fiataccompli

I just acquired as project bike (of sorts) what appears to be a 1984 Peugeot PSV10N. The frame is the gem on the bike, being super-light (by my standards...I'm not too terribly snobby). Sadly, the bike in general has it's share of wear/tear, but I have pretty much everything I need to make it a nice riding machine. Two questions I hope someone can help with:

1. The headset is not quite tight. The PO raised the stem & installed Profile bars...and seemed to use pliers, a vice grip & maybe a group of Chimpanzees to do the work...so the headset nuts - even if I can get the headset/stem adjusted properly - is all chewed up and looks like hell. From what I've read, this is probably a more common size headset, being '80s vintage....should it be simple to find a correct replacement?

2. Touch up paint. Anyone know a good source for the black metallic paint Peugeot used in the early/mid '80s?

thanks in advance. If you don't mind a bit of ugly, I'll get some pictures to post here shortly.

miamijim

1. yes
2. no

fiataccompli

had I just breathed too much carbon monoxide, or is the Vitus 980 frame ridiculously light? I should expect 30.2 cups/26.4 race sizing, then, correct?

miamijim

No, your not on crack. Super Vitus framesets are one the lightest framesets you could buy. They're ~100grams lighter than a Reynolds 531 SL equivelant.

scroll down: https://cyclespeugeot.com/PX10.html

You should expect those sizes but always double check.....

Your stems a 22.2mm?

Jim

tradtimbo

Photos!!!

cudak888 

+1

I once had a PSV10 which I got down to 18.5 pounds with a pair of FSA RD-80 rims. Didn't have the front derailer mounted, but it was otherwise complete, with brifters to boot.

-Kurt

Road Fan

It could be French-sized. Can you even tell what kind of headset it is? I would not be surprised to find it's a Stronglight A9, and that Bicycle Classics has a replacement available.

Even if it isn't a Stronglight, that's a real good choice for a real light replacement headset.

Road Fan

RK1963

Rustoleum has a metallic dark grey spray paint that is very close. I, on the other hand, resprayed my psv frame with duplicolor (pearl white), as it too came to me with numerous scratches and some rust. Pictures to follow.

fiataccompli

as requested, some photos (remember, I warned you!)





and, the chewed up headset nuts........"Spidel" ? Is that French for "pain in the @ss"?

Grand Bois

That's a rebranded Stronglight A-9. It's not its fault that somebody used the wrong tool on it. I don't think you can buy a better headset.

Mickey

Thats right!
https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...29&postcount=6

fiataccompli

well, no...I know it didn't mar itself on its own. The previous owner offered to "tighten it up" for me to see how good it feels (in actuality, it's barely noticeable...but, that should be enough to create some harsh stresses on bearing surfaces, i would think) and I declined having seen the product of his previous attempts.

So, is 'stronglight' good stuff? if i wanted to play with chainring sizes, will i be looking for Stronglight only or do others interchange?

Road Fan

The A9 is very lightweight, very long lasting once installed correctly, and made of (except the bearing surfaces) pretty soft aluminum. I'm not at all surprised someone not in the know damaged it.

I installed one on my Mondonico, and it was very sensitive to correct alignment of the bores and facing of the head tube. After reaming and facing it's been perfect. I'vehad to readjust it once after a stem change, and had to proceed very carefully even with very good headset wrenches to prevent rounding off the top locknut and threaded race. The crown race is very thin and delicate, and should be installed with a real headset driver or good home-made version, rather than a hammer and a punch.

miamijim

If you can find a Stronglight headset the top adjusting cup and top nut will probably fit. If they do you will not have to worry about knocking the frame cups out and dealing with the fork race.

Jim

Road Fan

The overtightening should not have damaged those bearings. These headsets are based on roller bearings. The friction is slightly higher, but the contact area is many times higher. Any forces are spread out over a much much larger area. way more robust than ball bearing headsets, including cartridge bearings. This is one of th really elegant things about this design.

In general Stronglight is extremely good stuff. I really couldn't tell you too much about ring compatibility. If I'm indexing that's one thing. If not, I'd think you mainly have to investigate bolt circle diameter and seating diameter, and the chainline. but some Stronglight BBs had adjustable chainline, so maybe that makes for a lot of flexibility in choosing 'rings.

France lead the bike industry back in teh day, at least in terms of engineering . Stronglight is probably the main survivor of that legacy, perhaps along with TA. Stronglight has a modern line of components, too.

Road Fan

fiataccompli

excellent news & thanks all around. Hopefully it was just 'ham handed' wrenching w/ the wrong stuff by the previous owner...still ugly even if functional (maybe can clean it up w/ a dremel + polish), so I'll be on the lookout for cleaner metal (at least a nut). Wow, I was starting to doubt the sanity of bringing this puppy home...maybe my gut wasn't too far off.

miamijim

Any top nut you should work as a temporary fix. IIRC thats a roller bearing headset which has different feel to the adjustment. Maybe the PO messed up the parts trying to get a good adjustment.

fiataccompli

that's exactly what he did. he seemed to think the LBS is the devil or something...but perhaps wasn't a skilled enough DIYer to do the same jobs with the same results. C'est la vie, ne c'est pas?