Reports of the demise of this Web site are greatly exaggerated! We at sheldonbrown.com thank Harris Cyclery for its support over the years. Harris Cyclery has closed, but we keep going. Keep visiting the site for new and updated articles, and news about possible new affilations.


Sheldon Brown's Internal-Gear Hub Cable Pull Crib Sheet

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Spoke Divider

The tables in this cribsheet identify compatibility of shifters and internal-gear hubs currently or recently in production as of 2014, and one antique. The first table lists hubs by brand, the second table, by number of speeds, and the third table, by average cable pull.

Many of these measurements were taken with Alex Wetmore's cable pull measuring tool (image below by Alex Wetmore). Harris Cyclery provided shifters to be measured. Jeff Meredith and Michael Wilson contributed measurements of several shifters. David Choma contributed measurements for the newer Sturmey-Archer 8-speed. Bruce Dance contributed many useful suggestions.

Wetmore cable pull measuring tool

The main point this page makes is that most internal-gear hub shifters are not interchangeable. Using a non-standard shifter will violate warranty terms and may damage a hub or result in its shifting into a "neutral" gear where the pedals spin forward -- possibly causing a crash. Please read the notes below before considering a substitution.

Notes:

Spoke Divider

Spoke Divider

Cable pull by brand, then number of speeds

Cable Pull Increment
Spds tight
<
loose
>
tight 
<
loose >  Low tight Av. Av. exc. ends Latch
14 Kindernay XIV N/A Hydraulic N/A N/A N/A N/A
N/A
NuVinci 170/171 156 continuous ratio change, no indexing continuous ratio change, no indexing pull/
pull
    0
NuVinci 360 94.5 continuous ratio change, no indexing continuous ratio change, no indexing pull/
pull
    0
14 Rohloff Speedhub 96.2 All 7.4mm increments, indexed at hub All 7.4mm increments, indexed at hub pull/
pull
7.4 7.4 0
3 Shimano 3-speed Nexus IG 14.2 7.8 6.5 7.8 0 7.1   1
4 Shimano 4-speed Nexus IG 14.8 10.1 5.1 4.7 5.0 5.1 0 4.9 5.0 1
5 Shimano SL-C7000-5 Inter 5E 31.7 24.2 16.0 8.3 7.5 8.2 7.7 8.3 1 7.9 7.9 1
7 Shimano 7-speed Nexus IG 29.4 24.4 18.9 14.4 9.6 4.7 5.0 5.5 4.5 4.8 4.9 4.7 0 4.9 4.9 1
