Need help with fixing Peugeot 103
 

Heyy, I am new to this forum. I would just introduce myself here. I am Ash from Toronto, Canada. I am pretty athletic and love to ride bikes even though i havent had one for like a year now. I am 14 years old, 5'8" and 120 something lbs.

Now, the reason I joined. I found a Peugeot 103 bike. Okay, I love to ride bikes but thats about it. I dont know anything about bikes. I just thought the bike was cool with thin racing tires and stuff so I just bought it along with me.

It is quite rusted but I have checked the brakes and stuff and they are fine. The tires are flat but I dont think theres any leak so no big deal I guess. The brakes are Weinmann and the Derailleur is Simplex. The epdal crank says Custom A and the tire is Tai Yung. And it says Sport on the top tube.

It is in decent condition, there is rus but nto a lot, I could deal with that. But the derailleur is jammed. I tried moving the paddles but they get stuck. I just want to use it for recreational purposes, not really any racing or long distance travelling. So here are my questions-

1. Is it too big for me? I want to keep it.
2. What can I do to fix the derailleur?
3. Is this bike too old?
4. Anything else I should check for or get fixed in the bike?

Thanks a lot guys, I would really appreciate anything you can tell me :)

Road bikes are available in different sizes. Make sure there's at least an inch of clearance when you stand over the bike.

Try the classic & vintage subforum here at bike forums. They will have more info on this type of model. I think it's a UO-8, which was made with Carbolite 103 tubing.

University age students think riding old bikes is really cool right now.
Sometimes they fix them up to be single speed, or fixed gear.
Single speed with brakes is safer and easier to ride.
They clean off any surface rust with a chrome cleaner or naval gelly if they need something stronger. If the paint is in good condition, the keep them that color. Otherwise they spray paint the frame with a paint like "Trem-clad" available at Canadian Tire. Wrap the handlebars with new tape, and they are good to go.

I can't make any suggestions about what is wrong with the derailleur. You could get a chain tool and take the chain off, then take the derailleur off and soak them both in paint thinner and scrub them with an old tooth brush. (Maybe try cleaning the derailleur while it is still on the bike.) Move the derailleur through its range of motion, and scrub it some more. Re-install them, put a little oil on them and see if the derailleur works.

Check out bike repair web pages like http://bicycletutor.com/guide/

Find a local bike shop that will take the time to explain to you how to fix things. Buy any tools from them.

And welcome to the forum. I hope you find it a good community to belong to.

Post pictures, but I doubt that you have a Peugeot 103. Low end/bottom end Peugeot bikes were made out of Carbolite 103 tubing. That was Peugeot's version of high ten steel.

What derailleur do you have? Post some pictures. Older Peugeots had plastic Simplex derailleurs, which were pretty crappy. A lot of people replaced them with basic Suntour rear derailleurs, that can be found on ebay, your local bicycle co-op, or from a donor bike. At the same time, make sure your chain is clean and well lubed before giving up on the derailleur.

Basic step 1 on bikes that have been sitting neglected for many years: Replace all bearings and put in new grease.

2. Replace cables and housings.

3. Replace tires, tubes, brake pads.

As far as rust, again, post pictures. And search the forum, there are hundreds of threads on rust.

Bike sizing? Google is your friend. Google bike sizing.

Walmart sells a nice kit with two brake and two shifter cables but I rarely follow the advice to change cables unless they don't work. If you dribble some oil into them, they are often fine.

The grease may be dry in the hubs. At a minimum, oil them and the cranks, pedals, and steering. Better to take them down and regrease. It is crucial to use the right method to reassemble the ball bearing components or they'll wear right out. The French crank bearings are $50 to replace.

Hmm thanks guys. I put oil in the cables and the Derailleur. its still jammed. I am wondering if there is some sort of locking system in the drailleur or the cables and they might be locked?

Now I am thinking if its really worth fixing up. Its a bit too high for me. I do have another bike that I havent ridden for like 2 years now, but its a normal recreational bike. So I am thinking if I should just throw this one in the dump. 2 questions-

1. how much approximately will it cost me to change the Derailleur, bearing and cables? The brakes are in very good condition and so seem the tires.

2. Where can I get the best deal in Toronto [decent quality work, low price] ?

BTW, thanks a lot guys, you people are amazing, really helpful. Thanks :)

I will try to post pics later.

