Bicycle Mechanics - Campy 9 to 10 conversion question

I'm trying to standardize my small fleet to be 10sp. The question is can I use a Campy 9 sp ft and rear der plus crank with a 10 sp cassette and brifters? I know the pulleys are the same for 8 - 10sp it's just the spacers and bolts are wider on 8/9sp. Is the thinner chain going to affect shifting badly or should I spend the extra money for 10sp ders?

I know Shimano doesn't seem to have a problem with it. But, Campy being Campy is so darn fussy about that kind of stuff. If there's anyone with real world experience on the swap your help would be appreciated.

No real world experience, but usually it isn't the derailleur as much as the brifter and cassette that matter. If they changed the throw/cable pull ratio it could be a problem, but my guess is they didn't.

There actually is a difference in the actuation ratio of RDs made before 2001 and the newer ones. It's not a lot and some people say that you can get by using older RDs with shifters converted to 10 speed. It doesn't cost anything to try it, but depending on the mileage of those old RDs it might be wiser to upgrade those to newer models.

http://branfordbike.com/page.cfm?pageID=62

The current price of the 2009 10 speed shifters is so low from the UK, that you might want to consider buying some 2009 shifters, rather than converting old ones. With the new shifters you get new brake hoods and a new cableset. Those two items cost $60-80 if bought separately. Subtract that from the price of a new pair of shifters that cost $140-160 and the conversion cost is quite low.

You should try it before you go out and buy new DRs. If the 9 spd is post 2001 Daytona you will have no problem. If it is early 2001 or before it might take some small adjustments with the RD takeup screw but, the FD will be the same. It might be the difference between "perfection" and "works just fine." I am running a 9spd Racing Triple RD with 10spd ergos (converted from 9spd Daytona) and a SRAM 9spd 11-34t cassette on a Centaur hub with a Shimano splined hubbody on my Cross bike. It is working just fine!

All 9s derailers will work, as will late 8s. You will need to change 8s pulleys to run 9 or 10s. I never tried a 9s derailer with a 10s, so I am not sure if 9s pulleys will work on 10s, but the geometry of all derailers from late 8s on is the same.

em

but the geometry of all derailers from late 8s on is the same.

em

Unfortunatley they're different. 8 sp and pre 2001 9 sp use a different actuation ratio. That's why I dumped all my 8 sp. It was getting hard to get replacement parts. That's also why I want standardize my bikes to all one standard, 10 sp.

Unfortunatley they're different. 8 sp and pre 2001 9 sp use a different actuation ratio. That's why I dumped all my 8 sp. It was getting hard to get replacement parts. That's also why I want standardize my bikes to all one standard, 10 sp.

I had to do the same thing. I misremembered when they made the change in the rear derailers.

em