Understanding Shimano mix & match

[Moto]

I have 3 reto mtb's (1 x XT, 1 x Exage & 1 x Altus) and like to do as much maintenance as possible myself. With the older stuff getting harder to find it's becoming more difficult to know which components will work with which. Can anyone recommend any good reading material which helps lay people like myself to build a bit of knowledge around the basics.

Cheers Guys

 

[kingbling]

http://www.sheldonbrown.com

This is the goto site

 

[hamster]

All 6,7,8 and 9 speed mechs (MTB and road) use the same movement per pull of cable and are effectively interchangeable.
10 speed road is the same as 6,7,8,9.
MTB 10 and all 11 use a new ration with more cable pull per mm of mech movement.

Chainsets are generally interchangeable. Road and MTB front mechs differ: road needs less cable pull. They are effectively non-interchangeable.

Sprocket spacings:
5 & 6 speed: 5.5mm
7 speed: 5.0mm
8 speed: 4.8mm
9 speed: 4.35mm

Cable pull per click in the shifters is different for each speed (as they would have to be as the mech is the same). Therefore you cannot use 9 speed shifters to shift a 7 speed cassette.

 

[Moto]

Thx for that. Fantastic info on the sheldonbrown site.