Hey guys so Ive been upgrading my GT SRS 3 and now my drivetrain hit a little snag.

The bike came stock with
Chain - HG-53
Crankset - FSA Vero Compact
Cassette - Tiagra CS-HG50 11-25

Then I added the Sram Apex Compact (designated 10 speed) crankset and everything was running smooth, until I picked up a crazy cheap Dura-Ace CS-7700 12-21 cassette from NashBar (Mostly flat here in El Paso) and now im not only getting a weird vibration on every crank but now i hear a click as if the chains outer plate is a little too wide and hitting the hyperglide teeth.

I understand the HG53 is the basic chain but I figured that all shimano 9 speed cassettes were similar in outer width. Now im reading that the dura-ace 9 speed chain is "super narrow" for narrower cassettes

Fortunately I was gonna pick up a new chain anyway but now I'm confused on which one I should get.
Obviously I was leaning towards the KMC X9 SL but will it be narrow enough?

Luckily I installed the cassette today and was only running through the gears on the stand so I didnt damage any teeth so any help would be appreciated.

9 speed is 9 speed, the 'super narrow' refers to 9 speed chains, as in '9-speed super narrow chain such as CN-YM81 / 7701 / HG93' quoted from here https://techdocs.shimano.com/media/te...9830686193.pdf the 7700 cassette is 3 generations old, when 9 speed was new, and so were narrower chains.

The KMC X9 SL should be fine, when you removed the rear wheel to install the cassette, was the wheel re-installed correctly?

There is usually some variation in where the cassette seats on the freehub body, due to manufacturing tolerances, even from the same manufacturer. I always assume the rear derailleur is going to need some minor adjustment after switching cassettes.

Yeah thats what I assumed. I installed the new cassette and torqued it. then made sure the wheel sat correctly in the dropouts.

I would figure that a 9 speed is a 9 speed is a 9 speed but like you, just to be sure, I adjusted the derailleur accordingly and for some reason its only clicking on the 12t and 15t. and oddly enough this is happening when its on 50t. When i drop it down to 34t in the front its running pretty smooth on all of them with a subtle noise but its more noticeable on the 50t.


I guess ill remove the cassette and make sure everything is seated correctly and not flipped. Thanks guys! if i have any other problems ill try to take some pics and video of it.

Narrower than 8 speed but wider than 10 or 11 speed.

D-A 9-speed chain is a very good choice.

So ive been reading around and saw that the roller width is the same between 9 and 10 speed chains. AND the cassette teeth width is the same between 9 and 10 speed cassettes. The only difference is the outer width of the 10 speed chain being narrower than the 9 speed since another cog is squeezed into the same space. Does this mean that a 10 spd chain could be used on a 9 speed casssette, obviously not the other way around.

Im already running a 10 spd crankset...would it make sense to pick up a 10 speed chain? or is what I said just BS haha

Optimal Mixed Drivetrain Configuration:
10-speed: crankset, chain, front derailleur
with...
9-speed: cassette, rear derailluer, shifters(F/R)

This is what I'm currently running, on my Cannondale Bad Boy....and it all shifts instantly, like butter:

SRAM X0 9-speed rear derailleur, with SRAM PC-1091R 10-speed chain and Shimano XTR 11-34 9-speed cassette(Dura Ace 7700 equivalent)


FSA Energy 46-36 Cyclocross 10-speed crankset, with FSA Energy 10-speed double front derailluer


SRAM X0 9-speed gripshifters

OP - go with a 10-speed chain(KMC X10SL or SRAM PC-1091R).....problem SOLVED!

Generally you can run a 10-speed chain on a 9-speed cassette (or a 9-speed chain on an 8-speed cassette). Where you may or may not have a problem is with a 10-speed chain on a 9 or 8-speed triple crankset.

DILBERTO thanks for the specs and pics!

Al1943 yeah thats what i was assuming, since the crankset chainrings vary in width between 8 9 and 10 speed.

Ill probably pick up kmc and might as well go with the x10 sl so i have nothing to worry about

I was wondering if the chain had been removed for shortening when you installed that corn-cob cassette.

Might the chain have been routed through the rear derailer cage around the bent chain-retention tab on the cage?

I would have a look to see if the chain is flowing smoothly uninterrupted through the rear derailer cage.

And btw, I am using 9-speed chain on my current 1960's Steyr 10-speed as well as on my very old Schwinn Varsity, Continental and Supersport 10-speeds. These chains especially improve the shifting on all Suntour freewheels, and on Shimano 5, 6 and 7-speed freewheels as well.
All of these bikes get ridden hard in the hilly terrain here, and all are using their original steel chainrings. Shifting couldn't be better.