Dura_ace compatibility
 

Howdy. I am upgrading components on my low-end hybrid. Had it about a year... frame's ok, components are garbage. Just got a dura-ace 7703 crank. I assume BB needs replaced and am planning on that. What I don't know, however, is if I need to upgrade my derailleurs to dura-ace or if say deore or ultegra will work. Also current set up is 8speed, new crank 9speed... so I just need a 9speed chain, eh? Thanks a bunch.

The crank change will have no effect on the derailleurs and you can use what ever you have on the bike now. You will have to raise the front derailleur a bit if the Dura Ace's big chain ring is larger than your current crank's

Your 8-speed chain should work fine with the new crank with the possible exception that the chain may rub on the inside of the big ring when you are in the middle ring and in the smallest couple of cogs. Try it first and see if it's acceptable.

Many thanks.

Make sure that your front dérailleur is compatible with a large 53 tooth ring, usually Deore fronts cant handle more than 48, since they are mtn specific. I have run mtn fronts with road setups, it shifts OK, a little clicking when shifting, but the 25$ spent on a used ultegra front on ebay is well worth every penny.

Oh, are you going from a triple to a double? That might also affect front clicking with a triple front derailleur.

The 7703 crank was equipped with 53-39-30 chainrings. A 9-speed triple front derailleur would be best because of the 14 tooth difference between the big ring and the middle ring. An Ultegra or 105 FD 9-speed FD would probably work well. I would not want to try to use a mountain style front derailleur or a 10-speed front derailleur with that crankset. 10-speed triple front derailleurs don't work so well with 9-speed chains.

Al