Can I use a 8 speed derailleur on a 6 speed?

Shimano used an actuation ratio of 1.7 from 6 speed to 9 speed mountain and 10 speed road. (Source: Arts Cyclery Blog – Drivetrain Compatibility). So yes, the 8 speed Claris derailleur should work with the 6 speed shifter and 6 speed freewheel.

Does any shifter work with any derailleur?

No, different maker or different model with different number of “speed” shifters have different pull ratio (i.e. the length of cable pulled by a single shift). Usually it’s safe to use different model with same number of gears from the same maker.

Are all Shimano shifters interchangeable?

Thus, cranks from Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo are freely interchangeable along with those from all aftermarket brands (e.g. FSA, Rotor, Praxis, etc.).

Can you use a 6 speed derailleur on a 7 speed cassette?

Six speed is included in there as well, it’s just not common to see. So yes, a six speed rear derailleur will work correctly with 7, 8 or 9 rear speed systems.

Can I use a 7 speed derailleur on a 6 speed bike?

Re: Can you use a 7 speed shifter on a 6 speed cassette? The “numbers” say they don’t match. The cable pull of a 7 speed is less than a 6 speed so, though a couple of cogs might work, the rest will gradually not. You’ll never know if you don’t try it.

Can you mix and match derailleur and shifter?

As a general rule of thumb, it’s best not to mix and match drivetrain components from different brands. While things such as cranks, chains and cassettes are mostly inter-compatible between brands, generally speaking, shifters and derailleurs aren’t.

What shifters are compatible with Shimano derailleurs?

Shimano shifters, whether for 6, 7, 8, or 9 speeds are compatible with all the Shimano RDs for 6 to 9 speeds, and with Shimano 10 speed road RDs (not with 10 speed MTB RDs). Update: a new exception are Shimano Tiagra 4700 road 10-speed shifters, and Shimano GRX gravel series shifters.

Can I use a 9 speed derailleur on a 8 speed cassette?

A 9-speed derailleur can work just fine with an 8-speed cassette if: 1. The derailleur is made either by Shimano or SRAM. The brand of the cassette and shifter match that of the derailleur.

Can I use an 8 speed derailleur on a 7 speed cassette?

Although 8 speed can be made to work with a 7 speed cassette, it’s not ideal. Get a 7 speed shifter. Once you’ve got the appropriate parts, make sure to set up the limit screws and indexing properly, so that you don’t go off the edge of the cassette.

Can I use a 7 speed shifter on a 6 speed bike?

You would need to either add a 7 speed cassette or use 7 speed spacers on the current 6 speed cassette. Are you sure it’s a cassette? Many 6 speeds are freewheel. The derailleur should work fine.