Brand new New M738 front mech....

[lingus75]

After a rebuild of my Orange Clockwork (93' XC Pro model, shown in the Citrus thread) the final hurdle was the now sadly unsuccessful attempt to revive the original XC Pro front mech.

After realising there was no way I had the skill to free up a rounded off and seized upper limit screw, I decided to visit the LBS to see what they had. Lo and behold a brand new M738 mech was dug out and sold for £24.99. I was happy as the alternative appeared a new, ugly mech and the new mech is the same model year as the old rear XT one replaced in 97'.

However, this model is 'top pull'? as routing it around the roller at the bottom of the seat stay resulted in no movement. Firstly, is top pull correct, and is the 28.6mm the correct size? It seemed tight but it did have a rubber shim which the original didn't. I guess if I needed a 31..mm the 28 would not have fitted.

Here are the pics and although incorrect, seemed to be best option after spending weeks sorting it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v702/ ... CF1296.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v702/ ... CF1297.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v702/ ... CF1298.jpg

 

[The Ken]

The roller is for a bottom pull, but it looks like it should work the way you have set it up, as long as the cable isn't rubbing the frame anywhere.

 

[FluffyChicken]

It'll work and is the correct band size.

The only thing you may get depending on the position of the cable stop is increased friction or wear as I assume it would be positioned and angled for the routing to the roller.
Also note a thought, (wine driven thought and thinking of my own bike which I do the same thing with) is the amount of cable pull for the front mech may not be quite correct either as the position of the stop will effect that, probably not a lot mind.

Also that front mech should work slightly better than the XC Pro for the compact rings you have.



.. no scientific proof here is given as mech are fickle things ..

 

[Anthony]

Up until c1992 they had down tube routing and used a down-pull fm, but from c1992/93 most frames (but not all, this is Orange after all!) had top tube routing and a pulley, so that you could use either a top-pull or a down-pull fm. I guess this was because down-pull fms were more commonly found at that time, so it was good to leave owners the option of either.

Here are two c1992/93 Clockworks with top tube routing, one using the pulley to run a down-pull and the other with a top-pull fm. Both presumably giving regular as Clockwork service.

Good find incidentally!

 

[The Ken]

Anthony, if any of those are for sale let me know, stunning bikes and look bang on for my son.

 

[Anthony]

Anthony, if any of those are for sale let me know, stunning bikes and look bang on for my son.

I'm afraid both of those pics are from things I saw on eBay. However I strongly endorse your plan - I built my son a size 15 1996 C16R when he was 4-7. Z2 Light with 1" steerer (couldn't get him to use the superb F7!), full STX-RC plus M600, DH stem and seat down. Way fast child's bike. He might be fleetingly jealous of another child's cheap full suspension, but only until they tackled a hill together!