gitaneusa.com Forum Index » Vintage Gitane » Simplex "model"    View previous topic :: View next topic  Simplex "model"   Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:53 pm Murray30 Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 11 Location: Canberra, Australia Hi Hopefully this is a relatively simple question - is there any way to determining the model name or number of a Simplex Derailleur? - or does it really matter, when all I want to do is replace the damaged jockey wheels? Thanks in advance Wayne ID Simplex RD   Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:27 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area Welcome to the Forum, now post some pictures.... To answer your question, yes, no, maybe. Without a picture it's very hard to tell what model derailleur you have. Chas. resident retrogrouch   Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:33 pm Murray30 Joined: 09 Mar 2009 Posts: 11 Location: Canberra, Australia Hi Sorry for the delay in posting photos of the Simplex. The Simplex belongs to my Gitane, which has previously identified in this forum as a Hosteller (photos posted in March this year). As you can see in the attached photos, the jockey wheels have suffered a bit over the years. I am trying to replace these jockey wheels and was wondering if they are peculiar in size etc for a simplex etc Thanks in advance Wayne [/img] Simplex Prestige   Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 12:19 am verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area That's a Simplex Prestige derailleur. WOW! Those pulleys are worn! New chain and freewheel time too... I don't want to use the word popular because these derailleurs got a bad rap due to the Delrin plastic construction... I'd estimate at least half of the entry level European bikes imported into the US during the 1970-74 Bike Boom came with these. I haven't tried this for a while but I suspect that any older Suntour or Shimano pulleys would work just fine. I think that the pulley screws are 6mm which should be the same for those Japanese brands too. Remove the pulleys and measure the width across the metal dust shields. If the Japanese pulleys are a little too narrow, use a washer or two as spacers. The newer pulleys for 7-8-9-10 speed derailleurs may be too narrow to work well that's why I suggested old style pulleys. I'll have to go down to the bat cave tomorrow and check it out. Chas. Re: Simplex Prestige   Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 7:19 am scozim Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 629 Location: Ellensburg, WA verktyg wrote: That's a Simplex Prestige derailleur. I haven't tried this for a while but I suspect that any older Suntour or Shimano pulleys would work just fine. I think that the pulley screws are 6mm which should be the same for those Japanese brands too. Remove the pulleys and measure the width across the metal dust shields. If the Japanese pulleys are a little too narrow, use a washer or two as spacers. Chas. I did this with the Simplex SX630 (I think) on my Sprint. Mine had two broken teeth on the upper pulley. The local bike shop let me have an old Shimano Tourney derailleur after we determined it was the same size as the Simplex. I then put that pulley in the bottom position and moved the other Simplex pulley to the upper. I've got approximately 1400 miles (2250 km) on the bike this year with no problems at all. _________________ 1984 Gitane Sprint 1984 Gitane Tour de France mid-1970's Gitane Olympic Plus many more http://eburgcycling.blogspot.com Bullseye pulleys   Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:32 pm greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA The Bullseye Pulleys work great too. They have sealed bearings. http://cgi.ebay.com/Bullseye-Derailleur-Pulleys-NOS-Black-Campy-Shimano-etc_W0QQitemZ140356320715QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item20ade37dcb Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching. Re: Bullseye pulleys   Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:39 pm verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area greyhundguy wrote: The Bullseye Pulleys work great too. They have sealed bearings. Silk stockings on a rooster! Chas.   Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:35 am greyhundguy Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 678 Location: South-Central VIRGINIA Wayne, Chas. likes to joke around. Here is a quote from him from another thread on this List: >[[[ "I've used these Bullseye Pulleys since the 70s. Not because of the claimed minuscule reduction in friction but because they were quieter and smoother than most plastic pulley wheels." ]]]< The only downside I note on the Bullseye pulleys is that the anodized finish eventually starts to wear off on the teeth showing the Alloy underneath. Jay _________________ Dance like nobody is watching. Chain Width & Bullseye Pulleys   Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:54 am verktyg Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 2814 Location: SF Bay Area ...Also, don't try to use these pulleys with the newer narrower with chains. They were made for the original 5 speed 3/32" wide chains. Many of the chains made today will work with 5, 6, 7, or 8-speed freewheels or cassettes. Plastic pulleys will wear to fit the narrower internal chain width but aluminum doesn't. Chas. 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