8 Shimano 8-speed Nexus, Alfine, cable at bottom 36.6 31.7 26.4 21.4 15.5 10.8 5.8 4.9 5.3 5.0 5.9 4.7 5.0 5.8 0 5.2 5.2 1
8 Shimano 8-speed Nexus, Alfine, cable at top 36.6 30.8 25.8 21.1 15.2 10.2 4.9 5.8 5.0 4.7 5.9 5.0 5.3 4.9 1 5.2 5.2 1
11 Shimano 11-speed Alfine IG 4-10 37.8 32.5 27.7 21.1 15.8 11.1 5.9 5.3 4.8 6.6 5.3 4.7 5.2 5.9 1      
  Shimano 11-speed Alfine IG 1-3 52.9 47.8 42.6         5.1 5.2 4.8           1 5.3 5.2 1
3 SRAM T3 14.0 8.7 5.4 8.7 1 7.0 ?
3 SRAM i-motion 3 13.8 7.7 6.1 7.7 0 6.9 ?
3 SRAM 3x7 12.7 9.5 3.2 9.5 1 6.4 1
3 SRAM DualDrive 3-sp IG 12.1 6.6 5.5 6.6 0 6.1 0
5 SRAM Spectro 5 33.7 25.9 16.5 9.1 7.7 9.4 7.4 9.1 0 8.4 8.4 1
7 SRAM S7 57.5 47.6 35.6 24.3 15.5 8.1 9.9 12.0 11.3 8.8 7.4 8.1 0 9.6 9.9 1
8 SRAM G8 30.6 26.1 21.8 17.7 13.6 9.3 5.1 4.5 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 5.1 0 4.4 4.2 1
9 SRAM G9 34.4 30.0 25.8 21.6 17.4 13.1 9.0 4.8 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.2 4.8 0 4.3 4.2 1
9 SRAM i-Motion 9 76.2 66.5 57.4 48.7 39.8 31.2 21.4 12.6 9.7 9.1 8.7 8.9 8.6 9.8 8.8 12.6 0 9.5 9.0 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp trigger 14.2 9.5 4.7 9.5 1 7.1 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp IG 2-lever 13.8 8.2 5.6 8.2 1 6.9 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp fixed ASC 11.4 6.7 4.7 6.7 1 5.8 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp fixed S3X 17.9 9.1 8.8 9.1 1 8.9 1
3 Sturmey-Archer C30 series, rotary (pulley) shifting 23.8 8.6 15.2 8.6 1 16.2 ?
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, dog-locking 18.4 12.6 9.4 5.9 5.8 3.2 3.5 5.9 1 4.6 3.4 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, ball-locking
(see note)
19.7 13.2 10.0 5.9 6.5 3.2 3.5 6.5 1 4.9 3.4 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, (W) 19.0 13.1 9.6 6.1 5.9 3.5 3.5 6.1 1 4.6 3.3 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, C50 series 29.0 19.5 13.9 7.2 9.5 5.6 6.7 7.2 1 7.3 6.2 0
7 Sturmey-Archer 7-speed Sprinter 72.0 60.0 48.0 36.0 24.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 0 12.0 12.0 1
8 Sturmey-Archer 8-sp IG, older 34.4 29.9 25.4 19.6 14.6 9.5 4.2 4.5 4.5 5.8 4.9 5.2 5.3 4.2 1 4.9 5.1 0
8 Sturmey-Archer 8-sp IG, (W), 2009- 35.2 30.2 26.1 20.9 15.6 10.5 5.7 4.6 4.8 5.1 5.3 5.1 4.8 5.4 1 5.0 5.0 0

