bicycle Mechanics - Why a Shimano chain?

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urbanknight
04-20-06, 12:08 AM
I've been searching and reading up on this running a Shimano wheelset and 9s cassette on a Campy 9s drivetrain thing. Every thread I found says you need a Shimano compatible chain as well. Why is this? I basically want to be able to switch between a Shimano wheel and a Campy wheel at my leisure, so why won't my Campy chain work with the Shimano cassette? Hopefully, the answer is it will work, because then I can get a $40 Ultegra 28H hub and $30 105 cassette. If I have to stick with Campy, the best I can find in a 28H is a record hub for $160! That negates my motive for a budget but lightweight wheel build.

khuon
04-20-06, 01:50 AM
It might actually work but I'm doubting it. Shimano 9-speed sprocket thickness is 1.78mm and Campy sprockets are 1.75mm. You can use a chain made with wider sprocket clearance on a thinner sprocket but it's possible that there simply isn't enough clearance to go the other way around.

You probably already know this but you might also have a bit rougher indexed shifting when using a Shimano cassette with Campy indexing unless you've respaced it. However, I know of people running unmodified Shimano 9-speed cassettes on their Campy 9-speed drivetrains (with Campy indexed shifting) without problems.
urbanknight
04-20-06, 09:40 AM
Thanks, and yeah I know the shifting might be a little rough. I probably should just bite the bullet and buy a Record or Chorus hub. Right now the best price I can get is by buying an assembled 650c wheel for $150 stripping it for the hub. The I'll have to put the rim (and maybe the spokes, if I ave the patience to unscrew them and not cut them loose like I usually do) on ebay with a .01 starting bid just to get rid of it.

John E
04-20-06, 08:07 PM
Use a Campag. chain with both cassettes?
Phil from VA
04-21-06, 04:45 AM
I don't think that chain compatibility is the issue, its the cassette spacing. Just buy a conversion cassette. They are Ultegra plates with spacers made to work with Campy. I think the QBP catalog lists them.
Al1943
04-21-06, 04:09 PM
I don't think that chain compatibility is the issue, its the cassette spacing. Just buy a conversion cassette. They are Ultegra plates with spacers made to work with Campy. I think the QBP catalog lists them.

A conversion cassette will work but in may cost as much as rebuilding the wheel with a Campy compatible hub. And with the new hub you could run any Campy cassette you want.

Al