Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Campagnolo rear derailleur adjustment?

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Campagnolo rear derailleur adjustment?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-15-20 | 07:04 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Junior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 75
Likes: 4
From: California Sacramento

Bikes: 74 Raleigh InternationalRiva-Sport,Frejus

Campagnolo rear derailleur adjustment?

Hello Hope everyone is doing well.Need some help not Sure if I need to go to mechanic section or just stay in classic,Aways,1980 Faggin replaced 5sp freewheel 13t-26t to a 5sp 14t-28t rear derailleur is Campagnolo N/R.Won”t shift to 28t gear I changed gearing for Eroica.Thank you for your time and help.Be Save Peddle On
CTony is offline  
Reply
Old 03-15-20 | 07:19 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 21,861
Likes: 3,748
OK- the late Super Record rear mechs, shifted to the 28 better.
Check Velobase.com for visual reference.
That out of the way, back out the adjusters, you probably have the short dropouts as its a 1980, I would consider removing the adjuster screws and springs temporarily and slide the wheel aft, essentially all the way.
It will help, but if not enough... then alternatives are:

Shorten the chain the minimum amount ( with a gloved hand) twist a link to simulate a shorter chain along the return run of chain between the chainring and the jockey cage.
Watch the cage rotate away from the cog. The test prior is to go to the big/big combo, interestingly I have a bike that to get into the 28 (as I do not intend to keep that and plan going to a bigger big ring)... Must be in the big ring to accept the 28T.
I do not advise setting up the bike so it gets in trouble in the big/big even though you would not use that, duplication and friction.

So, try that and report back.
If not we will go to phase II.
repechage is offline  
Reply
Old 03-15-20 | 07:20 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 875
Likes: 203

Bikes: custom Cyclery North (Chicago), Schwinn Circuit

You might have exceeded the maximum cog size for that derailleur.
CycleryNorth81 is offline  
Reply
Old 03-15-20 | 07:24 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 21,861
Likes: 3,748
Originally Posted by CycleryNorth81
You might have exceeded the maximum cog size for that derailleur.
Only if it a very early Super Record, and then we can get there. Pre Pat72, a problem.
repechage is offline  
Reply
Old 03-15-20 | 07:30 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 875
Likes: 203

Bikes: custom Cyclery North (Chicago), Schwinn Circuit

Originally Posted by repechage
Only if it a very early Super Record, and then we can get there. Pre Pat72, a problem.
I believe OP is using a NR derailleur. Will the NR derailleur work?
CycleryNorth81 is offline  
Reply
Old 03-15-20 | 07:47 PM
  #6  
davester's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,722
Likes: 1,698
From: Berkeley CA

Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 1975 Alex Singer, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International", 1985 Trek 720

I have made NR derailleurs work on 28T rear clusters on numerous bikes. The trick is playing with the chain length and position of the wheel in the dropouts to ensure that the cage is rotated far enough forward so that the upper pulley of the derailleur is far enough below the 28T cog when in the next lowest gear. Chain length is absolutely critical to making this work. If you could post us a picture of the derailleur with the chain in this position we might be able to help.
davester is offline  
Reply
Old 03-15-20 | 08:37 PM
  #7  
zukahn1's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 10,050
Likes: 2,508
From: Fairplay Co

Bikes: Current 79 Nishiki Custum Sport, Jeunet 620, notable previous bikes P.K. Ripper loop tail, Kawahara Laser Lite, Paramount Track full chrome, Raliegh Internatioanl, Motobecan Super Mirage. 59 Crown royak 3 speed

+1 on chain length if you change gearing by several cogs you should change length buy 1 link per 1.5 cogs less or more on older Campy stuff. In This case I would recommend you change to a long cage Suntour DR and a new 114 link chain and all will be good
,
zukahn1 is offline  
Reply
Old 03-15-20 | 08:58 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 146
I have three NR derailleurs working with 28t cogs. Patent 72, 74 and 80. As mentioned, it takes chain length fiddling and dropout position fiddling. Also, big front-big rear is strongly advised against on all three of mine. Shifting is actually pretty good with new 6/7/8 speed chains and good freewheels, with the Shimano Z012 14-28 it is particulary good. In setting up one of them, it seemed that the derailleur cage had a strong desire to introduce itself to the spokes (stand testing only). So I gave in and put a spoke guard on it and very carefully adjusted the derailleur stop. Seemed to be the worst when there was enough chain to handle the big-big cross chaining.
desconhecido is offline  
Reply
Old 03-16-20 | 08:00 AM
  #9  
JohnDThompson's Avatar
Old fart
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 26,402
Likes: 5,333
From: Appleton WI

Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.