Spoke Divider

Spoke Divider

Cable pull by number of speeds, then average step

To use this table, first check the number of speeds, which must be at least as many as those of the hub, then Av.(erage) column (third from right), to get into the "ballpark" of matching cable pulls, and finally, whether the individual cable pull increments are compatible.

Cable Pull Increment
Spds tight
<

loose

tight
<
loose
Low tight Av. Av. exc. ends Latch
3 SRAM DualDrive 3-sp IG 12.1 6.6 5.5 6.6 0 6.1 0
3 SRAM 3x7 12.7 9.5 3.2 9.5 1 6.4 1
3 SRAM i-motion 3 13.8 7.7 6.1 7.7 0 6.9 ?
3 SRAM T3 14.0 8.7 5.4 8.7 1 7.0 ?
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp IG 2-lever 13.8 8.2 5.6 8.2 1 6.9 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp trigger 14.2 9.5 4.7 9.5 1 7.1 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp fixed ASC 11.4 6.7 4.7 6.7 1 5.8 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp fixed S3X 17.9 9.1 8.8 9.1 1 8.9 1
3 Sturmey-Archer C30 series, rotary (pulley) shifting 23.8 8.6 15.2 8.6 1 16.2 ?
3 Shimano 3-speed Nexus IG 14.2 7.8 6.5 7.8 0 7.1 1
4 Shimano 4-speed Nexus IG 14.8 10.1 5.1 4.7 5.0 5.1 0 4.9 5.0 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, dog-locking 18.4 12.6 9.4 5.9 5.8 3.2 3.5 5.9 1 4.6 3.4 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, ball-locking
(see note)
19.7 13.2 10.0 5.9 6.5 3.2 3.5 6.5 1 4.9 3.4 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG (W) 19.0 13.1 9.6 6.2 5.9 3.5 3.5 6.2 1 4.8 3.5 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, C50 series 29.0 19.5 13.9 7.2 9.5 5.6 6.7 7.2 1 7.3 6.2 0
5 Shimano SL-C7000-5 Inter 5E 31.7 24.2 16.0 8.3 7.5 8.2 7.7 8.3 1 7.9 7.9 1
5 SRAM Spectro 5 33.7 25.9 16.5 9.1 7.7 9.4 7.4 9.1 0 8.4 8.4 1
7 Shimano 7-speed Nexus IG 29.4 24.4 18.9 14.4 9.6 4.7 5.0 5.5 4.5 4.8 4.9 4.7 0 4.9 4.9 1
7 SRAM S7 57.5 47.6 35.6 24.3 15.5 8.1 9.9 12.0 11.3 8.8 7.4 8.1 0 9.6 9.9 1
7 Sturmey-Archer 7-speed Sprinter 72.0 60.0 48.0 36.0 24.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 0 12.0 12.0 1
8 SRAM G8 30.6 26.1 21.8 17.7 13.6 9.3 5.1 4.5 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 5.1 0 4.4 4.2 1
8 Sturmey-Archer 8-sp IG, older 34.4 29.9 25.4 19.6 14.6 9.5 4.2 4.5 4.5 5.8 4.9 5.2 5.3 4.2 1 4.9 5.1 0
8 Sturmey-Archer 8-sp IG, (W), 2009- 35.2 30.2 26.1 20.9 15.6 10.5 5.7 4.6 4.8 5.1 5.3 5.1 4.8 5.4 0 5.0 5.0 0
8 Shimano 8-speed Nexus, Alfine, cable at bottom 36.6 31.7 26.4 21.4 15.5 10.8 5.8 4.9 5.3 5.0 5.9 4.7 5.0 5.8 0 5.2 5.2 1
8 Shimano 8-speed Nexus, Alfine, cable at top 36.6 30.8 25.8 21.1 15.2 10.2 4.9 5.8 5.0 4.7 5.9 5.0 5.3 4.9 1 5.2 5.2 1
9 SRAM G9 34.4 30.0 25.8 21.6 17.4 13.1 9.0 4.8 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.2 4.8 0 4.3 4.2 1
9 SRAM i-Motion 9 76.2 66.5 57.4 48.7 39.8 31.2 21.4 12.6 9.7 9.1 8.7 8.9 8.6 9.8 8.8 12.6 0 9.5 9.0 1
11 Shimano 11-speed Alfine IG 4-10 37.8 32.5 27.7 21.1 15.8 11.1 5.9 5.3 4.8 6.6 5.3 4.7 5.2 5.9 1      
  Shimano 11-speed Alfine IG 1-3 52.9 47.8 42.6         5.1 5.2 4.8           1 5.3 5.2 1
14 Rohloff Speedhub 96.2 All 7.4mm increments, indexed at hub All 7.4mm increments, indexed at hub pull/
pull
7.4 7.4 0
14 Kindernay XIV N/A Hydraulic N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
NuVinci 170/171 156 continuous ratio change, no indexing continuous ratio change, no indexing pull/
pull
    0
NuVinci 360 94.5 continuous ratio change, no indexing continuous ratio change, no indexing pull/
pull
    0

 

Spoke Divider

Spoke Divider

Cable pull by average step

To use this table, first check the Av.(erage) column (third from right), to get into the "ballpark" of matching cable pulls. Then check whether the substitute shifter has at least the same number of speeds as the design shifter; and finally, whether the individual cable pull increments are compatible.

