Bicycle Mechanics - ultegra mix up

Please can anyone help. i am building my first bike, a principia frame using Shimano Ultegra 6600 and 6500 parts.Is it possible to use a shimano 6500 9 sp chainset with a shimano 6600 front gear 10 speed front gear.
any help will be great

kev

Chainwheels are pretty interchangeable 9 versus 10 spd either way. There is a smidgen of difference in the chainwidth and hence the FD cage width but in practice others have found it makes no difference.
FSA doesn't distinguish between 9 and 10 spds on their FD at least the ones I looked at 18mo ago when
I set up a 10spd compact. The chainwheels apparently don't care either which chain you use.

I'm not sure that I understand the questions fully.

A 9-speed crankset and chainrings (6500) will work with a 10-speed drivetrain.

The shifters, cassette, and chain all need to match, 10-speed to 10-speed (6600).

9-speed derailleurs will work with a 10-speed drivetrain.

10-speed derailleurs will sometimes work with a 9-speed drivetrain, but there may be problems, especially if the crankset is a triple.

10-speed Ultegra shifters are double or triple specific, 9-speed Ultegra shifters go both ways.

Al

kev, why are you mixing parts?

9 on 10 is usually ok, once you get to 8 speed chainring spacing with 10 speed flat sided chain you will most likely get the chain running in neutural between the rings (very annoying but not fatal)

kev, why are you mixing parts?

And why would this be a problem.

Who made you the BM Post Police? It's a simple enough question.

Mixing parts is confusing as all heck, especially to a noob. It's even confusing to more experienced wrenches: see post #3 and tell me how many wrenches you expect to know all this.

kev might find it easier to exchange a few 'odd' parts than to try to negotiate this maze.

Who made you the BM Post Police? It's a simple enough question.



So was mine. Thanks for the useless post.

10-speed derailleurs will sometimes work with a 9-speed drivetrain, but there may be problems, especially if the crankset is a triple.
Al

I have a somewhat similar problem to kev. I need to replace the front derailleur on a bike that currently has all Ultegra components with a triple crankset and a 9 speed cassette. The problem is, I am having trouble finding a new FD-6503 9-speed front derailleur. What problems would I run into if I used a FD-6603 10-speed front derailleur?

J.P.
I currently have a 6603 FD on my 6503 crankset and have had some problems shifting to the large ring. I understand it may be due to the gap spacing being different between the two cranksets and the corresponding FDs? If anyone has any advice on how to fix this, I would greatly appreciate it.

Please can anyone help. i am building my first bike, a principia frame using Shimano Ultegra 6600 and 6500 parts.Is it possible to use a shimano 6500 9 sp chainset with a shimano 6600 front gear 10 speed front gear.
any help will be great

kev

Kev, sounds like you're asking if you can use a 9 sp crankset with a 10 sp front derailleur. Is the bike going to be a 9 or 10 sp? If it's going to be a 10 sp, it should work. You might have occasional problems with the chain falling inbetween the chainrings though. IMO, just sell your 9 sp ft der and buy the correct 10 sp one. It will save a lot of hassle down the road. Whatever you do good luck


Tim

submit more data please ... each bit of undisclosed ID of each component increases the number of answer possibilities exponentially.. You sound OK with the front.. As far as the cassette IS it 9 ? NEVERMIND... feels to much like a test.. I must leave the Land of Ridiculous Requests now OK bye

J.P.
I currently have a 6603 FD on my 6503 crankset and have had some problems shifting to the large ring. I understand it may be due to the gap spacing being different between the two cranksets and the corresponding FDs? If anyone has any advice on how to fix this, I would greatly appreciate it.

dantr0n

It appears that the 6603 10-speed FD http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/FD/EV-FD-6600_6603-2349_v1_m56577569830608807.pdf has an inner plate that extends in toward the center of the bottom bracket further than the inner plate on the 6503 9-speed FD http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/FD/EV-FD-6500_6503-1700A_v1_m56577569830611837.pdf. Did you have to limit the high speed adjustment of the derailleur to keep the inner plate from interfering with the middle chain ring? This might cause problems shifting to the large chain ring.

The problem is, I am having trouble finding a new FD-6503 9-speed front derailleur.
What difficulty? They're still pretty common. CBO (http://www.cambriabike.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=466&cat=Road+Front+Derailleurs) has them for $40 (or more depending on what type you need). And there's one on eBay right now - well, for the next three hours, anyway.

If you need a clamp-on, a braze-on with a clamp adapter is the same thing.

dantr0n

It appears that the 6603 10-speed FD http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/FD/EV-FD-6600_6603-2349_v1_m56577569830608807.pdf has an inner plate that extends in toward the center of the bottom bracket further than the inner plate on the 6503 9-speed FD http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/FD/EV-FD-6500_6503-1700A_v1_m56577569830611837.pdf. Did you have to limit the high speed adjustment of the derailleur to keep the inner plate from interfering with the middle chain ring? This might cause problems shifting to the large chain ring.

J.P.
That is indeed the problem. I have tried raising the derailleur a bit higher than recommended to prevent interference with the middle chain ring, but this seems to contribute more problems than it fixes. I may just spring for a 10 speed crankset, brifters and a cassette and upgrade.

But if anyone else has had experience throwing a 6603 FD on 6503 crankset with a 9 speed cassette, I'd appreciate any help (even yours old and new).

Thanks

Uhhh.... you'd consider buying a whole new group rather than a FD-6503? http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/confused0044.gif



Am I missing something?

Uhhh.... you'd consider buying a whole new group rather than a FD-6503? http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/confused0044.gif



Am I missing something?

Kinda .........I have been looking at the 10 speed group for quite a while, and I have older Cannondale frameset that I could place this group on, so it wouldn't really be a big deal.

What difficulty? They're still pretty common. CBO (http://www.cambriabike.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=466&cat=Road+Front+Derailleurs) has them for $40 (or more depending on what type you need). And there's one on eBay right now - well, for the next three hours, anyway.

If you need a clamp-on, a braze-on with a clamp adapter is the same thing.

Actually it's not that easy. After spending some time searching I found the 6503 FD advertised at Texas Cyclesport and ordered one. They sent a 6603 and when I called them they said that the 6503 is no longer available and the 6603 should work with the 9-speed components. I raised the question on this forum to see if anyone had any experience with this.

CBO, and other sources I have found, only have the 6503 with a 1 1/8" clamp which is too small for my seat tube.

Hey this is exactly the problem I've been describing in another string. I have a 6503 crankset and a 6603 FD. I had to raise the FD to give me clearance to get the inner cage plate past the middle ring. It doesn't shift onto the big ring as nicely as I'd like but it does work. I also aligned the inner plate with the ring and not the outer plate. This was a tip from the online store I bought the FD from. It seemed to help with noise. I'd like to find a 6503 as well and be able to set things to spec.

Actually it's not that easy. After spending some time searching I found the 6503 FD advertised at Texas Cyclesport and ordered one. They sent a 6603 and when I called them they said that the 6503 is no longer available and the 6603 should work with the 9-speed components.
Typical bull**** line to save the sale. I hope you didn't buy it.


CBO, and other sources I have found, only have the 6503 with a 1 1/8" clamp which is too small for my seat tube.
My mistake. I was looking at the 6500 next to it.

As I say, they're not uncommon on eBay, and the 105 FD is a very good alternative.