+1 on checking chain length.Sometimes that's enough. Otherwise, position the wheel as far back in the dropouts as possible. You may need to remove the adjuster bolts (if any) to get the wheel far enough back. I've seen Nuovo Record derailleurs work with a 30T sprocket with the chain length right and the wheel far enough back.
JohnDThompson is online now  
Reply
Old 03-16-20 | 08:07 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 21,861
Likes: 3,748
Originally Posted by CycleryNorth81
I believe OP is using a NR derailleur. Will the NR derailleur work?
There was a design change, the Pat 74 have just a bit more distance between the mount pivot and they upper parallogram links.
As mentioned, it can be done, just takes .... finesse.

The late Super Record had a different cage, a few I know have hot rodded their early Nuovo Record with the late cage to good effect.
repechage is offline  
Reply
Old 03-16-20 | 08:51 AM
  #11  
non-fixie's Avatar
Cyclotouriste
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 7,015
From: South Holland, NL

Bikes: Yes, please.

I have done this without much trouble on various Eroica bikes. It is perhaps worth noting that all had 49T or 50T big rings.
__________________
Shuffling with the prince












non-fixie is offline  
Reply
Old 03-16-20 | 10:30 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 248
From: Southern Maryland

Bikes: A few

Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
+1 on checking chain length.Sometimes that's enough. Otherwise, position the wheel as far back in the dropouts as possible. You may need to remove the adjuster bolts (if any) to get the wheel far enough back. I've seen Nuovo Record derailleurs work with a 30T sprocket with the chain length right and the wheel far enough back.
I've had luck with a 28T cog on my Cinelli, by doing just what John said. I did have to remove the dropout adjusters. It didn't work with my Bianchi, frame geometry is different.

Kurt
satbuilder is offline  
Reply
Old 03-16-20 | 10:44 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 21,861
Likes: 3,748
Originally Posted by non-fixie
I have done this without much trouble on various Eroica bikes. It is perhaps worth noting that all had 49T or 50T big rings.
That makes things Far easier.
repechage is offline  
Reply
Old 03-16-20 | 03:50 PM
  #14  
non-fixie's Avatar
Cyclotouriste
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,792
Likes: 7,015
From: South Holland, NL

Bikes: Yes, please.

Originally Posted by repechage
That makes things Far easier.
In various ways.
__________________
Shuffling with the prince












non-fixie is offline  
Reply
Old 03-16-20 | 05:13 PM
  #15  
dddd's Avatar
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,831
Likes: 1,809
From: Northern California

Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.

As mentioned by non-fixie and repechage, having a narrower front chainring spread like 49/42 allows one to use a wider-range freewheel using the NR rear derailer.

I prepared a 1961 Raphael Geminiani for a guy who did Eroica using a 14-32T 6s freewheel using a NR rear derailer.

I got it to work through the whole range by adjusting chain length and axle position in the dropouts.

Tightening the chain was the key to clearing the biggest cog.

The narrower spread of chainring size definitely made this possible based on what I've learned from my previous struggles using the NR rear mech.

Always ensure that shifting to the big-big won't result in the chain "sticking" on the big-cog position, and that the chain doesn't go over-tight where there is sudden resistance felt at the pedals. Testing and adjusting in the bike stand is really useful here, even as I normally don't use a stand at all when building or working on bikes.

A slight bit of rumble felt in the small ring and biggest rear cog won't hurt anything when used only occasionally as expected on the hardest climbs.

I similarly use a 12-34t 9s cassette and 52/42t chainrings with an Ultegra 6503 Triple rear derailer rated for a maximum of 27t. I get just a hint of rumble as the top pulley just touches the largest cog when in the small chainring. It's a great setup that gives no problems over years of use! Shown below:

dddd is offline  
Reply
Old 03-17-20 | 10:31 AM
  #16  
Road Fan's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 17,196
Likes: 761
From: Ann Arbor, MI

Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8

Originally Posted by satbuilder
I've had luck with a 28T cog on my Cinelli, by doing just what John said. I did have to remove the dropout adjusters. It didn't work with my Bianchi, frame geometry is different.

Kurt
I have had this work well, but it can depend on geometry factors, such as chainstay length. Correct chainline matching front to rear can also have an effect, in my experience. It also depends on whether you meed equivalently clean operation in all gears. I'm terrible at avoiding cross-chaining, so I am rather picky.

As well, Campy and other companies have (but don't always publicize well) that there are two limitations: The maximum spread adds the range of the chainrings to the range of the sprockets, and there is a maximum value for that. There is also a limitation on the maximum rear sprocket size that the derailleur cage can clear when twisted over as much as it can be. Extending the length of the dropout tang helps, as is used on 1x12 systems.

Last edited by Road Fan; 03-17-20 at 10:34 AM.
Road Fan is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.