A picture would help a little bit.

I bike T.O. too
 

Your Peugeot "sport' is an entry level bike but sounds like it is worth fixing.Try moving the derailler in with your hand to check if it is ok. Usually it is just the old steel cables are seized. MEC (Mountain Eqipement Co-op ) or Urbane Cycle are good for repairs. Community Bicycle Network is the best for cheap used parts and bike repair lessons.

First you need to read the READ THIS post at the beginning of the forum for suggestions on resources for learning about fixing your bike, as well as information on how and what to post.

You need to use descriptions of what you try to do and what happens. "The derailleur is jammed" is not clear. Better would be (for example) "When I pull back on the right shift lever the derailleur does not move." That would tell us that probably the shift cable is rusted and needs replacement.

There's no such thing as a bike being "too old," but there are so many variables that we can't tell you what it will cost to fix or if it's worth fixing (meaning will it cost more to fix than you would pay for a decent used bike). I can tell you that the black Simplex derailleurs are plastic and were prone to failure, and that there is no more expensive item on a bike than rust.

If you think the bike is a bit too high for you (standing over it) it probably is.

If the bike doesn't fit, sell it. Tenspeeds are getting good prices these days but I guess the flip side is you'll have to pay more to get a good one.

Google up some online fit calculators. And don't walk away from another Peugeot with 103 tubing because they come in different sizes. When you're responding to craigslist ads, just ask them to measure the seat tube; most folks seem not to mind.

You will find though that you'll learn the look of a frame that fits. For me, I have to be able to grasp the head tube(which the fork and handlebar stick out of) and not have my fingers be crowded by the top tube or the down tube. If it doesn't look like I can do that in the pictures, it's too small & if it looks like my fingers would have a lot of clearance, it's too big.

Thanks so much. You guys have been amazing. Sorry, I have been busy so couldnt post the pics or new posts. Will try soon. I am a soccer and tennis player and I have a lot of other things to do too so a really busy lifestyle >.<

Me and my dad managed to fix the Derailleur, the chain fell and it was a bit rusted so I cleaned it up. It works perfectly now, thanks a lot. The tires are in good condition, I inflated them and the air is still there, after 2 days so theres nothing wrong with the tubes. I have a feeling that even though this basic bike might be old, some work had been done to it not too long ago. So the bike is perfect now, I can get rid of the rust and needs to be re-painted too, but thats no big deal :)

But what the main problem now is the height. I googled and came up with this - http://bicycling.about.com/od/howtor...Frame_size.htm And when I tried it, I can stand over the frame but I dont get a firm grip of the ground. My tiptoes touch but that top tube touches my crotch too. I tried riding it but ended up hitting my crotch a bit too many times and now the day after, it hurts. I cant reach the seat, not even with my tippy-toes. Any suggestions for that ? :P

Thanks a lot guys :)

Hi, Ash, and welcome to the fantasitically enjoyable and frustrating world of classic French steel.

Your bike is maybe a bit too big for you now, but at 5'8" and 14 years old, you'll probably grow into it. The good thing is, that bike is almost certainly a Peugeot U0-8, fairly universally agreed-on to have one of the sweetest, supplest rides around. It just won't win any contests for weight, except maybe against a TIG-welded Schwinn. That extra steel in the frame translates into durability-- it survived this long, right?-- and stoutness.

Cables and housings and tubes and brake pads are all sacrificial items, and after this long, they deserve to be sacrificed. New parts shouldn't cost more than about 30 bucks all in, and will go a long way toward keeping you happy (a good bike is the one you have and that works right) and safe (hard to be cool when you're in a full body cast).


You play soccer and tennis, you say? Bicycling will only help your performance in these sports. Shove it into a high gear, and go climb the steepest hill in your area that you can find. Then do it again. Then do it again. Do this 3 times a week and keep the secret from Coach, he'll wonder what got into you!

^^ Lmaoo Thanks, I enjoyed that post :) I would get new chains and brake pads and stuff but I am still thinking if I should just sell it for some money and buy a new one. Cause I am not sure how much taller I am going to get. Yes the ride is very swift and amazing and its not that heavy either :s [Atleast to me]. But the height is still the main problem. I have to chenck to see if I could get the seat lower. I think its too dangerous to ride the bike as it is now, I should atleast be able to touch my tippytoes to the ground from the seat.