3-8 speed chain works ok with 10 speed derailleur

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GuyBoden

Guru
Location
Warrington
An old decathlon 3-8 speed chain works ok with my 10 speed Shimano derailleur.

It doesn't rub on the RD cage or the FD cage.

Interesting or is this common knowledge?

Obviously, all multi speed chains have the same inner roller width.
3-to-8-speed-bike-chain.jpg
 

Ajax Bay

Guru
Location
East Devon
You may not realise but the 6-8sp chain (let's leave out "3-8" - that's taking marketing advantage of the fact that a narrower chain will work) is rubbing on the two adjacent sprockets and this may (will) adversely affect shifting precision particularly where there is only one tooth difference.
10sp sprocket pitch = 3.95mm, so between teeth of 3 = 7.9mm. Gap ('air') between is 7.9 - two half sprocket widths (1.6) so = 6.3mm.
The 6-8sp chain (say KMC) is 7.3mm wide (outer). A 10sp chain is 6.2-5.88mm (latter dim is for narrow directional chain).
I'm sure the chain "works OK".
Inner width: 5-8sp chains have inner width of 3/32″ (2.38 mm) and 9-12 speeds have inner width of 11/128″ (2.18 mm).
HTH
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
GuyBoden

GuyBoden

Guru
Location
Warrington
You may not realise but the 6-8sp chain (let's leave out "3-8" - that's taking marketing advantage of the fact that a narrower chain will work) is rubbing on the two adjacent sprockets and this may (will) adversely affect shifting precision particularly where there is only one tooth difference.
10sp sprocket pitch = 3.95mm, so between teeth of 3 = 7.9mm. Gap ('air') between is 7.9 - two half sprocket widths (1.6) so = 6.3mm.
The 6-8sp chain (say KMC) is 7.3mm wide (outer). A 10sp chain is 6.2-5.88mm (latter dim is for narrow directional chain).
I'm sure the chain "works OK".
Inner width: from 5-8 have inner width of 3/32″ (2.38 mm) and 9-12 speeds have inner width of 11/128″ (2.18 mm).
HTH

Many thanks for a very good explanation.:okay:
 
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