Dear folks,

I am thinking of running a 1x9 drivetrain on my 1983 Univega Gran Turismo (or possibly my Rivendell Atlantis -- sorry, Riv haters) with a wide-range 11-36 cassette in the rear and a 42t ring in front. I know that I could throw on a modern RD, such as a Shimano RD-M772, to handle the 36t cog, but I'd really prefer a more vintage look. I've tried my not-exactly-vintage-but-acceptable Shimano RD-M737 with the B-tension screw reversed, and it will shift onto the big cog, but it's noisy as hell because the guide pulley is too close to the cog.

So . . . I'm thinking of trying a Suntour AG Tech, which I know can handle up to a 38t cog. Here's what I'm wondering: Would the Suntour AG have enough horizontal travel to cover all the cogs in a 9-speed cassette? I've searched these forums and elsewhere, and I can't find an answer to this question, although there's plenty of other information. Has anyone tried it?

I guess if it didn't work, I could always use the old 8-of-9 trick to get the cassette narrowed down to 7-speed width, which would probably be manageable. But that would make the jumps between gears bigger than they already are. Anyway, if anyone has given this a shot, please let me know how it worked out.

BTW, I've read that the Huret Duopar RD can also handle a 36t cog, but they seem to be rather more $$$$ than the Suntour AG. So, I've rejected that path, at least for the time being. Thanks.