SHB

Im interested in changing my front derailleur, currently an Acera on my Hardrock comp. Im interested in an XT derailleur being sold on ebay. My question is this: the description of the XT/ebay page states its "....compatible with shimano's mega 9 drivetrain"....will this XT be compatible with my 8 speed drivetrain?

jeff williams

Can't think why not.
Is the current range (ring big to small) less than 'mega' range?
Then yes.
Front derailer is cage size issues only.
....Or also seat tube clamp sizing -? -check.

Sydney might come around morning and tell me to shut it though.
Doubt the cage width is an issue -for a 9 chain.
Syd? Hope the mornings treating you well.
Peace and hope for good coffee.
>jef.

SHB

i dont a thing about the cage size issue nor what you mean by the "range". All im sure of is the "pull", the "swing type", and clamp size. i guess ill purchase one and see if it works. derailleur is pretty cheap...new XT with delivery for $16. i guess what i was confused about was if the term "...compatible with shimano's mega 9 drivetrain..." meant it was exclusively compatible with that drivertrain only and not my 8 speed set up.

sydney

Assuming it's size comaptible with your big ring the other issue is cage width. Some claim the narrower 9 speed doesn't work well with 8 speed. Others say differently and it hasn't been my experience in limited application. Worst cse, you might have to use a 9 speed chain. Besides correct clamp diameter, be sure pull is right for your cable routing.

spleck

I tried to put an XT front derailleur on my Hardrock Sport and once I got it to shift correctly, it rubbed too much. I was using an 8-speed chain at the time. I ended up going back to the Acera because it ran smoother than the XT (the Acera shifts slower and rougher, but once shifted it was quieter). I've since gone to 9-speed (old stuff went to my wife's bike--I didn't really need 9-speeds but it was cheaper), but I'm still using the Acera. I'll probably try the XT again soon so that I can determine if the problem was the chain or if Shimano's dual-pull design just didn't work for me (the shifter cable has to wrap around on the dual-pull when used in bottom pull 'mode', whereas top pull works the same as a top-pull only derailleur).

SHB

thanks all for your input. most helpful. i found an LX derailleur, also on ebay, that didnt mention anything about the mega 9 compatibility in its description and also found some reviews, about the hardrock at mtbr.com, that HD owners successfully installed LX derailleurs, so i guess ill go with that instead of an XT.

SHB

getting back to the compatibilty issue, specifically: my hardrock has IG gearing. does this mean that i can only purchase the front derailleurs listed across from it (IG) and not any of those listed across the mega 9/linkglide (8speed) row (e.g fd-m580)?

https://bike.shimano.com/publish/content/cycle/sac/us/en/technical_service/compatibility_charts/mountain_compatibility.MainContent.0001.File.tmp/front%20drive%20mtb%20compatibility.pdf#search='shimano%20fdm570'

or as a couple of you pointed in the above posts, is it that as long as the range of my bike (42-32-22) is the same or less than the front derailleur im interested in, then the derailleur should work fine?

also, sorry for not being able to provide a hyperlink..not sure why i cant post one for the addy above.

duckliondog

The new 9-speed derailleurs work perfectly with 8-speed. My friend runs Mega 9 XT on 8-speed cranks, cogs, and chain with no problems at all. As long as you have 8-speed shifters, you're cool. Front derailleurs are the least picky part of the bike in some ways. All they do is shove the chain one way or the other. It's possible to do the same thing with your heel, though I don't recommend it. LX in front is a good idea too, there's barely any difference except bling factor.