KDB

I threw in a bid on a Reynolds 531 Peugeot frame on ebay last night and I ended up winning!

With shipping I've now spent $65.00 to get this frame. I'm going to need some help in figuring out what to do with it once it arrives.

What issues am I facing with components? I assume it will be threaded for a French BB. Anyone know how it would have been equipped when it was originally built?

I hope the pictures come through.

Poguemahone

Looks to me like a PK10, circa 1979/80. Bottom bracket should be swiss. Nice bikes, good riders.

KDB

A google search has located some additional information: it is apparently a PKN 10 E.

According to the folowing link: https://www.eandsweb.com/me/

"For many years the PX-10 was Peugeot's top-of-the-line racer, and the PKN 10 E was a step below it."

So, in its day, a good bike towards the higher end. As I am gettingly only the frame, I have a lot of parts to acquire.

I am thinking about dealing with the BB first, as it seems like it may be the most challenging of the parts to acquire? Am I correct in figuring I can use something like Shimano 105 derailleurs brakes, brake levers, and so forth w/o problems?

Poguemahone

I believe this frame requires a nutted, not recessed, brake bolt. The dropout is Simplex. Some of the later ones were tapped and could take other mechs (my PF10 from the same period is like this. I've got a PK10 as well, but can't recall details on the dropout just now. You will need a french stem, I believe (otherwise, sand down a regular stem). Original was Atax with Phillipe Guidons bars. Other equipment was Weinmann brakes, Stronglight Crank, Simplex derailleurs (the all metal SX series, not the earlier Derlin ones), Simplex seatpost (tres nice). Mine had Normandy Competition hubs laced to Rigida tubular rims (I think, I've replaced it with a Campy/Mavic set of clinchers).

You may run into a number of problems switching over to shimano cranks, if that's the direction you're heading. I'd recommend a combo of Phil Wood mounting rings and Shimano UN72 BB if you wanna go Shimano on the crank. Swiss stuff is difficult to find, and phil may be your only option, short of retapping the frame's BB shell.

So check the rear drop and see if it's threaded... if it is, you can use Shimano no problem. If not, it can be modified, or just find the old Simplex mechs. Despite the ill reputation of the Derlin ones, the SX series is extremely durable. And double check on the threading of the BB shell. If the fixed cup is reverse threading, it's swiss at that age. Then proceed after you are certain.

infinityeye

wasn't this the frame with the messed up BB Chamferd for mavic or something? You may need to get a mavic threadless BB and press 'er in...

John E

My 1980 PKN-10 (see signature) definitely has a Swiss-threaded BB. One potential source of Swiss BB cups would be a Carbolite 103 or other low-end Peugeot of the same vintage.

A PX-10 looks better than a PKN-10 and weighs a bit less, but I am not convinced it rides any better. Mixed tubeset frames (Reynolds 531 "3 tubes renforces" and Columbus "Tre Tubi") are the great bargains among vintage framesets.

merlinextraligh

Either vintage componets (huret or simplex derailleurs) or go fixed gear.

KDB

How do these look?
https://cgi.ebay.com/Simplex-Delrin-d...QQcmdZViewItem

CV-6 

IMO, not a good choice. The rear derailleur is made with the infamous Delrin...they got sloppy as they got older. Original look like they were Simplex LJ/SLJ, which are kind of hard to come by and are often pricey when they do show up. Nothing wrong with Suntour or Shimano, unless you are starting to become a hard core Francophile.

John E

I just installed an LJ rear derailleur, but I was happier with the SunTour Cyclone II, which I was easily able to mount on the dropout.

John E

I just installed an LJ rear derailleur, but I was happier with the SunTour Cyclone II, which I was easily able to mount on the dropout. I am a big fan of French frames with Japanese derailleurs.

cudak888 

You know, I ran across an odd, NOS, Simplex delrin rear derailer at the LBS a few weeks back. Mainly white delrin save for the parallelogram and the outer pulley cage, which are metal, although the metal part of the parallelogram was painted white as well, with a black Simplex decal.

