labrea

Hi guys,

I'm new here, just picked up a centurion ironman dave scott off craigslist for $180 and wondering if it's a good buy and may need more info such as year size and etc.

It seems like late 80s, 58 or 60cm frame?

centurion ironman dave scott
tange #1 tubing
Serial number (I think it's serial no) KF5 1490

RaleighSport

If it fits you, that's a great buy. The Ironman experts will be along.

wrk101

Nice score!

labrea

thanks folks, anyone can tell me more about centurion ironman dave scott? was it a good bike back in days? what year is mine?

FastJake

Agreed, good score. The components are from the mid-80s. Shimano 600 is nice stuff. Just one level below top-of-the-line Dura Ace.

Uhh... Measure it? Measure from the center of the BB to the top of the seat tube. My guess is 61cm.

ericssonboi

Nice score!

labrea

what should be there original derailleur on this bike? mine is Shimano Deore XT and it doesnt seem working well, keeps kicking out of cassette and few other problems, should I get it fix or replace with better one? what would be better option? brand and model? I am an international student here in U.S. so please advise me website where I can buy parts.

wrk101

Kicking out could be a worn chain or cassette. Not enough info to diagnose over the internet. Derailleurs are pretty robust. Your bike probably came with a Shimano 600 RD, to match the other 600 parts.

labrea

is Deore XT any better than 600 rd? I'll take this bike to local shop and see what they say, what would be a good replacement cassette and derailleurs if necessary ?

FastJake

Any cassette with the same number of speeds would work, replace the chain if you're replacing the cassette.

XT is essentially the same level as 600, but it's in the MTB group rather than the road group. XT can handle bigger cogs in the rear and has more chain wrap capacity. It's a high level piece, but yours looks pretty gouged. That may be the cause of the skipping but as Bill says it's impossible to diagnose online. Take it to a shop or local bike co-op and have them look at it before you start buying stuff. With that damage, it's likely the derailer or hanger is bent.

labrea

OK, Any cassette would work, what about derailleur ? should I choose between 600 ad XT or should go something better/newer? can I buy any derailleur too? I think mine is 12 speed since it has 6 gears in rear and 2 front.

FastJake

600 doesn't exist in name anymore, the current equivalent is Ultegra but a new one of those will set you back about $80. Same goes for XT (which is still around.) If the derailer truly turns out to be bad, I'd probably just replace it with a new lower-end unit or try to find the correct vintage part.

Since you have friction shifting, literally any derailer you could bolt on there should work unless you have a cassette/freewheel with teeth larger than ~28. For that you're going to need to stick with a "mountain" rear derailer.

labrea

I found some on eBay one example Shimano 2300 - 8 Speed Rear Derailleur, mine is 12 speed, 6 gears in rear, will this work with mine? all I found 8-10 speed derailleur, do they mean up to 8 gears in a cassette?

labrea

How about Shimano "Sora RD-3400 SS Rear Derailleur Short Cage 9 Speed"?
I know it's very low end but I'm guessing that will be better than what I have anyway

RaleighSport

>.> Have you tried looking for older higher end ones in the C&V for sale section yet? Or perhaps trading for one in the ISO/FT thread? I personally wouldn't want a Sora RD anywhere near the rest of that group!

labrea

I see what you are saying but I am trying to understand one thing, all derailleurs I found 8-9-10 speed or so, what does it mean? does it mean it supports up to 10 speed or what? mine is 12 speed, 2 gears front, 6 in rear, can I go ahead and buy Shimano 105 5501 8 Speed Rear Short Cage or any other higher-end derailleurs? I m trying to understand what they call as speed, total speed of bike or number of gears in rear cassette.

RaleighSport

and what I'm saying is, I'd be looking for an older higher end one meant for 5 6 or 7 cogs in the rear

labrea

Okay, I'll be looking older and newer ones, what options do I have? I know I can go shimano 600 but what else? thanks

wrk101

Nice bike, everything else is 600, 600 is readily available. Myself, that is the only derailleur I would look for. Should cost less than a new SORA. You should have a model number on the back of your other Shimano pieces: 6207, or whatever. I would stick with a 620x series rear derailleur.

Speed rating is all about the number of cogs you have in the rear, in your case, six. So you need a six speed or better RD.

LesterOfPuppets

You probably have a freewheel, not a cassette.

Nice ride. Sorry, not an Ironman expert, but wild guess 1985.

I reckon they go for $200-$400 around here. One guy has a newer one up for $300 firm, we'll see how long it stays up.

RobbieTunes

1985 model, first year of production.
Tange 1 frame with nice sloped crown fork.

Shimano 600EX was OEM, and I'd find another 600EX rear derailleur for it.
If it's jumping out, probably a worn cassette or chain. However, that may be a freewheel, so double-check.
There are 6-sp 600 freewheels out there, as well as 6-sp UG cassettes out there, so should be easy to find.

Should clean up quite well, and getting the wheels trued and tensioned will be like getting new wheels.

Given a proper cleaning, then repack of the hubs, headset and bottom bracket, then lube and ajust cables and shifters, you'll have a killer ride that is way beyond a $180 bike. Easily one to invest in.

I'm building one now, same year, different color.
I'll put $500 into by the time I'm done.
Won't lose a second of sleep over it.

labrea

Thank you guys,
I tool bike to local shop where you only buy parts and DIY, guys over there advised me to replace all cables, tubes then they helped to adjusted existing derailleur, it works fine now, no kicking or other problems but I am still looking original shimano 600 6207 to replace, guys at the shop told me that bike is really special and I should take care of it as it deserves.
brake and derailleur cables + tubes cost me $8 + no labor charge

Now, I am looking original derailleur and shimano 600 pedals.

Thank you again,

FastJake

I wouldn't lose sleep over the pedals, but that is your choice. All my road bikes get SPD-SL clipless pedals regardless of age. In addition, I have yet to buy a vintage bike with anything close to the original pedals. Plastic crap pedals are the most common.