Classic & Vintage - Need help determining correct rear derailleur

Okay, I will preface this with I am a newb when come to building up bikes.

As I posted earlier, I picked up a 1986 Miyata One Ten in the trash. Need a rear derailleur and chain. Based on searches I think it was a Shimano Light Action RD (RD-L523). The bike has a Z-204 FD and L422 down tube shifters. Not familar with these shifters, are they friction or indexed. They click but not just a few times, like 17 times. Is this still considered SIS? I'm thinking not. Will a RD-L525 work with these shifters? I found a couple of these on ebay, but my research tells me these are 1987 SIS. How about the chain, where do I find a chain that will work? Thanks. Bill

From what I remember, light action stuff was not SIS but was a ratchet system. I could be totally wrong on this, see what others say. If it is what I think, it would be best to use a Shimano rear derailleur on it, but you really could use anything (Suntour). I think something like a basic SRAM or basic replacement chain should work fine.

Your levers will say S.I.S. on the side if they are in fact indexing levers. Shimano did have 'light action' derailleurs that were index compatible.

EDIT: L-422 DT levers are NOT index compatible. The ratcheting is normal as the L-422 lever has a mechanical assist mechanisn to aid in the ease of shifting.

My advice is this: Because you need a rear derailleur buy an index compatible one so in the future the 110 can be made into an indexing bike!!

Something like these would be a nice start: http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-600-down-tube-shift-levers-7-speed_W0QQitemZ260245443281QQihZ016QQcategoryZ36140QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

With: http://cgi.ebay.com/Shimano-Light-Action-Rear-Derailleur-RD-L525-Used_W0QQitemZ330239249352QQihZ014QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Jim

EDIT: L-422 DT levers are NOT index compatible. The ratcheting is normal as the L-422 lever has a mechanical assist mechanisn to aid in the ease of shifting.

My advice is this: Because you need a rear derailleur buy an index compatible one so in the future the 110 can be made into an indexing bike!!



Jim

The shifters you linked to are the exact L525 I was referring to. So if I understand you, I can use my shifters with an indexing rear deraileur, right?

Thanks,
Bill

Bill,

Your current levers will work with the RD-L525 derailleur but it will NOT index.

Jim

Thanks Jim

Bill,
I have a Light Action set of shifters/FD/RD. They are indexed, and click for the 6-speed they were on. They can also be switched back to friction, and will work with more speeds that way.

If you take them off and put them back on with the slot misaligned, they may click more, but as I can't see them, I wouldn't know. I'll be glad to sell or trade the set, they are grey anodized with white accents, off a Centurion LeMans RS.

I used them with a 1/2 x 13/32 chain in friction, no problem. If you index 6 speeds, the same chain would work. If you index more, you'd be better off with a 7 or 8 speed chain.

Bill,
I have a Light Action set of shifters/FD/RD. They are indexed, and click for the 6-speed they were on. They can also be switched back to friction, and will work with more speeds that way.

If you take them off and put them back on with the slot misaligned, they may click more, but as I can't see them, I wouldn't know. I'll be glad to sell or trade the set, they are grey anodized with white accents, off a Centurion LeMans RS.

I used them with a 1/2 x 13/32 chain in friction, no problem. If you index 6 speeds, the same chain would work. If you index more, you'd be better off with a 7 or 8 speed chain.

Thanks for the offer. I bought an RD-L525 on ebay for $14 shipped. Works great! Just need to find a chain now.