Changing Cassette from Shimano to Sram

[Stu1961]

Hi

Need some advice.............
My bike uses the Shimano CS HG 30-81 8 speed cassette and I wondered if I could replace this with the Sram PG850 without having to change anything else?

The derailleur is a Shimano Acera.

Thanks

 

[Andy_R]

The short answer is..............no. Why are you changing it?

Edit: Just to clarify I mean that there is no need to change anything as the sram casette is basically identical

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Yes you can.

Shimano and SRAM cassettes are interchangeable.

 

[slowmotion]

Yes you can.

Shimano and SRAM cassettes are interchangeable.

I think that , if you stick to the same number of big and small teeth, you will have no problems at all.

 

[Stu1961]

Andy...........the cassette that is on the bike now has seen better days (I had the bike given to me) and the Shimano Cassette seems to be a little hard to source locally...........the Sram cassette is readily available around my locale.


Joe........thanks for the answer........on another note, would it be possible to use a 9 speed cassette (Shimano or Sram) with the 8 speed changers I have? (obviously just utilising 8 speeds not 9), as this was another option I was contemplating, with the thought of upgrading to 9 speed shifters at a later date?


Slowmotion.......thanks, that's what I thought but needed confirmation from someone in the know before purchasing anything.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

A nine speed cassette will not index with eight speed shifters, that's the one area you have to replace like with like.

 

[Stu1961]

OK....thanks very much for that Joe........will pop along and get the Sram Cassette

 

[Sittingduck]

Stu

You will also need to get a new 8 spd chain too. New cassette = new chain!

Cheers
SD

 

[Riding in Circles]

Actually the indexing on the 8 speed will work with a 9 speed cassette in general.

 

[Stu1961]

Stu

You will also need to get a new 8 spd chain too. New cassette = new chain!

Cheers
SD

Thanks SD.....I was planning to renew the chain too...........


The bike was given to me by a friend, it's a Salcano Assos (found one for sale new at £260), so it's quite obviously not a 'top quality' bike.

It's had some real rough treatment from his son, the rear wheel is buckled and missing a couple of spokes, silver paint on the tyres and a rusty cassette (which is why I am replacing it)

The rest of the bike is in pretty fair condition, so a new wheel, cassette and chain, along with some new grips, brake pads and an overall service and oil up, should make it half decent for my commute to work (canal towpath)........the frame is quite light, so I will probably continue upgrading and adding better quality parts (gears, wheels, changers, crank etc) and get the frame repainted.

 

[HLaB]

As SJ says yes; both my 8sp bikes came with Shimano but now have SRAM

 

[mcshroom]

I've switched between the two makes on mine as well. No problems at all

 

[frank9755]

Actually the indexing on the 8 speed will work with a 9 speed cassette in general.

No. The spacing between the 9-speed sprockets has to be made smaller to allow it to fit in the space! An 8-speed shifter will have one click too few but pull a little bit too much cable on each click.

In practice the best you will get is to have the top and bottom two gears sort-of working, but it will get lumpy in the middle of the cassette with some skipping around and a double shift.

 

[Stu1961]

No. The spacing between the 9-speed sprockets has to be made smaller to allow it to fit in the space! An 8-speed shifter will have one click too few but pull a little bit too much cable on each click.

In practice the best you will get is to have the top and bottom two gears sort-of working, but it will get lumpy in the middle of the cassette with some skipping around and a double shift.

I would imagine it's usually best to use 9 speed everything, as they would be made to work together the best.

I must admit that cycling has gotten a lot more complicated since I last owned a bike, all you needed then was, a multi bike spanner, a couple of spoons (for removing the tyres) and a good thumb for the Sturmy Archer 3 speed shifter (if you were lucky enough to have gears).