Have yet to see another one of these kicking around.

-Kurt

KDB

I have found the Dutch catalog and this is what the PKN 10 looked like when new. I think it might take a bit of real work to get mine to look like the one in the picture, but it could be fun. Anyone speak/read Dutch? From the bits I can make out, you guys all seem pretty dead on about components.

I'll have to wait until it gets here, but it feels to me like solving the BB has got to be first on my list of component issues and then derailleurs and so on.

CV-6 

I saw the white levers for that derailleur on eBuy not long ago.

TysonB

Infinite I,

This wasn't the Super Comp with the chamfered BB. I was looking to bid on that one, but it went for about $61.00. Add in the too expensive $65.00 shipping and you have an older bare frame for $126.00. Though somewhat willing to, I wasn't entirely ready to invest another 5-600 dollars or more to make this bike the way I'd like it.

There will be another day.

BTW, KDB, keep us informed as your build-up progresses.

Good Luck. Welcome anew to the Peugeot world.

Tyson
Cushing, Oklahoma

KDB

I've been reading Sheldon Brown's web pages (the amount of useful material he has posted is amazing). It appears that for around $44.00 I can get a set of Phil Wood BB cups that in turn would let me use Phil Wood BB or the Shimano UN72--currently there are several of the Shimano units up for sale on Ebay. It also seems I would need a Phil Wood Installation tool for $14.00

So, to go the Phil Wood route is $58.00 plus shipping, plus the UN72 ($10-25.00 depending if I include shipping); but I can then use Shimano crank sets? Is the UN72 still being made? How long is it intended to last?

Or instead of the UN72 I can use a Phil Wood BB, but I'm not sure what crank sets I can then use. All of this vs. finding a French or Swiss BB in good shape that will work. I don't necessarily mind spending the money for the Phil Wood option, if at the end I have a hassle free, very reliable set up that I can count on for years of use. I'm also not sure how easy it will be to find a Swiss or French threaded BB used that works...thoughts?

raverson

For reference, a PKN-10 Competition thats hanging in the garage. Pedals are stamped 81

number6

KDB? brings back old memories of a firm the ex worked for.

From that image the most important thing is the bell. May I suggest you start looking for a donor bike now? just like food, a la carte is more money.

Grand Bois

Those are for a 70's bike. Look for SX series derailers and retrofriction shifters. I paid $10 on eBay for a clean used SX 510. The shifters have been going for $25-$60, but they're worth it.

CV-6 

Not SX, but......

Spidel derailleur

May not go cheap.

Grand Bois

I bought a new one from bannanabrain with a Gipiemme badge on it. I pulled off the badge and hot glued a correct Simplex badge from another derailer on it.

I've seen Peugeots from that era with Simplex derailers badged Peugeot. Spidel and Simplex. I've seen Super Competitions with Spidel sidepulls and Drilled MAFAC levers.

Bananabrain has a Super LJ RD on his site, but the price is outrageous.

Here's my SX before I added the badge:

https://community.webshots.com/photo/...8014369Fxsfoq#

Obviously, it was made after Suntour's patent on the slant parallelogram expired. It works really well with the retrofriction shifters. Note the oddball gearing. I need the big cog to get up the hill to my house. Maillard 700 Team Issue.

barba

I have the exact same frame built as a single speed commuter. It is a great ride, just watch out trying to buy a stem. I had to sand down a 1" quill a little to get it to fit.

s70rguy

Translating all seems a bit over the top, so what part do you want? The story is really a lot of marketing hype sprinkled with the name of very part imaginable on the bike. And all that for a 3-tube-531 frame!
Anyway I'll be happy to translate any mysterious part of that text for you.

KDB

Thansk s70rguy. I don't think I need it all, just trying to see if the BB is French or Swiss threaded and it may not even say which in the advertisement. I think regardless I have to wait until the frame gets here and then assess which way to go with it.

I do appreciate all of the feedback; rides for everyone when it's restored