cnickroot

My Hi Stepper has cracked right through where it attaches to the frame. I'm not complaining, it only took 40 years. Well, now everything is different. I'm wondering what the experts here would suggest I replace it with? I bought it originally as the best derailleur I could buy with a massive range for my touring triple on the same bike that I use for everyday and "training" rides for fitness. My granny is 24 tooth, and I want it to be able to handle that all the way to 52 big ring. I still use friction shift, but have replaced the rear long ago with a Shimano Deore XT to handle the big rings in back. I would be willing to consider a swap to something that could handle index shifting later. I'm not against modern stuff, I just never bothered to modernize from what was serving me just fine. Do I need to get a Shimano Deore to make sure it will work together? The bike is from 1983, a custom fit Rodriguez touring model. 6 speed spacing.

thook

you're saying the original set up you've been running was able to handle such a wide capacity without the front derailleur/chain dragging and also keep the chain taught?

JaccoW

I use a Sachs New Success Touring on my Batavus Randonneur GL with a 52/42/26T up front and a 11-34 9-speed in the rear.
There is some dragging on the front derailleur in the lowest possible combination but it definitely works. Originally it was for 6-speed drivetrains.

scarlson 

For a front derailleur that can handle a wide range triple, I prefer the Suntour Mountech. I think certain generations of Suntour XC will also work. Mountech is my go-to. I've successfully used Mountech on 24-38-54 and 20-34-50 triples. Or 26-36-50 Biopace on a tandem. No dragging.

cnickroot

in a word, yes.

thook

wow! i'm surprised. but, then, i don't know anything about the derailleurs you're using, either

what is gear spread of your freewheel? 14 through...?

cnickroot

13-34 on 6 cogs. Combo that with the 24 up front and I could haul all my stuff up the longest hills all day, but my rear derailleur was maxed out for chain wrap (The Huret Duopar originally). I was focused on not giving up my top end when I was unloaded, but getting the ability to haul all my stuff up over the tallest longest passes. Tons of research and then a shop that helped me spend every dollar I could bring them.

thook

cnickroot 19-20 low gears inches...yeah, that'd do it...lol

smoothness 

can you take a picture of your broken front derailleur next to a "regular" road front derailleur? i'm not familiar with the high-stepper, but i'm sure that a suitable replacement could be found.

oneclick 

You could look for a Simplex SJ A103 (or for more money and less reliability the LJ 503/523); similar if not the same geometry, and ditto for the triple cage.

One of these - a 223, is braze-on 103 - came on a Peugeot (unknown model, not in any catalogues) being rebuilt, 28-40-52 and 13-30 in the back.

cnickroot

disraeligears.co.uk/Site/Huret_Derailleurs_-_Speedometers_-_June_1984_page_6. html

I can't post links or photos yet but I found this catalog with both my original derailleurs

and this expired ebay listing photo picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/382536194806_/ SACHS-HURET-RIVAL-1980s-TRIPLE-FRONT-DERAILLEUR.jpg

Lets see if it will let it through the filters without the www in front

cnickroot

I got a Suntour Mountech off of eBay, got it installed and it seems to work fine with my daily driver freewheel. I don't have my touring gears on the back, but I don't think it will make much difference. Thanks for the recommendations!