HELP: Campagnolo Derailleur Model Information
 

Hi, all:

Some of you will recognize me from a prior post about my project bike, upgrading a Raleigh Super Course II (made in England), regarding Campagnolo derailleurs.

I was hoping someone or ones can give their learned opinion or facts on Campagnolo model derailleurs to help me decide which is the best one to try to find to buy on eBay.

I already have purchased one Campy derailleur that will work with my project, according to specifications from my mechanic. But I am still looking to buy one or two more derailleurs for possibly swapping out the rear end stuff for a different bike configuration. My question is how to decide which model is better than another?

The contenders, according to what I have found that matches my search criteria, are: Euclid, Mirage, Chorus, Centaur, and to a lesser extent (does not meet 8 speed requirements), Record and Super Record. I do see other models for sale, but not in an 8 speed rating. If any of you can rank these in quality or desireability, that would be most appreciated. Thanks!

What shifters, and cassette are you planning to use ?

Good question, bad info offering. As Gabe said, fill us in on the details. Cog count and range, same for rings, shifters to be used, future changes. Andy

Again, it's seems as though your main criteria is a Campagnolo rear derailleur. Better to look at and explain the big picture of what you want, then find the best choice of equipment to meet the need, either Campy, Shimano, SRAM, Mocroshift ......
Although I ride Campy, they are not "magical", and other brands work just as well, and sometimes better.

Every RD I've ever used with an 8-speed hub could handle the range, using friction shifting. Including the Campy Nuovo Gran Sport, Nuovo Record, C-Record, Croce d'Aune and Rally (1st gen). As well as all the Shimano, Simplex, SRAM and Suntour ones I've tried. I think almost any Rd made in the last 50 years can be made to work over 8 cogs, using friction shifting. Campy or otherwise. If indexing, well, that is another story.

In my experience, maximum cog size is a much more important limiter than number of cogs.

One concern regarding cog count is that with increasing cog numbers the large one often gets close to the spokes. The older, freewheel assumed, ders can have rather thick cage plates, pulleys that are wide and can catch on the spokes if not careful. If someone needs to ask questions about basic der capacities they might not be aware of the cage/spoke clearance issue until too late. Andy.

Very good point; the wide range of motion can get you across all eight cogs, but it can also get you in trouble!

As usual, one question can and should lead to another, but to answer the original question, "Which of these RDs will work across 8 cogs?" The answer is "All of them, Katie!" (most likely)

YMMV, spacing of the cogs the cogs, spacing of the hub, thickness of the dropout, how the RD is hung all make a difference.

the Patent for the slant pantograph was SunTour's, until it expired, now it is pretty universally adopted by everyone .

One workaround while the patent was in force was The A-B switchable angle Chorus .. I have one of those . (sell?)

I had it on a 1 by 6 with a 13-34t freewheel .. it's short chain cage rotated around its guide pulley axis ..

a double would need more wrap up capacity..

I am going to be using bar trigger shifters. I don't care if they are indexed but my mechanic says he can find indexed trigger shifters that he can make work with an 8 speed Campy rear derailleur. We are using freewheel gear clusters on the rear because we will be using wheel hubs that only take a freewheel, not a cassette.

I didn't describe enough in the original post but I am only looking for an 8 speed derailleur. That narrows down which Campy derailleurs. The ones I listed all came in an 8 speed configuration. I am well aware of the issue with a derailleur pushing the chain between the largest gear and the spokes or pushing the chain off the small gear. We have other issues to deal with here, and the mechanic knows what he can and cannot do. But I can use more than one model 8 speed Campy derailleur, so the idea is to at least know which ones are better than other ones or whether all the models they made in 8 speed are the same quality.. It should not take a differential equation or a massive amount of information about my project to get that information. We want to use a dedicated 8 speed derailleur. This is the maximum number of gears we can run on this frame using a standard hub and wheel that is a 27 inch configuation (please do not post your opinion about the wheels in this thread, because it is not relevant and wastes your time and mine - send me a pm if you really want to say something about it). I don't want to try to make a 10 speed work, etc., and neither does my mechanic. I am trying to get some information for me to shop for used or NOS derailleurs.

So, 8 speeds. Rear freewheel. Possibly a triple chainring on the front (we have to make it work clearance wise with this frame, but assume this is in the picture for now). I already know the gear range allowed by most of the Campy rear derailleurs in 8 speeds is between 26 and 28 teeth. So you don't need that to answer my question. Which Campy models are better than the others out of the ones I listed in my original post? Front derailleur is bought and it has a wide cage to take a triple chain ring. Yes, it is a Campagnolo. Thanks in advance for a straight answer.

Go on Ebay, search for Campy 8 speed derailleurs, and pick one in your price range.
Rank: Chorus, Centaur, Mirage bottom. Wasn't Euclid mtn bike ?
Do you need a shiftmate to work with trigger shifters ? Or hoping that the Campy derailleur just happens to match cable pull for Shimano shifters and cassette ?

Hi, I picked up a Mirage long cage for not a lot, almost new condition. I does not look like a "top of the line" construction. My mechanic wants me to get a Centaur. But he wants a long cage. He wants to make sure we do not run into a problem with chain take up. How hard would it be for me to put a long cage (assuming I find those parts) on one of these Centaurs if it is purchased with a short cage? I found a short cage Centaur for sale, I think it was from a seller in Europe.

Yes, it appears from my research that indeed the Euclid was for a mountain bike. My mechanic told me a mountain bike derailleur could be used. I asked him because the usual find on eBay for a long cage used derailleur seems to be mountain bike specific derailleurs, I am assuming because of the gear range for hills.

I can't answer your question about the shifters. All I know at this point is my mechanic told me he can get trigger shifters (which is what I told him I wanted on the bike) that will work with a Campy 8 speed rear derailleur. He didn't say what he would be getting. I don't much care if he can make the whole thing work.