Campag Super Record Rear Derailleur HELP!

[lstar24]

Hi all,

Hoping for a bit of expert retro bike advice...

I've been doing up my girlfriend's Dad's bike. It's been stripped, cleaned and put back together with a few new parts.

It has a Super Record Rear Derailleur (1983?) and I've put on a new cassette (12-2 and chain. I've measured the chain using the 'big to big and adding 2 links' method but when I thread the chain through the derailleur at this length it is very loose.

Is this because the derailleur is 'short cage' and the cassette range is too large? The derailleur seems to have plenty of spring in it.

Thanks for any help
Luke

 

[Midlife]

Blimey that looks way too long, and the front mech looks like its just about to smack the big ring......... The big to big and adding 2 links is for modern compacts with long cages on the rear mechs... IIRC

Stick it in the big ring and the largest cog on the the rear and take a pic.. it should look like it's just about to break the mech at 28 rear.

Sheldon Brown should have a few hints......

Shaun

 

[nammonk]

Re:

I've never managed to get a Super Record to deal with more than a 25 sprocket, maybe a 26. They just don't have the capacity to take up the chain slack, and the upper pulley rubs on the sprocket.

Looks like you'll definitely need to take some links out of the chain, and avoid any big-to-big combinations. I do old mechs like this by setting the chain length so that there is just enough tension in the mech when running small ring to the 2nd/3rd smallest sprocket. Best to avoid small-to-small, anyway, as the chainline is poor. Then you just have to see how far up on the cassette you can go when in the big ring. As Shaun says, big-to-big will push the mech to full extension (or beyond).

Nick

 

[Ian Raleigh]

To try and help get that SR mech' to go up that cassette, you'll have to shift the rear wheel right back.

So don't take any links out of the chain just yet but take the wheel adjusters off and set the wheel right back.

 

[Old Ned]

You can get a bit more chain uptake by removing the 'stop' screw on the cage - but conversely this will result in the cage winding up the chain when you remove the wheel. I'm afraid you will just have to accept that 'classic' Campag gears will not allow for the wide range of gearing we can experience today. When I was a lad and these mechs were in everyday use, a 42x24 gear was considered more than adequate. If you needed anything lower - then you got off and walked!

 

[Ian Raleigh]

On my Raleigh the biggest cog is 24t with the wheel set right back and the pulley wheel/cage just misses the teeth so I reckon you'll need a smaller block with a 24t max tooth, just to stay safe.

 

[daccordimark]

On my Raleigh the biggest cog is 24t with the wheel set right back and the pulley wheel/cage just misses the teeth so I reckon you'll need a smaller block with a 24t max tooth, just to stay safe.

+1

I found the same thing and in the end dumped the SR mech because the graunching noises as the chain was "persuaded" onto the 24 were too stressful. I fitted a Suntour mech which is a far superior design and even copes with a 26t now. It just doesn't look anywhere near as classy. I live in hope that somehow my old legs will miraculously get stronger and I can go back to a 23t sprocket with the Super Record rear mech.

Mark.

 

[123malford]

Re:

Velobase indicate that the maximum cog for an SR is 28t . I run two 2nd generation SR's -- Sachs Maillard 6sp 13/28 and Triomphe 50/37, and Shimano Uniglide 5sp 14/28 and Stronglight 99 46/34. The top pulley just goes in without bumping , a longer toothed freewheel would be a problem. I think I have been fairly lucky and wouldn't be running them if they were being stressed, so in some circumstances they will accept a 28t. A Triomphe or Victory RD might help with the toothed insert to increase capacity, would go with the OP's chainset.

 

[mattsccm]

Re:

A SR mech will cope with a 28 but I suspect that it may depend of the gear hanger as well. Mine is ok but there is not enough chain to cope with more than 3rd on the big ring, ie 24/52 and that more than I like.