Cable Pull Increment
Spds tight
<
loose
>
tight 
<
loose >  Low tight Av. Av. exc. ends Latch
14 Kindernay XIV N/A Hydraulic N/A N/A N/A N/A
N/A
NuVinci 170/171 156 continuous ratio change, no indexing continuous ratio change, no indexing pull/
pull
    0
NuVinci 360 94.5 continuous ratio change, no indexing continuous ratio change, no indexing pull/
pull
    0
8 SRAM G9 34.4 30.0 25.8 21.6 17.4 13.1 9.0 4.8 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.1 4.2 4.8 0 4.3 4.2 1
8 SRAM G8 30.6 26.1 21.8 17.7 13.6 9.3 5.1 4.5 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.2 5.1 0 4.4 4.2 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, dog locking 18.4 12.5 9.3 5.9 5.9 3.2 3.4 5.9 1 4.6 3.3 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG (W) 19.0 13.1 9.6 6.1 5.9 3.5 3.5 6.1 1 4.6 3.3 1
7 Shimano 7-speed Nexus IG 29.4 24.4 18.9 14.4 9.6 4.7 5.0 5.5 4.5 4.8 4.9 4.7 0 4.9 4.9 1
8 Sturmey-Archer 8-sp IG, older 34.4 29.9 25.4 19.6 14.6 9.5 4.2 4.5 4.5 5.8 4.9 5.2 5.3 4.2 1 4.9 5.1 0
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, ball-locking
(see note)
19.7 13.2 10.0 5.9 6.5 3.2 3.5 6.5 1 4.9 3.4 1
4 Shimano 4-speed Nexus IG 14.8 10.1 5.1 4.7 5.0 5.1 0 4.9 5.0 1
8 Sturmey-Archer 8-sp IG, (W), 2009- 35.2 30.2 26.1 20.9 15.6 10.5 5.7 4.6 4.8 5.1 5.3 5.1 4.8 5.4 1 5.0 5.0 0
8 Shimano 8-speed Nexus, Alfine, cable at bottom 36.6 31.7 26.4 21.4 15.5 10.8 5.8 4.9 5.3 5.0 5.9 4.7 5.0 5.8 0 5.2 5.2 1
8 Shimano 8-speed Nexus, Alfine, cable at top 36.6 30.8 25.8 21.1 15.2 10.2 4.9 5.8 5.0 4.7 5.9 5.0 5.3 4.9 1 5.2 5.2 1/td>
11 Shimano 11-speed Alfine IG 4-10 37.8 32.5 27.7 21.1 15.8 11.1 5.9 5.3 4.8 6.6 5.3 4.7 5.2 5.9 1      
  Shimano 11-speed Alfine IG 1-3 52.9 47.8 42.6         5.1 5.2 4.8           1 5.3 5.2 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp fixed ASC 11.4 6.7 4.7 6.7 1 5.8 1
3 SRAM DualDrive 3-sp IG 12.1 6.6 5.5 6.6 0 6.1 0
3 SRAM 3x7 12.7 9.5 3.2 9.5 1 6.4 1
3 SRAM i-motion 3 13.8 7.7 6.1 7.7 0 6.9 ?
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp IG 2-lever 13.8 8.2 5.6 8.2 1 6.9 1
3 SRAM T3 14.0 8.7 5.4 8.7 1 7.0 ?
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp trigger 14.2 9.5 4.7 9.5 1 7.1 1
3 Shimano 3-speed Nexus IG 14.2 7.8 6.5 7.8 0 7.1 1
5 Sturmey-Archer 5-sp IG, C50 series 29.0 19.5 13.9 7.2 9.5 5.6 6.7 7.2 1 7.3 6.2 0
14 Rohloff Speedhub 96.2 All 7.4mm increments indexed at hub All 7.4mm increments, indexed at hub pull/
pull
7.4 7.4 0
5 Shimano SL-C7000-5 Inter 5E 31.7 24.2 16.0 8.3 7.5 8.2 7.7 8.3 1 7.9 7.9 1
5 SRAM Spectro 5 33.7 25.9 16.5 9.1 7.7 9.4 7.4 9.1 0 8.4 8.4 1
3 Sturmey-Archer 3-sp fixed S3X 17.9 9.1 8.8 9.1 1 8.9 1
9 SRAM i-Motion 9 76.2 66.5 57.4 48.7 39.8 31.2 21.4 12.6 9.7 9.1 8.7 8.9 8.6 9.8 8.8 12.6 0 9.5 9.0 1
7 SRAM S7 57.5 47.6 35.6 24.3 15.5 8.1 9.9 12.0 11.3 8.8 7.4 8.1 0 9.6 9.9 1
7 Sturmey-Archer 7-speed Sprinter 72.0 60.0 48.0 36.0 24.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 0 12.0 12.0 1
3 Sturmey-Archer C30 series, rotary (pulley) shifting 23.8 8.6 15.2 8.6 1 16.2 ?

 

Spoke Divider

Spoke Divider

More cribsheets: Click here!

This page is intended as a quick reference for mechanics. Feel free to print it out, but please don't reproduce it without proper credit and linkage.

Thanks to Alex Wetmore, Jeff Meredith, David Choma and Bruce Dance for help with this page.

Alex Wetmore's description of his measuring tool

Spoke Divider

Spoke Divider

Articles by Sheldon Brown and Others


Reports of the demise of this Web site are greatly exaggerated! We at sheldonbrown.com thank Harris Cyclery for its support over the years. Harris Cyclery has closed, but we keep going. Keep visiting the site for new and updated articles, and news about possible new affilations.

Copyright © 2014 John Allen

Harris Cyclery Home Page

If you would like to make a link or bookmark to this page, the URL is:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/cribsheet-IG-cable-pull.html

Last Updated: by John Allen